Viruses, bacteria, parasites
Infectious Diseases
Flu, COVID, hepatitis, urinary infections: understanding the transmission, prevention, and treatments of infectious diseases.
41 articles in this section
Articles in Infectious Diseases
Infectious Diseases
Hepatitis B: A Manageable Chronic Infection
Around 250 million people live with chronic hepatitis B. Modern antivirals suppress the virus indefinitely.
Infectious Diseases
Hepatitis C: A Curable Disease Today
Hepatitis C used to mean lifelong chronic liver disease. Modern 8-12 week regimens cure nearly all infections.
Infectious Diseases
Recurrent Urinary Tract Infections in Women
Half of women experience at least one UTI; 25% develop recurrences. Several non-antibiotic measures reduce recurrence.
Infectious Diseases
Seasonal Influenza: More Than a Bad Cold
Influenza causes 3-5 million severe cases globally each year and remains underestimated by the public.
Infectious Diseases
Long COVID: A Recognised Multisystem Syndrome
Long COVID affects an estimated 10-20% of infected adults. Symptoms vary widely and management is supportive.
Infectious Diseases
Infectious Mononucleosis: The 'Kissing Disease'
Epstein-Barr virus causes a self-limited illness most common in adolescents and young adults.
Infectious Diseases
Lyme Disease: Tick Bites Demand Attention
Lyme disease, transmitted by Ixodes ticks, is now endemic across temperate regions. Awareness is the best protection.
Infectious Diseases
Shingles: Vaccination Can Prevent It
Shingles results from varicella reactivation. Modern vaccination prevents most cases and complications in older adults.
Infectious Diseases
Fever in Adults: When to Worry
Fever is a defence mechanism, not a disease. Knowing when it warrants urgent care is essential.
Infectious Diseases
Hepatitis B: Chronic Liver Threat
Hepatitis B can silently progress to cirrhosis and liver cancer decades after infection.
Infectious Diseases
Hepatitis C: Now Curable
Direct-acting antivirals cure more than 95% of hepatitis C infections in 8-12 weeks.
Infectious Diseases
Tuberculosis: Recognizing a Reemerging Disease
Persistent cough, night sweats, and weight loss should prompt tuberculosis testing.
Infectious Diseases
HIV: From Fatal Infection to Chronic Disease
Modern antiretroviral therapy allows near-normal life expectancy and prevents transmission.
Infectious Diseases
Mononucleosis: The Kissing Disease
Extreme fatigue, sore throat, and swollen glands in teens or young adults suggest mononucleosis.
Infectious Diseases
Seasonal Flu: Vaccinate the Right People
Annual flu vaccination reduces hospitalisation, especially for older adults and pregnant women.
Infectious Diseases
Long COVID: Persistent Post-Viral Symptoms
Fatigue, brain fog, and exercise intolerance can last months after acute COVID-19.
Infectious Diseases
Shingles: Vaccinate Adults Over 50
Post-herpetic neuralgia can persist for months. The recombinant zoster vaccine is 90% effective.
Infectious Diseases
Recurrent UTIs in Women: Break the Cycle
Post-coital voiding, hydration, and vaginal estrogens after menopause reduce recurrences.
Infectious Diseases
Acute Otitis Media in Children: Wait and See?
Many acute middle-ear infections resolve without antibiotics; watchful waiting is often appropriate.
Infectious Diseases
Seasonal Flu: Symptoms, Complications, and Prevention
Sudden fever, body aches, intense fatigue: seasonal flu is not a simple cold. Discover how to protect yourself effectively.
Infectious Diseases
Hepatitis B: A Silent Infection Affecting 296 Million People
Chronic hepatitis B often progresses without symptoms for years before revealing serious liver damage. Screening is crucial.
Infectious Diseases
Urinary Tract Infections: Why They Recur and How to Prevent Them
Burning during urination, frequent urges, pelvic pain: urinary tract infections primarily affect women. Here's how to understand and prevent them.
Infectious Diseases
Tuberculosis: The World's Deadliest Infectious Disease
Tuberculosis remains a global scourge despite the existence of effective treatment. Persistent cough, night sweats, weight loss: recognizing the signs can save lives.
Infectious Diseases
Long COVID: When Symptoms Persist Months After Infection
Debilitating fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath: long COVID affects the quality of life of millions of people. What do we know today?