Infectious diseases

It is known that infectious diseases or infectious diseases (also known as infectious diseases for short) are transmitted to humans directly or indirectly through pathogens. From a medical point of view, transmission means infection. Medical science understands this to mean the settlement and reproduction of microorganisms in a more highly organized host organism. Infection does not necessarily mean an infectious disease, however.

Overview of infectious diseases

Everyone can be infected at any point in time, i.e. colonized by microorganisms, without becoming ill. There are, among other things, completely healthy carriers of diphtheria pathogens and healthy eliminators of germs that could trigger an intestinal infection. We are all surrounded by a multitude of microorganisms, but only a small part of them can make us sick.

Some microorganisms do not even penetrate us, they cannot exist in the human environment. Others, on the other hand, are harmless sub-tenants of our body that we even depend on. A number of them cause diseases in plants and animals without harming humans, or vice versa. We do not yet know down to the last detail what this species specificity is based on.

Different forms of pathogen

We distinguish four large groups of pathogens: First, the fissure fungi, which occur in various forms, namely in rod form as bacilli (bacteria), such as the pathogen of dysentery, typhus, tuberculosis and others, in spherical form as pus pathogens in grapes or Chain arrangement, in bread roll form as the causative agent of pneumonia, meningitis and gonorrhea, as mushrooms, like the common pathogens of athlete's foot, or in corkscrew form, among other things as pathogen of syphilis.

Another group of pathogens are the virus types, which are very common and are so small that they cannot be seen under the usual microscope. They pass even the finest filters. They can only be grown on living cells and can be viewed under an electron microscope. They prefer to attack certain tissues, for example the jaundice virus in liver cells, the polio virus in certain nerve cells and the flu virus in cells of the upper respiratory tract.

The rickettsiae, another group of microorganisms, are in the range between virus species and fissure fungi. For example, they cause typhus. The fourth group of pathogens, the protozoa, are unicellular animals that cause a tropical dysentery and malaria.

Infectious diseases have always been of great importance in the life of all peoples, especially when they are epidemic, i.e. epidemic. It is impossible to imagine any past time in human history without these diseases. The type, severity and timing of an infectious disease that has been overcome are also important factors for individual people's mental and physical development, as well as their position in society. Serious infectious diseases in childhood, for example a disease of the brain and the rest of the nervous system, often leave behind a mental and physical handicap for life.

History of Virus & Bacteria Discovery

At any given time, people have dealt with the experience of infectious diseases in different ways. If their interpretation was originally based on belief in demons, believers and fatalists later thought that in an illness that had arisen, they would recognize the direct intervention of a higher power, a god-sent punishment, a rewarding or avenging hand. In the 19th century the knowledge of living pathogens gradually spread, but it made it seem like a coincidence whether and when a person could ingest the pathogens and become ill with them.

Today the influence of the environment is a well-known factor. Man is practically not separated from the environment by his outer skin, but everything around him belongs to him, including the microorganisms. We even depend on them to some extent. They live with us in a community, a symbiosis, especially on the mucous membranes of the body cavities that are open to the outside, such as the mouth, the intestines and the female sexual organs. Even microorganisms that cause illness are part of our environment. But when does their presence lead to illness?

Infection by germs, viruses & bacteria

A number of factors play a role here, factors that partly depend on the person, but partly also on the pathogens. An infectious disease will come about more easily, the greater the number and attack power of the invading pathogens that attack people unprepared. With most types of pathogen, the human body will cope with a certain amount. If, for example, typhoid germs got into the food from the unclean hand of a cook in tropical countries during cooking, the eating of the soup is e.g. not yet cause disease. However, if this soup has stood for hours and the typhoid pathogens have multiplied rapidly in the soup, typhus can develop after drinking the soup.

With some viral diseases, however, it is sufficient to ingest a small amount of infectious substance. This is the case with measles, chickenpox and smallpox, for example. If germs are particularly vigorous or virulent, that is, if they multiply quickly and quickly form toxic metabolic products, so-called toxins, then an infectious disease will develop quickly.

The ability of the human body to react to pathogens is decisive for the development of an infectious disease. A strong, healthy, sensible person is more likely to dismiss an infection than an ailing couch potato. An exhausted, stressed organism is more susceptible than a fresh, rested one. Doctors and laypeople often see hypothermia as the cause of a runny nose, bronchitis or pneumonia, which, however, are really infectious diseases. It is easy to confuse cause and effect by relating shivering, freezing or even chills, which indicate the beginning of an infectious fever, to an external cooling.

However, we do not want to deny that hypothermia can significantly disrupt the body's ability to react, as the blood flow to the mucous membranes and limbs deteriorates under the influence of cold and wet. A condition that favors the occurrence of infections if the corresponding germs are present. But humans are able to build defensive bodies, the so-called immune bodies, against certain pathogens or toxins. Immunity is an organism's increased willingness to defend itself against certain germs.

