Below, “Infectious and parasitic diseases” describes diseases that are assigned to this category according to ICD-10 (A00-B99). The ICD-10 is used for the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems and is recognized worldwide.
Infectious and parasitic diseases
AIDS has no cure to date, and tuberculosis is on the rise worldwide. The threat of infectious diseases knows no bounds. This has been dramatically demonstrated by the rapid spread of the SARS pathogen in recent years. Infectious diseases continue to pose a major challenge to the healthcare system. Even an “old acquaintance,” tuberculosis – a bacterial disease – is currently making a “quiet” comeback. Every year, more than nine million new infections are counted, and worldwide more than two million people die from this infectious disease every year. Infectious diseases are caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites (e.g. worms). An infectious disease is characterized by pathogen-specific courses and symptoms. The physical condition of the infected person also plays a role in this context. Children, the sick and the elderly are particularly at risk. An infection does not always lead to illness, but the affected person is still contagious. Infectious diseases can be localized, i.e. the disease is restricted to certain areas of the body, or generalized, i.e. affecting the entire body. For the majority of infectious diseases, there are pathogen-specific drugs such as antibiotics (for bacterial infections) and antivirals (for diseases caused by viruses). Many infectious diseases can be prevented by hygiene measures and, last but not least, by vaccination: Vaccinations, such as against influenza (flu), offer protection against infectious diseases and their dreaded complications. Travel medicine vaccinations are advisable when traveling to distant countries and reduce the risk of infection from many dreaded infectious diseases. Numerous infectious diseases can be avoided by preventive action. Some can also be treated today with pharmacotherapy.
Common infectious and parasitic diseases
- HIV/AIDS
- Lyme disease (Lyme disease)
- Campylobacter enteritis – inflammation of the small intestine (diarrheal disease).
- Chlamydia infection – leads to diseases affecting the urinary tract and / or reproductive organs.
- Early summer meningoencephalitis (TBE).
- Gonorrhea (gonorrhea) – sexually transmitted disease that affects mainly the urinary tract and genital organs.
- Haemophilus influenzae – bacterial disease of the upper respiratory tract.
- Hepatitis A, B, C, D, E – virus-related liver inflammation.
- Influenza (flu)
- Legionellosis – infectious disease caused by bacteria of the genus Legionella (Legionella).
- Malaria
- Morbilli (measles)
- Parotitis epidemica (mumps)
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Pneumococcal infection – bacterial disease that in most cases leads to pneumonia, but can also cause meningitis (meningitis) and acute otitis media (inflammation of the middle ear).
- Rubella (rubella)
- Syphilis – sexually transmitted disease
- Tetanus (tetanus)
- Tuberculosis
- Varicella (chickenpox)
The main risk factors for infectious and parasitic diseases
Behavioral causes
- Diet
- Consumption of stimulants
- Alcohol consumption
- Tobacco consumption
- Psycho-social situation
- Stress
- Contact with ill persons
- Insufficient hygienic conditions
- Insufficient protection against mosquito bites (malaria)
- Tattoos, piercings, pierce the ear hole.
- Drug use
- Needle sharing – sharing needles and other injection equipment among drug addicts.
- Sexual transmission – unprotected sexual intercourse, sexual contacts in the vacation country, prostitution, promiscuity (sexual contacts with relatively frequently changing different partners).
Disease-related causes
- Alcohol dependence
- Diabetes mellitus – diabetes mellitus type 1, diabetes mellitus type 2
- Dialysis patients
- Immunodeficiency
Medication
- Glucocorticoids such as cortisone
- Immunosuppressants – drugs that reduce the functions of the immune system.
- Contaminated blood products
- Cytostatics – drugs that inhibit cell growth or cell division, respectively.
X-rays
- Radiation therapy (radiotherapy, radiatio)
Please note that the enumeration is only an extract of the possible risk factors. Further causes can be found under the respective disease.
The main diagnostic measures for infectious and parasitic diseases
- Cultural detection of the pathogen incl. resistogram (testing of suitable antibiotics for sensitivity/resistance).
- Microscopic examination of samples
- Serological detection of antibodies against the respective pathogen.
- Stool examination for enteropathogenic pathogens.
- Abdominal ultrasonography (ultrasound examination of abdominal organs) – if liver or spleen involvement is suspected.
- X-ray of the thorax (X-ray thorax / chest).
- Echocardiography (echo; cardiac ultrasound) – if cardiac involvement is suspected.
- If necessary, computed tomography of the skull (cranial CT, cranial CT or cCT).
- If necessary, magnetic resonance imaging of the skull (cranial MRI, cranial MRI or cMRI).
Which doctor will help you?
For infectious and parasitic diseases, the first point of contact is the family doctor, who is usually a general practitioner or internist. Depending on the disease or its severity, this person decides whether a presentation to a specialist or specialist is necessary.
