Infectious Diseases

Swine flu, more correctly known as 2009 novel H1N1 influenza A, is a contagious respiratory illness caused by a virus.

Klebsiella genus is a gram-negative rod of the enterobacteriaceae family. This organism is found widely throughout nature and is part of the normal flora of the gastrointestinal tract, throat and...

Mycoplasma (mycoplasma pneumoniae) is a microscopic organism related to bacteria. Mycoplasmic infections are highly contagious and can result from contact with the nose or throat droplets of an...

There are two groups of the bacterial infection known as strep. Both group A and B infections are caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes. Group A causes infections such as the common strep...

Mycoplasma are the smallest free-living organisms known to infect human beings. These types of organisms are also called pleuropneumonia-like organisms (aidsinfobbs.org, 2009). These organisms can...

Consolidation is an old term for lobar pneumonia, which describes the appearance of the lung in autopsy studies. Consolidation denotes pneumonia so serious that William Osler (an early American...

People who have weak immune systems are prone to many conditions that otherwise healthy people do not normally have to contend with. One of these weakened immune conditions is pneumocystis carinii...

Mycoplasma is a bacteria that does not have a cell wall, which means that the bacteria is not affected by some courses of antibiotics, such as penicillin. The bacteria is normally involved with...

Mycoplasma pneumonia is a milder form of pneumonia that has its own characteristic symptoms. As long as these symptoms are not ignored and the patient receives prompt medical attention, most...

Multiple myeloma is defined as a cancer of plasma cells found inside the bone marrow. The reason why this type of cancer is specified as "multiple" myeloma is because the cancer is found in...

According to Dawn F. Muench, MD, and Michael Rajnik, MD, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Streptococcus pneumoniae causes community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), bacterial...

There are several causes of pneumonia--irritants to the lungs, virus, fungi and bacteria. Both viral and bacterial pneumonia are contagious. Antibiotics help cure the bacterial pneumonia and viral...

Klebsiella is a bacteria that lives in the intestinal tract in about 40 percent of all people. This bacteria does have the ability to cause symptoms within the digestive tract, though these tend...

If you have pneumonia, then you have a potentially serious inflammatory condition affecting your lungs. This can be caused by an infection that leads to the air sacs becoming filled with pus and...

Pneumonia is a lung infection than causes serious lung inflammation. The infection may be bacterial, viral or fungal. Pneumonia can be lethal in some cases. Bronchitis is also a condition...

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It is a serious yet common condition which affects one out of every 100 people each year. Pneumonia can be dangerous for anyone of any age but it can be...

Pneumonia is a common infection that affects people of all ages. It is a serious condition that could prove fatal if left untreated. Pneumonia symptoms tend to be more serious in young children,...

MRSA, or the super bug as it is sometimes called is tested before a firm diagnosis is made. This is a simple painless procedure, which is essential if you are showing signs or symptoms of MRSA, a...

Legionellosis is a bacterial infection caused by the Legionella pneumophila bacterium. It takes two forms: Pontiac fever, which is the mild form of the disease, and Legionnaires' disease, which...

Q fever is an infection caused by the Coxiella burnetii rickettsia. Coxiella burnetii is transmitted to humans by inhaling droplets of contaminated birth products, feces and urine from infected...

Legionellosis is a bacterial infection caused by the Legionella pneumophila bacterium. It is also known as Legionnaires' disease and got its name from the first known outbreak in 1976 at a...

A chickenpox vaccine, or varicella vaccine, is 90 percent effective. Chickenpox is a common disease among children and can lead to serious complications including scarring, brain swelling,...