Understanding Infectious Fevers

Infectious Fever

• A type of fever caused by an infection of viral, bacterial, or fungal origin.
• Body temperature rises above 100.4°F (38°C) as the body fights pathogens.
• Other symptoms: chills, headache, body aches, fatigue, and sweating.

Examples of Infectious Fevers

Malaria Fever

• Caused by the Plasmodium parasite, transmitted by infected mosquitoes.
• Symptoms: high fever, chills, sweating, and headache.
• Can be life-threatening if untreated.

Typhoid Fever

• Caused by Salmonella typhi bacteria.
• Spread through contaminated food or water.
• Symptoms: high fever, headache, abdominal pain, and diarrhea; life-threatening if untreated.

Dengue Fever

• Caused by dengue virus, spread by infected mosquitoes.
• Symptoms: high fever, severe headache, joint/muscle pain, and rash.

Ebola Virus Disease

• Caused by Ebola virus, spread through contact with infected bodily fluids.
• Symptoms: high fever, severe headache, muscle pain, and hemorrhagic fever.

COVID-19

• Caused by SARS-CoV-2 virus, primarily spread through respiratory droplets.
• Symptoms range from mild to severe: fever, cough, and difficulty breathing.

Influenza

• Caused by influenza virus, spread through respiratory droplets.
• Symptoms: high fever, cough, sore throat, and body aches.

Pyogenic Infection

• Infection caused by pyogenic bacteria which create pus.
• Can be life-threatening, especially if sepsis (bloodstream infection) or abscesses occur.
• Common infections: cellulitis, pneumonia, UTIs, and osteomyelitis.
• Symptoms: fever, pain, swelling, redness, and pus formation at the infection site.

Tuberculosis

• Infections caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacterium.
• Symptoms: coughing, chest pain, fatigue, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.
• Treatment: long-term antibiotics and supportive measures such as rest and good nutrition.

Types of Tuberculosis

Latent TB Infection (LTBI)

• