Most Contagious Diseases

If a disease can’t spread, it’s done — infection is its livelihood. So after a few million years of evolution, we get stuck with a host of nasty bugs that can hop from human to human like we hop from website to website. They’re mean, they’re fast and many of them are deadly. Super-contagious diseases spread like wildfire through everyday contact and they’re good at hiding signs of infection until it’s too late — by the time you get the sniffles, you’ve probably already passed it on to someone else. The best way to battle any of these nasty bugs is to avoid them altogether. Keep your eyes open for these most-unwanted diseases, and stay healthy.
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis A is virus that attacks the liver. It’s a wily bug, one that likes unsanitary conditions. It’s mainly transmitted through food by cooks who forget to wash their hands after they, ahem, take a break in the bathroom. The virus causes fatigue, fever, abdominal pain, nausea, diarrhea, appetite loss, and jaundice — and there’s no treatment for the virus. Hepatitis A victims simply must endure the discomforts and side effects of the disease.

Breeding grounds: Most of us who are fortunate enough to live in industrialized countries have been vaccinated against Hepatitis A. That renders us immune from infection for about 15 years. If you haven’t been vaccinated, however, it’s easy to catch Hepatitis A in unsanitary conditions. If you’re traveling through rural villages, make sure you drink bottled water only and avoid eating fresh fruits and vegetables that have been washed in suspect water.
Malaria
Malaria is one of the most infectious diseases in history. It has infected countless people across the globe and it still kills millions every year. The malaria parasite lives in the gut of the Anopheles mosquito and is transmitted through the bug's bite. Once it enters your system, it goes straight for the liver, where it grows and multiplies. When it has marshaled enough forces, it invades the blood stream, where it infects red blood cells. Symptoms include wracking fevers, shivering, vomiting, anemia, and convulsions. Without treatment, it is highly fatal.

Breeding grounds: Malaria is widespread in tropical regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, South America and parts of Southeast Asia. Anywhere you find Anopheles mosquitoes, you’ll likely find malaria. Anti-malaria drugs are available for travelers who visit those regions, but the malaria parasite is quickly becoming resistant to the drugs. Check with the CDC before you travel to determine if you’ll need to worry about taking anti-malaria drugs on your next trip to the tropics.
Measles
Most everybody gets measles when they’re a kid. That’s because it’s one of the most contagious viruses known to man. It can be transmitted by breath over surprising distances and it can jump from victim to victim through touch almost instantaneously. If measles comes into a household, 90% of those who aren’t immune will catch it. It causes the telltale red spots, fever, cough, runny nose, and red eyes. The virus is rarely fatal in industrialized nations. Some patients develop pneumonia after catching measles — a much more potent respiratory virus. If you've contracted measles once, you’re pretty much immune for your entire life — although immunity can wane and minor re-infection can occur.

Check out the constantly mutating, most contagious disease...
Breeding grounds: If you’re looking for measles, visit your local preschool. Most small children catch the virus there and spread it like wildfire. It is relevant to note that contracting measles when you are a child is much better for you than contracting them when you are older as they can manifest into much worse conditions as you age. 
Tuberculosis
More than one-third of the world’s population carries the tuberculosis bacteria and a new infection occurs about once every second. Tuberculosis is a nasty lung-attacking bacteria that causes chest pains, coughing up blood and a phlegm-filled cough that lasts longer than three weeks. It also triggers night sweats, appetite loss, weight loss, pallor, and fatigue. If left untreated, the mortality rate for a full-blown tuberculosis infection is greater than 50%. Treatment involves long periods of antibiotic therapy, from six months to a year. The bacteria is spread through direct contact, coughing and sneezing.

Breeding grounds: Tuberculosis is common in developing nations, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. It’s also found in South America and Asia in less-developed regions. In these areas the disease can be especially difficult to treat. The required antibiotics are expensive, often beyond the means of the infected. There is a tuberculosis vaccine, called BCG. It was developed between 1905 and 1921, but many countries do not have access to sufficient amounts of the vaccine to make a big impact on rates of infection and control.
Influenza
Everyone on the planet is familiar with the most infectious disease: Influenza. It’s a blanket term for a number of wily RNA viruses that adapt quickly and spread even quicker. They are spread through direct and indirect contact (touching a doorknob that harbors the virus) and through the air via coughs and sneezes. Most of the viruses cause basic flu symptoms: body aches, coughing and sneezing, chills, fever, fatigue, headaches, and congestion. Some, however, are extremely deadly. The Spanish Flu killed more than 40 million people worldwide between 1918 and 1920. The pandemic was one of the worst in recorded history.

