Communicable Diseases by Michael Rocco Soave

AIDS/HIV infection

HIV infection is a communicable disease caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) which damages the body's immune system, the system that fights infections. Over time and without the immune system's protection, the body is defenseless against serious and potentially life-threatening diseases which can lead to the development of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), the later stage of HIV infection.

Wisconsin AIDS/HIV Program

The Wisconsin AIDS/HIV Program is the lead agency in Wisconsin government responsible for coordinating the state’s public health response to the AIDS/HIV epidemic.

Amebiasis 

(amebic dysentery) Amebiasis is an intestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasitic amoeba called Entamoeba histolytica. Wisconsin averages about 10-15 cases per year.

Anaplasmosis and Ehrlichiosis

Rickettsial infections are caused by a variety of bacteria, and are most often transmitted to humans by  infected fleas, lice, mites, and ticks. Rickettsial infections include anaplasmosis, ehrlichiosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and typhus fever group. 

Animal bites

Although animal bites are not officially notifiable by state statute, they occur commonly and carry a risk of infection with various disease agents. Animal bite wounds should be washed immediately and thoroughly with soap and water. A health care provider should be promptly consulted about the possible need for antibiotic treatment and tetanus vaccination.

Because of the possibility of rabies virus transmission, the biting animal should be captured if it is safe to do so. In the case of an owned domestic animal, information on the owner and location of the animal should be obtained. DO NOT DESTROY OR RELEASE AN ANIMAL THAT HAS BITTEN A PERSON until one consults with a public health official. In nearly all cases, observation or testing of the animal can eliminate the need to administer the series of injections to prevent rabies.

Anthrax

Anthrax is a bacterial illness caused by Bacillus anthracis with acute onset characterized by several distinct clinical forms.

Antibiotic resistance

(Antimicrobial resistance)

General information

Antibiotic (Antimicrobial) resistance is the ability of bacteria to resist or overcome the effects of an antibiotic. The bacteria survive, despite treatment, and continue to multiply and cause illness. Infections caused by bacteria that are resistant to many drugs can be difficult or even impossible to cure. Antibiotic resistant organisms can cause illness which can lead to serious disability or even death. Over the last decade, many types of bacteria have become less responsive to antibiotic treatment.

Antibiotic resistance has been an increasing problem worldwide, particularly in areas where antibiotics are misused or inappropriately prescribed. Bacteria can become resistant when they mutate or acquire the genes of other resistant bacteria. Antibiotics can enhance bacterial resistance by killing susceptible bacteria and leaving the resistant strains to spread and multiply.

A person with an infection that is resistant to antibiotics can then pass that resistant infection to another person.. These antibiotic-resistant bacteria can spread to family members, schoolmates, and co-workers. For this reason, antibiotic resistance is among the top concerns for scientists and health care practitioners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Antibiotic resistance can cause significant illness and suffering even for common infections that were once easily treatable with antibiotics.

Arboviral diseases

Arboviral (short for arthropod-borne) diseases are caused by arboviruses that are spread to people by a bite of an infected arthropod, including mosquitoes and ticks. In the United States, mosquitoes can spread West Nile virus (WNV), California serogroup viruses (California encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis, and Jamestown Canyon), Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), and St. Louis encephalitis virus (SLEV). In Wisconsin, we usually see reports of La Crosse encephalitis, West Nile, and Powassan virus infections. These infections generally occur during warm weather months when mosquitoes and ticks are active. Symptoms of illness are usually mild and nonspecific that can include headache, fever, fatigue, muscle aches, and swollen lymph nodes. Some people may experience severe neuroinvasive illness including flaccid paralysis, encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and meningitis.

Babesiosis

Babesiosis is an increasingly common, sometimes severe, and occasionally fatal disease caused by a parasite that infects red blood cells. It is caused by a single-celled parasite named Babesia. The disease can cause fever, fatigue, and anemia lasting from several days to several months. Symptoms tend to be more apparent and severe in elderly or immunocompromised persons. Infections can also occur without producing symptoms. In the USA, the disease occurs primarily in the upper Midwest and northeastern states. The vast majority of cases are acquired through the bite of an infected Ixodes scapularis tick (deer tick); however, in rare instances, the infection has been acquired through blood transfusions.

