Health Information

Infectious Diseases

  • HIV and AIDS

    AIDS is caused by the human immunodeficiency virus, which kills or impairs cells of the immune system and progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers.

  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

    Detailed information on chronic fatigue syndrome, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

  • Chickenpox (Varicella)

    Detailed information on chickenpox, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, complications, and immunity

  • Common Cold

    Detailed information on the common cold, including symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment

  • Common Infectious Diseases

    Detailed information on the most common infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, chickenpox, chronic fatigue syndrome, common cold, diphtheria, E. coli, giardiasis, infectious mononucleosis, influenza (flu), lyme disease, malaria, measles, meningitis, mum

  • Whooping Cough (Pertussis) in Adults

    Detailed information on whooping cough, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

  • Diphtheria

    Detailed information on diphtheria, including symptoms, transmission, treatment, and prevention

  • Escherichia coli O157:H7

    Detailed information on E. coli, including symptoms, diagnosis, complications, and prevention

  • Influenza (Flu)

    How do you know if you have the flu? Symptoms: abrupt onset of fever, muscle aches, sore throat, and a nonproductive cough.

  • Giardiasis

    Detailed information on giardiasis, including causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

  • Glossary - Infectious Diseases

    Glossary of terms relating to infectious diseases

  • Hand Washing

    Use warm water to wet your hands, then apply soap. Rub your hands together for at least 10 seconds. Rinse thoroughly to remove all soap.

  • The Immune System

    The immune system keeps infectious microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, out of the body, and destroys any infectious microorganisms that do invade.

  • Home Page - Infectious Diseases

    Detailed information on the most common infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, chickenpox, chronic fatigue syndrome, common cold, diphtheria, E. coli, giardiasis, infectious mononucleosis, influenza (flu), lyme disease, malaria, measles, meningitis, mum

  • Infectious Diseases on the Job

    Detailed information on infectious diseases on the job

  • Malaria

    Detailed information on malaria, including symptoms, risk factors, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and information for travelers

  • Measles

    Detailed information on measles, including symptoms, complications, prevention, and treatment

  • Infectious Mononucleosis

    Detailed information on infectious mononucleosis, including symptoms, causes, diagnosis, treatment, and transmission

  • Mumps in Adults

    Detailed information on mumps, including symptoms, diagnosis, complications, and treatment

  • Online Resources - Infectious Diseases

    List of online resources to find additional information on infectious diseases

  • Pets and Infectious Diseases

    Detailed information on pets and infectious diseases

  • Pneumonia

    Pneumonia is a serious inflammation of the lungs in which the air sacs fill with pus and other liquid.

  • Poliomyelitis (Polio)

    Detailed information on poliomyelitis, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

  • Prevention of Infectious Diseases

    Detailed information on prevention of infectious diseases

  • Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever

    Detailed information on Rocky Mountain spotted fever, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

  • Rubella (German Measles)

    Detailed information on rubella, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

  • Salmonella Infections

    Salmonella bacteria are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces. Beef, poultry, milk, and eggs are common sources.

  • Topic Index - Infectious Diseases

    Detailed information on the most common infectious diseases, including HIV/AIDS, chickenpox, chronic fatigue syndrome, common cold, diphtheria, E. coli, giardiasis, infectious mononucleosis, influenza (flu), lyme disease, malaria, measles, meningitis, mum

  • Statistics of Infectious Disease

    Statistics relating to infectious disease

  • Sexually Transmitted Diseases

    Women suffer more frequent and severe symptoms from STDs. Some STDs can cause pelvic inflammatory disease, which can lead to both infertility and ectopic pregnancy.

  • Tetanus

    Detailed information on tetanus, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

  • Toxic Shock Syndrome (TSS)

    Detailed information on toxic shock syndrome, including symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

  • Tuberculosis (TB)

    Detailed information on tuberculosis, including risks, symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment

  • Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)

    Detailed information on SARS, including symptoms, prevention, and treatment

  • West Nile Virus

    Detailed information on West Nile virus, including symptoms, prevention, and treatment

  • Childhood Immunizations

    Your little one will need several immunization shots to help protect her from several childhood diseases, some of which can be deadly. Knowing which shots she needs, when, and what to do in the event of a minor reaction is important.

  • Meningitis

    Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that surround the brain. Most cases of meningitis are caused by viruses; bacterial meningitis is rare.

  • Shingles (Herpes Zoster)

    Shingles, or herpes zoster, is a common viral infection of the nerves, which results in a painful rash or small blisters on an area of skin anywhere on the body.

  • Lyme Disease

    Detailed information on Lyme disease, including ticks that transmit Lyme disease, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

  • Viral Hepatitis Overview

    Detailed information on the different types of hepatitis, including viral hepatitis, hepatitis a, hepatitis b, and hepatitis c

  • HIV and Dementia

    AIDS dementia is a debilitating consequence of HIV infection and is typically seen in advanced stages of the disease.

  • Preventing Opportunistic Infections in HIV/AIDS

    Opportunistic infections that other people might fight off easily could make you really sick if you have HIV. Getting one or more of these OIs could mean that your HIV has advanced to AIDS.

  • Pneumocystis Pneumonia

    If your immune system is weakened by HIV/AIDS, you have a greater chance of developing pneumocystis pneumonia, a crippling lung infection.

  • HIV/AIDS and Skin Conditions

    Skin conditions are common in people with HIV/AIDS. Many are caused by germs that take advantage of a weakened immune system.

  • Dealing with Discrimination When You Have HIV

    Discrimination against people with HIV is often rooted in a lack of understanding about the virus and how it spreads.

  • When You’re HIV-Positive: What to Say

    Not all friends and loved ones need to know. Since the main benefit for you is their understanding and support, you need to think about which trusted friends and family members are most likely to offer the support you need.

  • Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infection

    A necrotizing soft tissue infection is a serious, life-threatening condition that requires immediate treatment to keep it from destroying skin, muscle, and other soft tissues.

  • Gangrene

    Gangrene is a dangerous and potentially fatal condition that happens when the blood flow to a large group of tissues is cut off.