Breeding grounds: Influenza is found everywhere. It peaks during the winter season in both hemispheres, breeding like crazy and flitting through the population. Flu vaccines, or “shots,” are available. They’re made on an almost yearly basis, using the most common influenza bugs at the time. They are fairly effective, but flu viruses are known for fast mutation rates and thus circumventing immunities. If you want to stay well this flu season, get your shot and remember to wash your hands frequently. Also keep your distance from the infected.

Viruses, bacteria and parasites have been infecting, well, everything for eons. There is absolutely no chance we’ll ever get rid of them. We can only manage them and, to some extent, avoid them. Keeping up to date with the latest vaccines with your doctor is important, especially if you are planning on traveling to underdeveloped countries in the near future.  It's better to be safe and healthy then infected and very sorry. 

The Contagious Cold Shouldn't Be Ignored

If you have a contagious cold, don't ignore your symptoms. Learn how to determine when you need to take a sick day.


More than 200 types of viruses can cause the common cold. These viruses can survive for a brief period of time on most surfaces and in air droplets, making it easy to “catch a cold” by simply touching something or breathing the air around you.

It's no wonder, then, that people in the United States catch a billion colds every year.

The cold and flu season lasts from September until May, but catching a cold has nothing to do with the temperature outside. The reason colds are so contagious has more to do with the amount of time people spend inside in close contact with each other.

What Is a Contagious Cold?

The common, contagious cold is a brief, mild illness. The early symptoms of headache, sneezing, chills, and sore throat start two to three days after you have been infected. The symptoms of nasal discharge and congestion increase quickly and then go away after about a week. You are most contagious during the period before the symptoms start and during the first two days you feel sick. That means you can be contagious even before you realize you are sick.

Contagious Cold: When Should You Stay Home?

Knowing when to stay home depends on where you work. Staying home from work or school probably won't make your cold go away more quickly. But being a good citizen means knowing when you're likely to infect others and trying your best to avoid doing so. If you have a job with people, or you are in school, it would be hard to avoid giving your cold to someone else.

If you have a runny nose and are coughing, your germs are likely to spread, according to Jacob Teitelbaum, MD, an internal medicine specialist in Annapolis, Md. If you have a runny nose and are coughing, you are not likely to get much work done.

Bottom line, if you have a fever, or you are coughing and sneezing, consider staying home, especially if you work in close contact with others. If you must go to work or school with a contagious cold, however, do your best not to spread it by using a tissue to cover your nose and mouth when you have to cough or sneeze, throwing away used tissues, and washing your hands frequently. Avoid close contact with your co-workers or classmates as much as possible. 

Chickenpox

What is chickenpox?
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease common in early childhood. It is seen most often in children less than ten years old. However, the classic symptoms and incidence of chickenpox have begun to change since the introduction of a vaccine in the mid-1990s.

Chickenpox isn't usually serious in healthy kids, but it can cause serious problems for pregnant women, newborns, older individuals who haven't yet had the disease, and those who are immune-compromised. Most people who get chickenpox will not get it again, but once infected, the virus remains dormant in the body and can reactivate later in life, causing the disease known as shingles.

What are the symptoms?
When a person is exposed to chickenpox, it usually takes one to three weeks for symptoms to appear. These usually begin as a non-descript illness - fever, headache, sore throat or abdominal pain with loss of appetite and fatigue. Some kids only have a few, if any, of these early symptoms. The "pox" rash typically comes a day or two later, unfortunately, right after you're the most contagious

Classically, chickenpox rash appears in the form of red spots on the skin that develop into clear fluid-filled blisters - "dew drops on a rose petal." After first appearing on the head, face or trunk, the rash then spreads outward in clusters, often including the extremities and mucosal surfaces such as the nose, mouth, vagina, even the eyelids. Children with skin problems like eczema or sunburn can get a worse reaction with more than 1,500 blisters, but the average child typically develops between 250-500 lesions. After a day or two, blisters become cloudy and burst - releasing their fluid - then crusting over. New lesions can appear for up to a week, and the hallmark for clinical diagnosis is seeing both old and new blisters.

