Infectious agents
Infectious Agents
Infectious agents (pronunciation: /ɪnˈfɛkʃəs ˈeɪdʒənts/) are biological entities that can cause disease or illness to its host. They are also known as pathogens or germs.
Etymology
The term "infectious" comes from the Latin word "infectus", meaning "to taint or corrupt". The term "agent" comes from the Latin word "agens", meaning "a person or thing that acts or does an act".
Types of Infectious Agents
There are several types of infectious agents, including:
- Bacteria: Single-celled organisms that can cause diseases such as tuberculosis, strep throat, and urinary tract infections.
- Viruses: Tiny, non-living particles that can cause diseases such as influenza, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19.
- Fungi: Organisms that can cause diseases such as ringworm, athlete's foot, and yeast infections.
- Parasites: Organisms that live on or in a host organism and can cause diseases such as malaria, giardiasis, and toxoplasmosis.
- Prions: Infectious proteins that can cause diseases such as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and kuru.
Transmission of Infectious Agents
Infectious agents can be transmitted in several ways, including:
- Direct contact: This includes person-to-person contact, animal-to-person contact, and mother-to-child transmission.
- Indirect contact: This includes contact with contaminated surfaces or objects, and contact with vectors such as mosquitoes or ticks.
- Airborne transmission: This includes inhalation of infectious agents in the air.
Prevention of Infectious Diseases
Prevention of infectious diseases can be achieved through methods such as:
- Vaccination: This involves the administration of a vaccine to provide immunity against a specific disease.
- Hand hygiene: This involves regular hand washing with soap and water, or using hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.
- Safe food handling: This involves proper cooking and storage of food to prevent foodborne illnesses.
- Safe sex practices: This involves the use of condoms and regular testing for sexually transmitted infections.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Infectious agents
- Wikipedia's article - Infectious agents
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