The newborn receives these immune bodies from the maternal organism for a short period of time. For later times, every organism must develop these immune bodies itself, either by surviving an infectious disease - after measles there is generally lifelong immunity - or through vaccinations, which force the body to form these immune bodies - at least temporarily - by means of a weakened or abbreviated course of infection .

Symptoms, ailments & signs

Typical symptoms of an infectious disease are fever, pain and swelling as well as inflammation-related redness and itching. In addition, the affected organs react by defensive reactions such as runny nose, cough and hoarseness as well as cramp-like complaints or nausea. The severity of the symptoms depends on the individual immune system and age.

With a bacterial infection and a viral infection, symptoms such as diarrhea, difficulty swallowing and headaches as well as body aches can occur. In addition, a noticeable need to urinate with urine discoloration is possible. Chills, rashes and tiredness as well as breathing difficulties can also develop. The timely assignment of these symptoms can be problematic.

In the case of certain infectious diseases, the signs only appear very delayed after infection with pathogens such as borreliosis. In some of the infectious diseases, the classic symptoms are only weakly pronounced and thus make an assignment more difficult. In other cases, the symptoms are more helpful for an initial assessment of the disease.

Indications of infections of the respiratory tract are mainly clear from coughing, runny nose and sore throat as well as hoarseness and difficulty swallowing. Likewise, diarrhea, malaise and vomiting are typical symptoms of gastric and intestinal infections. If an uncomfortable burning sensation occurs when urinating, these symptoms indicate an infection of the urinary tract. Symptoms of an infectious disease can be limited to certain parts of the body or can be found in the entire body.

Complications

As a rule, it is not possible to predict universally whether there will be severe symptoms or even complications as a result of infectious diseases. In many cases, infectious diseases can be limited relatively well with the help of antibiotics and other drugs, so that no particular complications arise from them. However, these can occur if treatment is not started quickly enough.

This can lead to irreversible damage to the patient's internal organs. Most of those affected suffer from a high fever and fatigue from the infectious diseases. The patient's resilience drops drastically and the quality of life is greatly reduced. As a rule, the patient's immune system is also significantly weakened, so that other infections or inflammations can also occur.

Treatment of infectious diseases, in most cases, is carried out with the help of drugs. Whether or not there are complications depends on the disease in question. A positive course of the disease does not occur in every case. Damage to the internal organs may occur, making the patient dependent on a transplant. Life expectancy can also be reduced by the infectious diseases.

When should you go to the doctor?

Many common infectious diseases such as a cold or gastrointestinal infections subside by themselves within a short time and do not require any medical treatment. However, if you have a high fever, circulatory problems, impaired consciousness or severe abdominal pain, you should see a doctor. A medical examination is also advisable if the symptoms do not improve for days or if you have a cold, severe coughing with difficulty breathing. Other infectious diseases begin insidiously and only show unspecific symptoms: a doctor should be consulted if the body temperature has been elevated for a long time or if there are relapses of fever for no apparent cause, constant fatigue, loss of performance, physical weakness or unwanted weight loss can indicate an infectious disease that requires treatment.

Some childhood diseases are associated with characteristic skin rashes: Due to the high risk of infection, unvaccinated children should be presented to a pediatrician as soon as possible if such skin changes appear together with a fever or a general feeling of illness. In adults, a visit to the doctor is recommended if there is painful redness and swelling that spreads rapidly. Antibiotic therapy is necessary to treat borreliosis: Typical for this is extensive reddening of the skin that occurs some time after a tick bite and is often accompanied by flu-like symptoms. If a headache is accompanied by a fever and stiff neck, there is a suspicion of life-threatening meningitis, which must be treated immediately.

Treatment & Therapy

If one asks about the nature of an infectious disease and starts from the clinical point of view, one imagines a disease that generally progresses in a relatively short time, usually has a favorable outcome and shows symptoms that are repeated from case to case. However, it is characteristic of an infectious disease that it can be transmitted. A certain period of time elapses from the time of infection to the onset of the disease, which we call the incubation period. During this time there is already the possibility of infection.

In scientific research, two epochs were significant for the detection and treatment of infectious diseases: First, the time of Robert Koch with the discovery of pathogens, the knowledge about epidemiology and the first experiments with healing serums, and second, the time of the discovery of chemical and antibiotic Remedies closely related to the names Domagk and Fleming. The introduction of antibiotics has also paved the way for a change in the appearance of infectious diseases, since if such substances are used correctly and in good time, the infection cannot spread in the organism and is therefore at times much shorter and milder.