Besides the fever and other symptoms, the crusting rash can itch intensely. This can lead to secondary bacterial infection, especially when scabs are vigorously scratched. Other complications can include varicella pneumonia, hepatitis, meningitis, encephalitis, and Reye's syndrome - a dangerous and potentially fatal multi-system disease associated with the use of aspirin in children that severely affects the brain and liver.

Complications from chickenpox occur more frequently in older kids, adults and immunocompromised individuals - either from illnesses such as AIDS and cancer or from chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation. Some of the worst cases of chickenpox have been seen in asthmatic kids taking Steroids during their symptom-free period. Children under one year of age whose mothers have had chickenpox are not very likely to catch it if exposed to another child with active chickenpox. If they do, they often have mild cases because they retain partial immunity from maternal antibodies.

Exposed pregnant women without immunity can transmit the virus from placenta to fetus. If this occurs early - before 28 weeks - it can lead to miscarriage or serious developmental abnormalities. This is known as congenital varicella syndrome, with effects ranging from underdeveloped extremities to severe anal and bladder deformities. The systemic viral infection can also damage the brain and spinal cord as well as the eyes and skin.

Infection later in gestation or immediately post-partum is referred to as neonatal varicella. Maternal infection can be associated with premature delivery, while the risk of neonatal infection following exposure is greatest seven days before or after delivery. The baby may also be exposed to the virus via infectious siblings or other contacts, but this is of less concern if mom is immune. Newborns of non-immume moms who develop symptoms are at a high risk of pneumonia and other serious complications.

The vaccine involves a live virus, and those who get the vaccine can develop a mild case of chickenpox, often on areas other than is typical (such as the feet and hands). Vaccinated kids who develop the disease usually recover much quicker and have fewer blisters without as many complications compared to typical cases.

What are the causes?
Chickenpox is caused by the Herpes viruses known as varicella-zoster. A peak in cases typically occurs during the late winter and early spring; and because the virus is highly contagious, most individuals who aren't immune will get the disease if exposed. The zoster virus can be spread by direct contact: sharing food or drinks from an infected person, touching infected surfaces or coming into contact with fluid from an open blister. It can also spread as droplets through the air, as when someone coughs or sneezes. Those who get the vaccine can be contagious, especially if they contract active blisters. People who have chickenpox become the most contagious 1-2 days before breaking out with the rash. They remain contagious until all blisters crust over, usually about a week after they first appear.

What is the conventional treatment?
Historically, treatment has been aimed at keeping people comfortable while their immune system fights the infection. Aveeno (oatmeal) baths in lukewarm water can help prevent itching and subsequent scratching. Over-the-counter antihistamines, either taken orally or applied topically as a lotion, such as calamine, can also help control the itching.

Trimming fingernails is a good method of reducing bacterial infections and scarring, which typically occur after lesions get scratched open. Fever control should be with Tylenol first, as Ibuprofen may be linked to an increased risk of secondary infections (although no association has ever been clinically demonstrated).  Aspirin should never be used to treat fever in children.

Antiviral medicines, such as Acyclovir have been approved by the FDA for treating chickenpox in kids older than 2 years of age that are susceptible to systemic complications. They should be started within the first 24 hours of the rash. These drugs are expensive, have side effects, and because most children will recover without problem, the benefits may not outweigh the risks for healthy kids. However, antiviral medicines play an important role for those with severe rash or complications, and should be considered in older children and teenagers, as

What Are Different Types of Chest Infections?

A chest infection is a common medical condition in adults and children caused by bacteria and viruses. There are different types of chest infections including pneumonia, pertussis, and bronchitis. If left untreated, this health problem can lead to shortness of breath, a weakened immune system, and in severe cases even death.

