infectious Diseases Starting with "H"

 H1N1 Flu or Swine Flu is a respiratory illness caused by the H1N1 Flu virus, a strain of the Influenza virus that usually affects pigs, but may also affect humans. The symptoms of Swine Flu are similar to those of the regular human seasonal flu -- fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headaches, chills, and fatigue.

Hansen's Disease is a slow-progressing, infectious bacterial disease caused by Mycobacterium Leprae, mainly affecting the peripheral nerves and skin, also known as Leprosy. It is characterized by ulceration of the skin, nodules, and loss of sensation with eventual paralysis, the progressive debilitation leads to amputation of affected parts.

Hepatitis is an inflammation of the liver caused by viral infection, alcohol abuse, or toxic chemicals and is accompanied by jaundice, fever, and abdominal pain.

Herpes Zoster or Shingles is an infection of the nerves supplying certain areas of the skin, caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which also causes Chickenpox. After an episode of Chickenpox, the virus can remain dominant in nerve for several years and re-emerge as Shingles. Symptoms include itching, tingling, pain, and rash that turns into blisters which gradually crut over leaving scars, usually on one side of the body.

Herpes is a common viral infection caused by Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). The infection can occur in the mouth and in the genitals manifesting as cold sores and genital sores, respectively. 

Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that causes Aids, a deadly disease of the human immune system. HIV is transmitted primarily through sexual contact, the other modes of transmission are by contact with infected blood or blood products, tissue, and organ donation; sharing of needles among intravenous drug users, and from an infected mother to a child during childbirth and via breast milk.

Infectious Diseases Starting with "G"

 Genital warts are small fleshly outgrowths on the skin or adjoining mucus membranes of the genitals or anus caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV) that are sexually transmitted.

Giardiasis is an infection of the small intestine caused by the parasitic Protozoan Giardia Lamblia, transmitted mainly through contaminated food and water. It causes diarrhea, nausea, flatulence, and abdominal discomfort.

Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums caused by bacterial infection. It is the first stage of Periodontal disease.

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infectious disease caused by the bacterium Neisseria Gonorroeae. It is characterized by the inflammation of the genital mucus membrane and it is associated with painful urination and a swollen uretha. If left untreated, the infection can spread to the throat, eyes, oral tissues, brain, joints, and heart valves.

Gram-negative bacteria are a type of bacteria that lose the crystal violet stain in favor of the red counter-stain, Safranin, during Gram's method of staining. This staining property is attributed to the structural difference in the cell walls of bacteria.

Infectious Diseases Starting with "F"

 Filariasis is a common parasitic infection caused by the nematode Wucheria Bancofti and its larvae. Transmitted by some species of Culex mosquitos into the human blood, the parasites cause gross enlargement of their lower extremities and other parts of the body, associated with fever and skin lesions, gradually leading to elephantiasis.

Influenza, generally referred to as Flu, is an infectious respiratory disease. It is caused by certain strains of the influenza virus and is characterized by fever, headache, muscular pain, and weakness.

Infectious Diseases Starting with "E"

ELISA is a RAAD ImmonoChemical Test that involves an enzyme linked to an antibody or antigen as a marker for the detection of a specific protein, especially an antigen or antibody. ELISA is routinely used to determine the presence of antibodies to HIV in blood.

Encephalitis is an acute infection and inflammation of the brain. Usually caused by a virus, encephalitis is caused by headache, photophobia, drowsiness, and nausea.

Eosinophils are a type of white blood cells that enhance immune response during inflammatory reactions in the body, particularly allergic responses and infections. They are distinguished by the presence of bilobed nuclei and uniform coarse granules in their cytoplasm.

Infectious Diseases Starting with "D"

 Dendritic cells are immune cells that boost immune responses. Being one among the antigen-presenting cells (ADCs), the dendritic cells process and present antigens to other cells of the immune system through the receptors on their surface.

Dengue is an acute infectious disease caused by the arbovirus which is transmitted by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, characteristics are severe joint and muscle pain, fever, headache, and rash.

Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease typically marked by the formation of a pseudo-membrane around the tonsils and other sites of infection in the upper respiratory tract. Caused by the bacterium Coryne Bacterium Diphtheriae, the infection has symptoms like sore throat, fever, and difficulty in breathing and swallowing.

Infectious Diseases Starting with "C"

 Chlamydia are a group of Gram Bacteria that belong to the Phlym Chlamydiae. They are obligate intracellular parasites. Chlamydial infections are the most common sexually transmitted bacterial infection among humans. Caused by Chlamydia Trachomatis, the infection manifests as inflammation in the urethra, cervix, and fallopian tubes, and can lead to infertility.

Chickenpox is a contagious viral disease caused by the Varicella Zoster virus which is transmitted through the air or by direct contact with an infected person. More common in children, it is characterized by itchy rashes, fever, and fluid-filled blisters that appear first on the chest and stomach, then the entire body.

Chikungunya is a viral disease caused by Togavirus of the genus Alphavirus, which is transmitted through the bite of infected Aedes mosquitos. It causes fever and severe joint pain.

Contact Dermatitis is a skin inflammation that occurs due to direct contact with an irritant or allergen.

Contagious is a term used to describe a disease that can spread easily from person to person either by direct or indirect contact or is communicable.

Creutzfeldt-Jacob Disease, also called Spongiform Encephalopathy, is a rare and fatal degenerative brain disease caused by prions. This infection is characterized by progressive mental deterioration, dementia, encephalopathy, and coma.

Infectious Diseases Starting with "B"

 Bacteria are microscopic unicellular organisms with a wide range of shapes, abundant in air, water, and soil, a few of which are beneficial while some are pathogenic--and all are the cause of many diseases that are responsible for the allergic and antigen response. The least common form of grand locyte, basophils store and secrete histamine, a chemical causing inflammation.

Biopsy is the diagnostic procedure that involves removal of tissue sample from the living body, using a needle, for microscopic analysis.

Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids along the eyelashes due to an overgrowth of bacteria. It causes burning, redness, irritation, itchy eyelids, and scaly skin on the eyelashes.

Blisters are localized lesions on the skin filled with watery fluid, pus, of blood, caused by burns, rubbing, or allergic reaction.

Botulism is a rare but serious pralyptic illness that occurs from a toxin in contaminated food, produces by the bacteria Clostriduim Botulinum. The bacteria can grow in canned foods and colonize in the digestive tracts, or can enter the human by contamination of a wound. In all types of botulism paralysis starts in the facial muscles and can spread toward the limbs.