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Infections and infectious diseases

Infectious diseases arise as a result of infection with a pathogen. Depending on the type of pathogen, infections can be divided into four types: bacterial, viral, mycotic, and protozoan. Mycotic infection means “caused by fungi”. Protozoan infections involve infection with single-celled parasites. This type of disease includes malaria, for example

COVID-19: overview

COVID-19 is a pulmonary disorder caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. There are mild but also very severe forms. Important precautions are required to prevent severe or even fatal outcomes.

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Sinusitis

Someone who suffers from sinusitis has, for example, a blocked nose and a feeling of pressure in the forehead or jaw.

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Pneumonia

Pneumonia typically brings on a sudden high fever, coughing and breathlessness. People without any pre-existing conditions normally recover after a few weeks.

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Shingles

Shingles (herpes zoster) is a painful viral skin condition. The viruses attack nerves and cause an inflammation that spreads over the skin.

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Scabies

Scabies develops as a result of a mite infestation in the skin. Severe itching is typical. Scabies is contagious with extended skin contact. However, the disease can be well treated.

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Chlamydia

Chlamydia are bacteria that cause sexually transmitted diseases and frequently go unnoticed.

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HIV and AIDS

The HIV virus infects immune cells and weakens the immune system. The serious illnesses caused by HIV are called AIDS.

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Acute bronchitis

With acute bronchitis, the lower airways (bronchi) become temporarily inflamed. Initially, there is a dry cough but phlegm may later be coughed up from the airways.

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Acute middle ear infection

Middle ear infections are one of the most common illnesses among small children. Children with an infection cry often and complain of pain.

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Conjunctivitis

Typical signs of conjunctivitis are eyelids that stick together and eyes that have an itching and burning sensation. It can be caused by viruses or bacteria, but can also have other causes.

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Cystitis (urinary tract infection)

Women are most likely to get urinary tract infections. Cystitis is caused by bacteria and can usually be treated effectively. A burning pain when passing urine is typical.

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Athlete’s foot

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis) can redden or crack the skin and cause itchiness. It can usually be effectively treated with creams from a pharmacy. Keeping the feet dry is important with athlete’s foot.

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Gastritis

Gastritis is common. Typical symptoms of acute gastritis are stomachache, feeling of fullness, heartburn and nausea. In most cases, it is caused by bacteria.

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Styes and chalazia (eyelid inflammation)

Styes and chalazia: what is eyelid inflammation and how is it treated? Learn more about the symptoms, causes, and treatment.

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Tonsillitis

Acute tonsillitis is accompanied by a sore throat and fever. Recurring tonsillitis in short intervals can be very strenuous.

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Warts

Most people experience warts at some stage of their lives. Warts are contagious and often very persistent. Children and adolescents are at the highest risk of developing warts.

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Gastrointestinal infection by noroviruses

Symptoms of an infection with noroviruses are vomiting and diarrhea. An outbreak of this illness must be halted quickly.

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Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE)

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a viral infection transmitted ticks.

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Boils and carbuncles

Boils (furuncles), carbuncles, abscesses and pimples are all linked to inflamed skin but differ slightly. Medical treatment is often useful for boils.

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COVID-19, cold, flu: the symptoms at a glance

Typical symptoms of the three conditions, the characteristic signs of a pandemic and a flu outbreak and how people can protect themselves against infection.

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Legionnaires’ disease

Legionnaires’ disease (legionellosis) is a respiratory disease caused by bacteria. It may or may not be accompanied by pneumonia. The source of infection is contamination of the water supply.

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Mumps

Mumps is a viral infection that affects not only children. Learn more about this contagious infection and how to prevent contraction.

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Anthrax

Anthrax is a rare disease. It is transmitted to humans by animals. Certain occupational groups are at high risk of contracting the disease. Read more about symptoms, causes, and treatment.

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Campylobacter infection

Campylobacter infection is an infectious disease with a high temperature and diarrhea. It is generally caused by eating contaminated food of animal origin.

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Salmonellosis

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by bacteria in food. The main symptom is diarrhea. It may be accompanied by abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.

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Lyme disease

Tick bites do not usually cause any complications. But some ticks transfer Lyme disease to humans. Lyme disease is usually treated with antibiotics.

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Toxoplasmosis

Toxoplasmosis is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii. A third of all people are carriers, but only around 5% of them show symptoms of the disease.

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Syphilis

Syphilis is a globally prevalent contagious disease that infects people through sexual intercourse in particular. Learn more about symptoms, prevention, and treatment.

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Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted infection with the Neisseria gonorrhoeae (gonococcus) bacterium which is found worldwide. Find out more about symptoms, prevention, and therapy.

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Tetanus

Tetanus is a dangerous infectious disease. Even a small wound can be the portal of entry for the pathogen. People can protect themselves from it with vaccination.

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Hantavirus infections

Hantaviruses cause a flu-like illness with fever. It often also affects the kidneys. Rodents such as rats and mice and their droppings are carriers of the virus.

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Leprosy

Leprosy is a bacterial infectious disease that primarily occurs in South East Asia, South America, and Africa. Though leprosy is curable, there are still serious outcomes.

