Infectious diseases could be defined as those infectious diseases produced by viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites capable of being transmitted between patients by different routes (respiratory or contact, among others), resulting in contagion. Some examples are:
- Virus – COVID-19 infection. Highly probable respiratory route of transmission.
- Bacteria – Infection by pulmonary tuberculosis. Respiratory transmission.
- Gonorrhea by sexual contact
Symptoms and signs
The symptoms and signs of these diseases can be very diverse depending on the system or apparatus they are able to affect. Generally speaking, most of the infectious processes can produce fever as a sign.
In the case of infectious diseases that affect the respiratory system, they generally present with cough, dyspnea (fatigue), expectoration, odynophagia (sore throat) and chest pain.
How do they affect cancer patients?
Patients with cancer and undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy are considered to be more susceptible to infectious diseases because they are immunosuppressed in other factors to be taken into account. In turn, it is likely that they may suffer in advanced stages of the disease infections by opportunistic germs such as candidiasis.
As for age, the incidence is higher at the extremes of life being the age groups, children and the elderly with concomitant diseases (heart failure, cancer and chronic bronchitis, among others).
Prevention and treatment
In some cases it is possible, such as sexually transmitted diseases (STD). In these cases it is recommended to use barrier methods (use of condoms) to avoid contagion. As for infectious diseases of respiratory transmission, the use of surgical masks, FPP2 masks and in those whose contagion is by contact it is advisable to use gloves and skin protection (gowns).
Treatment will depend on the type of infectious disease and the degree of involvement at the time of diagnosis. However, most bacterial and fungal infections can be treated with antibiotics and antifungals. As for viral infectious infections, the same availability and variety of treatments capable of eliminating them do not exist today.