In the containment of infectious diseases, we have two important tasks to fulfill: on the one hand, to treat the diseases that have occurred and, on the other hand, to protect healthy people from possible infection. Therapy and prophylaxis must be seen as a unit, because the isolation and treatment of infectious patients eliminates a possible source of infection. This is the best way to contain an epidemic that has occurred. A prerequisite for successful treatment is always the identification of the pathogen and its reaction to applicable remedies.

All control measures against contagious diseases that are part of the Disease Act are the responsibility of the state health and hygiene offices and the Federal Ministry of Health. Control measures can only be initiated if the aforementioned institutions in our health care system are informed immediately of the outbreak of such diseases. Therefore, there is a general obligation to report various infectious diseases. Most infectious diseases require isolation, which means that the patient must be admitted to a hospital ward, where he is isolated from the general public and treated accordingly. In general, he may only be discharged from this hospital treatment if, after his recovery, there is no longer any risk of infection for his surroundings according to the medical judgment.

In the event of illness, and especially in the case of epidemics, quarantine measures in the vicinity of the sick person are extremely important so that the germs are not spread further. Vaccinations are precautionary measures that should be carried out as seamlessly as possible in order to protect children and people at risk from the outset. A vaccination brings about the long-term immunity of the vaccinee, which means that some diseases, such as polio and smallpox, have almost completely disappeared from us. Recommended vaccinations for children are vaccinations against diphtheria, polio, whooping cough and tetanus. Furthermore, a vaccination against measles and, in times of flu, an additional extensive flu vaccination is planned.

Our modern healthcare system is constantly striving to contain or even eradicate epidemics of all kinds. In this endeavor, it is supported by the health and hygiene authorities and by that of the Federal Ministry of Health, whose core areas for epidemic protection directs scientific research in the field of infectious diseases and epidemic control, the aim of which is to provide comprehensive protection of our population from infectious diseases and its success depends on the understanding and willingness of the population.

Outlook & forecast

Infectious diseases usually have a favorable prognosis. Although the risk of infection is very high, in many patients the symptoms gradually heal even without the use of medical care. If you have a mild flu or other common illnesses, you will be free of symptoms within a few weeks. A doctor is not always needed, especially with minor infections.

As the disease progresses, the organism is severely weakened. By using medicines, the pathogens are prevented from multiplying. The immune system is also supported so that the germs ultimately die off within a few days or weeks and are transported out of the body. A recovery can then also be expected.

People whose body's own defense system is already weakened often experience chronic disease development. The infectious disease further weakens the general health of the patient and can lead to a condition of concern. There is a possibility of permanent impairment. In addition, the symptoms can often only be relieved after several months. In particularly severe cases, the person concerned threatens to die prematurely.

The prognosis is worsened in patients who suffer organ damage due to the infectious disease. Lifelong dysfunctions are possible here. In addition, there may be a loss of organ activity and the need for a transplant.

Aftercare

Infectious diseases often need good follow-up care after they have healed. It is aimed at strengthening the immune system, regenerating those affected and, above all, aiming to prevent the disease from flaring up again. Depending on the area of ​​the disease, follow-up care after infectious diseases looks a little different and is ideally discussed with the treating doctor.

In the case of superficial infection, for example in the case of wounds, it must be ensured that the affected skin area remains free from contamination. This is achieved by carefully covering the area, but also by leaving a scab on the skin until it falls off on its own.

In the area of ​​internal infections, which mainly affect the gastrointestinal area or the respiratory tract, the immune system can be strengthened by a number of measures that are in the patient's hands. This includes eating a healthy diet, drinking enough water and getting enough sleep. It is also important not to start sporting activities too early if the person concerned is not yet able to perform well enough.

The function of the intestine is often impaired by medication given as part of the infection. This is especially true when antibiotics are given. A non-stressful diet helps with aftercare. Yoghurt products are often able to rebuild a disturbed intestinal flora.

You can do that yourself

Infectious diseases do not always have to be treated by a doctor. A common infection can be treated independently through physical rest and a temporary change in diet.

If you have a cold or flu, classics such as chicken soup and rusks are just as good as herbal teas (e.g. fennel, chamomile or linden blossom) and vitamin-rich food. In case of a fever, bed rest and warmth apply. Chills can be counteracted, for example, with warm clothing or blankets. Gentle inhalation (such as salt water or essential oils) helps against sore throats. Coughs and runny nose can also be treated with essential oils made from menthol or camphor, which are applied to the chest and back overnight. Neck wraps or moist wraps are a good alternative. In the case of flu-like infections, various natural remedies have proven to be effective: Linden blossoms and willow bark for inflammatory pain and marigold blossoms to strengthen the immune system.

After the acute phase of illness, the following applies: slowly get the weakened organism used to regular exercise again. Light gymnastics or a walk in the fresh air strengthen the circulation and increase well-being. Depending on the type of infection, there are a number of other measures that can be taken. However, the family doctor should always decide what people with an infectious disease can do for themselves.