Infections
Infections
Infections (/ɪnˈfɛkʃən/) are the invasion of an organism's body tissues by disease-causing agents, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agents and the toxins they produce.
Etymology
The term "infection" derives from the Latin infectio, meaning "to dye or stain". This refers to the process by which pathogens stain or dye the tissues they infect.
Types of Infections
Infections can be caused by a wide variety of organisms, including bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites, and prions. Each of these organisms has a unique method of causing disease.
- Bacterial Infections: These are caused by bacteria, single-celled organisms that can live in a variety of environments. Some bacteria are beneficial, but others can cause diseases such as tuberculosis, strep throat, and urinary tract infections.
- Viral Infections: Viruses are smaller than bacteria and require a host organism to reproduce. Viral infections include diseases like influenza, HIV/AIDS, and COVID-19.
- Fungal Infections: Fungi are multi-celled organisms that can cause infections, especially in people with weakened immune systems. Examples include athlete's foot, ringworm, and yeast infections.
- Parasitic Infections: Parasites are organisms that live on or in a host organism and get their food from or at the expense of their host. Parasitic infections include malaria, giardiasis, and toxoplasmosis.
- Prion Diseases: Prions are infectious agents composed entirely of a protein material that can fold in multiple, structurally distinct ways. Prion diseases include Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and kuru.
Related Terms
- Pathogen: A pathogen or infectious agent is a biological agent that causes disease or illness to its host.
- Immune System: The immune system is a host defense system comprising many biological structures and processes within an organism that protects against disease.
- Antibiotics: Antibiotics are medicines that help stop infections caused by bacteria.
- Vaccines: Vaccines are biological preparations that provide active acquired immunity to a particular infectious disease.
- Epidemiology: Epidemiology is the study and analysis of the distribution, patterns and determinants of health and disease conditions in defined populations.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Infections
- Wikipedia's article - Infections
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