One of the chest infections that often requires hospitalization is pneumonia. Pneumonia causes inflammation and fluid to develop in the chest and lungs. Some of the symptoms are coughing, fever, and chest pain. Walking pneumonia is a mild form of this infection that often is confused with a cold because the symptoms are not as bad as full-blown pneumonia. If a doctor suspects that a person has this illness, the physician may recommend a chest x-ray and prescribe antibiotics if needed.

Some people suffer from chronic chest infections such as bronchitis. People who have bronchitis usually have lingering coughs, chest irritation, and fatigue. Individuals who have weak respiratory systems such as the elderly and children may be prone to developing bronchitis due to other health issues. In order to diagnose bronchitis, the patient may need to have a lung function test, an x-ray, and a bacterial sputum test. The doctor will also check for lung diseases such as emphysema or asthma.

Certain chest infections such as pertussis are caused by bacteria and are highly contagious. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there are about 300,000 deaths worldwide every year just from pertussis. The condition causes individuals to gasp for air and make loud coughing noises as they are trying to breathe. Pertussis is also called whooping cough because the coughing sound that patients make is similar to a whooping noise. Physicians recommend vaccinations for people who have never had pertussis and can prescribe medication for individuals diagnosed with the infection.

Pleurisy or pleuritis is one of the chest infections that affects the pleura lining of the lungs. This condition usually occurs in conjunction with other illnesses such as influenza, lung clots, or tuberculosis. When a person has pleurisy, he may experience pain in the chest area when breathing. Since pleurisy is generally considered a secondary condition, most doctors will tend to focus on resolving the primary infection first.

There are also general upper respiratory chest infections that are caused by viruses. Typically, people will get these infections after becoming sick with a cold or sinus infection because they are unable to fight off the germs. Individuals who have influenza sometimes develop chest infections as well. The symptoms that patients might have with an upper respiratory infection include coughing, headache, and fever.

Infection and Eczema

We all know that eczema is not infectious – one of the UK National Eczema Society’s messages for very many years. Damaged skin is vulnerable to infection, however, and infected eczema is one of the most common issues raised with the UK National Eczema Society’s helpline. In this article our information team looks at why this might be and what we can do about it.

Broken skin provides an environment where micro-organisms can flourish. As a result, skin infections are not uncommon. Infections may be bacterial, fungal or viral.

Bacterial Infection
Atopic eczema is most often infected by a bacterium called Staphylococcus aureus, which makes the eczema worse and slower to heal. Staph. aureus is found on the skin in less than 10% of healthy individuals.

By contrast, almost everyone who has atopic eczema will have Staph. aureus on their skin somewhere, even thought their skin may not show signs of infection. It is not clear whether the bacteria migrate from the active eczema to areas of skin without eczema or whether people with atopic eczema are simply more susceptible to Staph. aureus colonization than those without eczema.

Colonization is not normally a problem unless the skin is broken. Infection occurs only when the bacteria penetrates the skin’s barrier.

It is likely that people with atopic eczema have an impaired ability to deal with infection. In addition, as we know all too well from practical experience, eczema itches and the natural responses to itch is to scratch. This in turn causes the skin to crack and split and become red and inflamed, warm and moist – a perfect home for bacteria.

This is made worse by the itch-scratch-itch cycle and the vicious cycle that follows. It is also possible that the dry skin of atopic eczema is deficient in certain fatty acids, which may encourage the growth of bacteria.

Viral Infection
The major virus that causes problems in people with eczema is the herpes simplex or cold sore virus. Many people who do not have eczema catch herpes simplex in childhood. It is usually very mild, causing a few mouth or gum ulcers that may not even be noticed.

Our bodies become immune after a first infection by herpes simplex – you tend not to catch it from anyone a second time.  However, your own initial virus can become active again causing small, itchy blisters that quickly form a cold sore. This is how herpes simplex usually affects people who do not have eczema.

Herpes simplex is highly contagious and can appear as genital inflammation or conjunctivitis as well as cold sores. For people with eczema, the herpes simplex virus can be much more serious, probably because they have a lowered resistance to viruses. People with eczema should avoid skin-to-skin contact with anyone who has herpes simplex as this virus can infect eczema, giving rise to a condition called eczema herpeticum, which can cause serious illness.

