Infectious Disease
What is an infectious disease?
Infectious diseases include any disease or illness caused by pathogens such as bacteria and viruses. It can be directly or indirectly spread from one person to another. Children are most prone to infectious diseases because they do not take care of hygiene like adults. Being a pediatrician, it’s our duty to protect your child from any kind of infectious contamination.
What causes infectious disease?
Many organisms live in and on our bodies. They’re normally harmless or even helpful. But under certain conditions, some organisms may cause illness.
Infectious disease is caused by four different types of microorganisms
- Bacteria – Bacteria is a single-cell organism which is responsible for illness such as strep throat, UTI (Urinary Tract Infection), tuberculosis, etc.
- Virus – Virus is smaller in size than bacteria and causes a multitude of diseases ranging from the common cold to AIDS.
- Fungi – Fungi lead to many types of skin diseases such as ringworm, athlete’s foot, etc. Other groups of fungi also affect the lungs and nervous system.
- Parasites – Parasites are the organism that lives on the body of other organisms. Disease like Malaria is caused by a tiny parasite that is transmitted by mosquitoes
What are the symptoms of infectious disease?
Each infectious disease is caused by different pathogens, the symptoms and signs cannot be the same for each disease. Yet, the common symptoms can include
- Fever
- Diarrhoea
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
- Coughing
When to see your pediatrician?
Diagnosis of an infectious disease can be complex; it is important for your child to see a pediatrician who can accurately diagnose and treat your child’s condition. If your child is suffering from any of the things given below, do take your children to pediatrician without a delay
- Have been bitten by an animal
- Trouble in breathing
- Cough for long weeks
- Severe headache with fever
- Sudden rashes or swelling
- Unexplained or prolonged fever
- Sudden vision problems