Infectious diseases are illnesses caused by pathogens such as bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses that enter the body through direct or indirect contact. Infectious diseases may spread from human to human, animal to human or from contaminated food or water that is exposed to harmful organisms and toxins in the environment. These diseases can cause mild to severe symptoms that can even become life-threatening and require immediate medical attention. Some of these diseases can be prevented through vaccines such as malaria, influenza, Hepatitis A, etc.

Symptoms of infectious diseases vary with the type of illness.
Some general symptoms include:

• Rash & itching
• Fever
• Congestion
• Fatigue
• Muscle ache
• Headache
• Gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, diarrhea etc.)

Infectious diseases can be caused by:

• Bacteria
• Virus
• Parasites
• Fungi
• Direct contact with people or animal
• From germs on inanimate objects like doorknobs, tables, faucets etc.
• Insect bite
• Food contamination

Although anybody who is not taking precautions is at risk of getting an infectious disease, some people are more prone to catching them. These include:

• People with compromised immune systems - those who are undergoing cancer treatment, have HIV or taking medications or steroids
• Young children, older people and pregnant women
• People who are not vaccinated against common infectious diseases
• People who travel to areas that are exposed to mosquitoes and other organisms that can cause malaria, dengue, Zika Virus etc.
• Healthcare workers  

Some of the tips that can help you prevent or decrease the risk of infectious diseases include:

• Maintain hygiene: Wash your hands and keep your surrounding areas clean. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth or nose to prevent the germs from entering the body.
• Avoid physical contact when ill: If you are unwell, stay at home in a separate room so that you don’t spread the infection or catch any new infection from others.
• Get vaccinated: Vaccinations reduce the chances of catching infections and contracting many diseases. Make sure you and your family are fully vaccinated, as prescribed by your doctors. Some of the available vaccines for common infectious diseases include Chickenpox, Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Influenza, HPA, Covid-19, Malaria, Rabies, and Measles.
• Don’t share personal items: To stop the spread of infection, use your personal things like toothbrush, comb, bottles, food items etc and do not share them with anyone.
• Follow food safety measures: Keep your kitchen counters and utensils clean. Cook foods to a proper temperature and refrigerate the fruits and leftover foods.  
• Follow travel guidelines: Avoid travelling to places with more infection risk. Before travelling, get yourself properly checked and vaccinated for malaria, cholera, chicken pox, corona etc. to keep yourself immune.

Treatment for infectious diseases depends on the cause of the infection. Bacterial infections can be treated with a specific antibiotic depending on the bacteria that caused the infection. Viral infections can be cured with over-the-counter medications. Fungal infections can be managed with antifungal medications.

The Centre for Infectious Diseases at Sarvodaya provides comprehensive care and treatment solutions for simple to complex infectious diseases such as general invasive infections, tropical diseases, HIV infections, organ transplant-related infections etc.

Book your appointment online or call 18003131414