Many children get molluscum contagiosum, but it may be slightly more common in atopic eczema sufferers. Molluscum contagiosum appears as small, smooth, red or flesh-colored bumps, each with a tiny dimple in the center. They often develop on eczema-prone areas such as skin folds behind the knees.

The condition often becomes red and crusted when the body’s immune system is starting to fight against it. This can look alarming, especially if surrounded by eczema, but is in fact a good sign and means that the molluscum contagiosum will clear up soon.

Fungal Infection
Candida or ‘thrush’ is a yeast or ‘fungal’ infection that may develop on skin with eczema, but can also appear on the skin of people without eczema. Candida likes warm, moist folds of skin such as the groin, under the arms and breasts or around the diaper area in babies.

Pityrosporum ovale is also a fungal infection, from the yeast pityrosporum, and can be found on the skin of people with seborrheic eczema. It likes to live where a lot of sebum (the body’s natural grease) is produced – for example, scalp, chest, ear folds and groin. Pityrosporum ovale may well be responsible for seborrheic eczema developing in many people. 

What Is Contagious Disease?

A contagious disease is a disease that you can catch from another person. Often times, just being close to the person, having contact with the person, or touching something the person touched is enough for you to contract the disease. These diseases aren't necessarily dangerous or life-threatening, though some can be. For instance, the common cold is not usually dangerous but the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, is.

Many times, a contagious disease is spread through the transfer of bodily fluids, such as saliva or blood. Some pathogens that can cause you to get sick are harbored in droplets of saliva. The act of coughing and sneezing causes those droplets to fly through the air and possibly infect someone else. Even sneezing or coughing in a hand can be a vehicle for spreading disease because the pathogens can be transferred to an object when an infected person touches it. You can even transfer pathogens by shaking hands with a person after you have coughed or sneezed into it.

Some countries have virtually eliminated a number of the more deadly contagious diseases through the use of vaccines. A vaccine solution made up of a weak or dead version of the pathogen that causes the contagious disease. In some cases, the vaccine may also be just a part of the pathogen. The vaccine is introduced into the body a healthy person, many times by injection. The objective is that the body will identify these diseases and form antibodies to battle the pathogen.

The ultimate goal of this method is that the inoculated individual will become immune to subsequent exposure to the contagious disease. Though many versions of vaccines involve injection, some, such as the flu vaccine, can also be administered by use of a nasal spray. Whether you get a vaccine through one method or the other depends on age and other factors. Either vaccination process may have some side effects associated with it, so it is important to learn what to expect. Some examples of a contagious disease whose spread have been controlled by the use of a vaccine are chicken pox, rubella, mumps, and measles.

Though it may not be possible to completely eliminate the pathogens that cause contagious disease, there are some steps you can take to limit your changes of contracting one. Washing your hands can often eliminate germs on your hands. When you sneeze or cough, remember to do so within the crook of your arm. Doing this will prevent germs from getting onto your hands and will prevent them from becoming airborne. It is also important to limit exposure to any bodily fluids, meaning no sharing needles, having indiscriminate intercourse, or touching bodily fluids or items contaminated with bodily fluids without the proper protection.

What's the Difference Between Infectious and Contagious?

Infectious diseases are caused by microscopic germs (such as bacteria or viruses) that get into the body and cause problems. Some — but not all — infectious diseases spread directly from one person to another. Infectious diseases that spread from person to person are said to be contagious.

Some infections spread to people from an animal or insect, but are not contagious from another human. Lyme disease is an example: You can't catch it from someone you're hanging out with or pass in the street. It comes from the bite of an infected tick.

Contagious diseases (such as the flu, colds, or strep throat) spread from person to person in several ways. One way is through direct physical contact, like touching or kissing a person who has the infection. Another way is when an infectious microbe travels through the air after someone nearby sneezes or coughs. Sometimes people get contagious diseases by touching or using something an infected person has touched or used — like sharing a straw with someone who has mono or stepping into the shower after someone who has athlete's foot. And sexually transmitted diseases are spread through all types of sex - oral, anal, or vaginal. Contagious diseases are treated mostly by antivirus meds and anabolic steroids.

You can help protect yourself against contagious diseases by washing your hands frequently, staying away from those who are sick, making sure you’ve gotten all of your vaccines, and always using condoms during any type of sex.