Meningitis

Viral and Bacterial Meningitis is the inflammation of the meninges, the tissues and fluid covering the brain and spinal cord. Meningitis is usually caused by a virus or a bacterium.

Baylisascaris procyonis

(Raccoon roundworm) This is a large roundworm parasite that lives in the intestines of raccoons. The worm does not harm the raccoon, but on rare occasions can cause serious illness in humans. About half of all raccoons tested in Wisconsin have been found to be infected. Raccoons throughout Wisconsin have shown to be infected with Baylisascaris procyonis, but it is more prevalent in the southern portion of the state.

Bed bugs (Cimex lectularius)

Bed bugs, a problem worldwide, are resurging, causing property loss, expense, and inconvenience. The good news is that bed bugs do not transmit disease. The best way to prevent bed bugs is regular inspection for signs of an infestation.

Possible Bioterrorism incident

A bioterrorism incident is an event during which an infectious or chemical agent has been used to threaten harm to an individual(s). For example, this may occur when a person receives a letter labeled with or mentioning the name of a possible bioterrorist chemical or biologic agent (e.g. anthrax) or a telephone caller threatens to use such an agent as a weapon. Use or threatened use of any chemical or biologic agent as a weapon is a federal crime and will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted by the FBI and police departments.

Blastomycosis

Blastomycosis is an uncommon, but potentially serious fungal infection. It primarily affects the lungs and skin and is caused by the fungus Blastomyces dermatitidis. The illness that can result from exposure to this organism is extremely variable. Infected individuals may not develop any symptoms or may develop mild and rapidly improving respiratory symptoms; a very serious progressive illness involving multiple organ systems can occur in untreated patients.

Botulism

Botulism is a severe paralytic illness caused by the neurotoxin produced by spores of the bacterium, Clostridium botulinum. There are four naturally occurring forms of botulism (foodborne, wound, infant/intestinal and adult intestinal toxemia) and two other forms (inhalation and iatrogenic). Non-infant botulism can occur following the ingestion of botulinum neurotoxin, infection of a wound or injection site with Clostridium botulinum, or an undetermined gastrointestinal exposure to the bacterium in adults. Infant botulism (also known as Intestinal Botulism) occurs in infants less than 12 months of age following the consumption and subsequent intestinal growth of C. botulinum spores that release the neurotoxin.

Brucellosis

(undulant fever, Bang's disease) Brucellosis is a bacterial disease that may affect various organs of the body, producing a wide variety of signs and symptoms such as intermittent fever of variable duration, headache, weakness, swollen lymph nodes, profuse sweating, chills, weight loss and generalized aching. Brucellosis can also cause infection and inflammation of the bone, testicles, and the lining of the heart.

MRSA methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) or "staph", is a bacterium found in the nose or on the skin of approximately 20-30% of the U.S. population. It causes diseases ranging from mild to severe skin and soft tissue infections to more serious invasive diseases such as blood stream infections, pneumonia and toxic shock syndrome. Although most infections are treated successfully with antibiotics, some cases result in significant injury or death.

California serogroup viruses

(California encephalitis, La Crosse encephalitis, Jamestown Canyon)California serogroup viruses including California encephalitis, Keystone, La Crosse, Jamestown Canyon, snowshoe hare, and trivittatus are all mosquito-borne arboviral infections. In the United States, La Crosse virus (LACV) is the most common of the California serogroup viruses. Both LACV and Jamestown Canyon virus (JCV) infections have been reported in Wisconsin. People infected with California serogroup viruses may have no apparent symptoms. Some people have symptoms of illness that may range from mild fever to encephalitis or mengioencephelitis.

Campylobacteriosis

Campylobacteriosis is a bacterial infection that affects the intestinal tract and, in rare cases, the bloodstream. It is the most commonly reported cause of bacterial diarrhea in Wisconsin. Most cases are seen in the summer months and occur as single cases or outbreaks.

Chancroid

(Haemophilus ducreyi)

Chancroid is a highly contagious yet curable sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by bacterium called Haemophilus ducreyi. Chancroid causes ulcers, usually of the genitals and is often associated with painfully swollen lymph glands in the groin area.