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Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever bacteria (streptococci) cause an illness in children with symptoms such as a high fever, sore throat, and typical skin rash.

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Whooping cough (pertussis)

Whooping cough is a highly infectious communicable disease that is triggered by bacteria. The disease can put severe stress on the body and is lengthy.

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Tuberculosis (TB)

Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial infectious disease most commonly affecting the lungs. It is relatively rare in Germany.

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Hepatitis C

Hepatitis C is a viral infection of the liver transmitted through blood and, over time, can lead to severe liver damage. But these days this can almost always be avoided with medication.

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Common cold

The first signs of a common colds are often sneezing and a sore throat. If rhinitis has fully kicked in, many people feel weak and ill.

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False croup

False croup is a condition in the airways. It usually occurs in small children. Typical symptoms include a barking cough, a rasping sound when breathing in, and a slight shortness of breath.

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Bacterial vaginosis

Bacterial vaginosis is caused by an overgrowth of bacteria in the vagina that are normally rarely found there. The risk of vaginal inflammation is increased.

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Impetigo

Impetigo (impetigo contagiosa) is an itchy and sometimes painful infection of the skin. It is especially common in young children.

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Chronic wounds

Wounds do not always heal quickly. Many take a long time to heal or keep opening up. They are referred to as chronic open wounds.

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Diarrhea

Diarrheal diseases occur often. They are often the result of a viral infection. Persistent diarrhea must be treated because it can lead to loss of fluid and sodium depletion.

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High temperature in children

High temperatures are common in children and their causes are usually harmless. Only rarely is a high temperature an indication of a serious condition that requires medical treatment.

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Genital herpes

Genital herpes is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases. Many people are infected without knowing it. Learn more about this viral infection.

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Flu (Influenza)

Many people talk about the flu when they have a common cold. But the infections progress in different ways: a cold develops slowly, the flu quickly and fiercely.

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Pityriasis versicolor (tinea versicolor)

When fungi proliferate, they can cause diseases – for example, pityriasis versicolor. This skin rash is caused by a yeast fungus and is usually harmless.

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Oral herpes

With oral herpes, particular herpes viruses cause painful blisters to form. The condition heals on its own in one to 2 weeks. No treatment is normally required.

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Fungal nail infection

Fungal nail infections are usually caused by skin fungi. They often affect the nails on the big toes, causing them to become brittle and discolored.

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Oral thrush (oral candidiasis)

If a person's mouth constantly feels furry, it may be caused by oral thrush. It is rarely dangerous, but often unpleasant.

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Vaginal yeast infection

Fungal infections of the vagina occur frequently in women of childbearing age. They often require only brief treatment with vaginal suppositories or creams.

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Chickenpox (varicella)

Typical signs of chickenpox are an extremely itchy skin rash with red blisters and a slight fever. This viral infection most frequently affects children between the ages of 2 and 10.

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Erysipelas and cellulitis

Erysipelas and cellulitis are caused by bacteria that break through the skin barrier due to an injury. With prompt treatment, a complete recovery is usually possible.

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Hepatitis A

Hepatitis A is an infectious disease often brought back from traveling. The main symptom is liver inflammation. Find out more about symptoms, treatment, and vaccine protection.

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Hepatitis B

Hepatitis B is a viral infection of the liver transmitted during unprotected sex, for example. Find out how the infection goes on to develop, what complications it has and who should be vaccinated.

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Botulism

Botulism is a type of poisoning caused by botulinum toxin, a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

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Bubonic plague

The bubonic plague has spread fear and terror over the centuries. Although the disease has now become rare, no one has managed to eradicate it.

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Infection with cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Cytomegalovirus infections (CMV) can be dangerous for the fetus, premature babies and people with immune deficiency.

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Dengue fever

Dengue fever originated as a tropical disease that is transmitted by a mosquito bite. Since recovery is a lengthy process, travelers should take sufficient measures to protect themselves.

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Diphtheria

Diphtheria is a life-threatening infection caused by corynebacteria. There is nose, throat, larynx, skin, or wound diphtheria, as well as toxic diphtheria.

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Ebola virus disease

Discover where Ebola virus disease most commonly occurs, its usual symptoms and how it can be prevented.

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Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD)

Hand, foot and mouth disease is an infectious disease that occurs sporadically worldwide. It most often affects infants and young children and is usually harmless.

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Pneumonic plague

It is true that the plague is now rare, but it has not been completely eradicated. Pneumonic plague may occur on its own or as a result of bubonic plague.

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Malaria

Malaria is an infectious disease that is spread by the Anopheles mosquito. In Germany, a few hundred cases of the disease brought back by travelers are registered each year.

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Measles

Measles is a viral infection with symptoms such as fever, skin rash, and possible serious complications. A vaccination against the infection offers protection.

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Rubella

Rubella poses a risk to pregnant women and their unborn babies. There is a vaccine that protects against this viral disease.

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Rabies

Rabies is a zoonotic disease, i.e. a disease transmitted from animals to humans. It is usually caused by lyssaviruses, a family of viruses that includes the classic rabies virus.

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Typhoid

Typhoid is transmitted by bacteria in contaminated drinking water and food. It is recommended that people get a typhoid vaccine before travel to high-risk areas and take care with food and drink.

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