What is an Infectious Disease?

An infectious disease is an illness that occurs when a person has been infected by any variety of different pathogens. These pathogens may include bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites or protozoa. Infectious diseases are also referred to as communicable or transmissible diseases because they can be passed on to others who come in contact with the infected person.

Transmission

There are several different ways an infectious disease may be transmitted. These include through bodily fluid, contaminated foods, physical contact, contaminated objects, airborne inhalation or parasites carrying the disease. However, infectious diseases through parasite transmission or sexual transmission are not considered to be contagious during casual contact.

Diagnosis

The difficulty in diagnosing an infectious disease can vary depending upon what it is. Common infectious diseases such as respiratory infections and some viruses may be diagnosed quickly based on the patient's symptoms. However, more serious and uncommon infectious diseases can require a variety of different tests to obtain the correct diagnosis. When this is necessary a physician may request that tests such as a microbial culture, biochemical test or molecular diagnostic.

Prevention

The key to avoiding infectious diseases is knowing how to prevent them. Many infectious diseases are prevented by immunizations. Being educated about the way these diseases are transmitted can also help you to know how to protect yourself. If you are aware that an infectious disease has been verified in certain areas or in certain families, it is best to avoid going to those places and around those people until the illness has ended. Frequently washing your hands and using hand sanitizer will also help stop the spread of germs.