Wisconsin Immunization Program

Varicella

(Chickenpox)

Chickenpox is a highly communicable disease caused by the varicella virus, a member of the herpes virus family.

Chikungunya fever

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Chikungunya fever is an arboviral disease transmitted to humans by the bite of infected Aedes aegypti and A. albopictus mosquitoes. Chikungunya virus was first isolated from the blood of a febrile patient in Tanzania in 1953, and outbreaks of Chikungunya fever have occurred in many areas of Africa and Asia, and most recently in a limited area of Europe. Chikungunya disease rarely occurs in the United States and reported cases are usually associated with travel to a high-risk area. In 2007, two cases of Chikungunya were reported in travel-associated Wisconsin residents.

Chlamydia

(Chlamydia trachomatis)

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by bacterium called Chlamydia trachomatis.
It is the most commonly reported STD in Wisconsin.

Cholera

Cholera is a bacterial disease that affects the intestinal tract. The bacterium is called Vibrio cholera. Although cholera is a very rare disease today, six worldwide outbreaks were documented between 1817 and 1911 that resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths. Currently, only a few cases are reported in the United States each year.

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)

Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a recently defined illness consisting of a complex of related symptoms. The most characteristic symptom is debilitating fatigue that persists for several months.

Clostridium difficile 

C. difficile

(Associated diseases: pseudomembranous colitis, antibiotic associated diarrhea)

C. difficile is a spore forming bacteria which can be part of the normal intestinal flora in as many as 50% of children under age two, and less frequently in individuals over two years of age. C. difficile is the major cause of pseudomembranous colitis and antibiotic associated diarrhea.

Clostridium perfringens

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Clostridium perfringens is an anaerobic, spore forming bacteria that is widely distributed in the environment and frequently occurs in the intestines of humans and many domestic and wild animals. Spores of this organism are found in soil, sediments, and areas subject to human or animal fecal pollution.

Coccidioidomycosis

Valley Fever

Coccidioidomycosis, commonly known as Valley Fever, is a fungal disease caused by inhaling spores from Coccidioides species. This fungus lives in the soil of semiarid regions of the world and is endemic in areas of the southwestern United States, northern Mexico and portions of South America. When asked, most people diagnosed with Valley fever in Wisconsin, have a history of travel to Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico, or Texas. About 60% of infected people exhibit mild or no clinical illness. People who develop symptoms most often experience a flu-like illness, with fever, cough, headache, fatigue, rash, and muscle aches from which they recover within several months. A small number of infected people may develop a chronic pulmonary infection or widespread disseminated infection in the brain, joints, bones, or soft tissues.

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE)

Enterobacteriaceae is a family of bacteria commonly found in the human gut. There are several species of bacteria within the Enterobacteriaceae family, which include but are not limited to Escherichia, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, Citrobacter and Yersinia. Many species of Enterobacteriaceae are necessary for digestion and are usually harmless when contained in the gut.

Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) 

Transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE)

CJD is a rare incurable disease of humans that affects the nervous system and results in rapidly progressive dementia, loss of motor control, paralysis, and death. It is one of several related diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies or TSEs for short. The term "encephalopathy" means the brain is affected, and the term "spongiform" refers to the microscopic holes seen in the brain, giving it a sponge-like appearance. 

Cryptosporidiosis

Cryptosporidiosis is an illness caused by the protozoan Cryptosporidium, a single-celled parasite. The most common symptom is diarrhea that is usually watery and profuse, and often accompanied by abdominal cramping. Nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, and loss of appetite may also occur. Rarely, the parasite can cause an inflammation of the gall bladder or infect the lining of the respiratory tract causing pneumonia. Some persons infected with Cryptosporidium may not become ill.

Cyclosporiasis

Cyclospora cayetanensis

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal illness caused by an infection with a microscopic one-celled parasite named Cyclospora cayetanensis. The first known human cases of cyclosporiasis were reported in 1979.

People can become infected with Cyclospora by consuming food or water contaminated with the parasite. People traveling to countries where the disease in endemic may be at increased risk for infection.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common viral infection that rarely causes disease in healthy individuals. When it does cause disease, the symptoms vary depending on the patient’s age and immune status.