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An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. [1] An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable disease, is an illness resulting from an infection.
The variety of host cells that a virus can infect is called its host range: this is narrow for viruses specialized to infect only a few species, or broad for viruses capable of infecting many. [13]: 123–124 Viral infections in animals provoke an immune response that usually eliminates the infecting
Pathogenicity is the potential disease-causing capacity of pathogens, involving a combination of infectivity (pathogen's ability to infect hosts) and virulence (severity of host disease). Koch's postulates are used to establish causal relationships between microbial pathogens and diseases.
A contagious disease is an infectious disease that can be spread rapidly in several ways, including direct contact, indirect contact, and Droplet contact. [1] [2]These diseases are caused by organisms such as parasites, bacteria, fungi, and viruses.
Infections can be prevented by antiseptic measures such as sterilizing the skin prior to piercing it with the needle of a syringe and by proper care of indwelling catheters. Surgical and dental instruments are also sterilized to prevent infection by bacteria.
An opportunistic infection is an infection caused by pathogens (bacteria, fungi, parasites or viruses) that take advantage of an opportunity not normally available.These opportunities can stem from a variety of sources, such as a weakened immune system (as can occur in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome or when being treated with immunosuppressive drugs, as in cancer treatment), [1] an altered ...
Illness during infection is primarily the result of lung inflammation and compromise caused by epithelial cell infection and death, combined with inflammation caused by the immune system's response to infection. Non-respiratory organs can become involved, but the mechanisms by which influenza is involved in these cases are unknown.
Meaning Origin language and etymology Example(s) a-, an-not, without (alpha privative) Greek ἀ-/ἀν-(a-/an-), not, without analgesic, apathy, anencephaly: ab-from; away from Latin abduction, abdomen: abdomin-of or relating to the abdomen: Latin abdōmen, abdomen, fat around the belly abdomen, abdominal -ac: pertaining to; one afflicted with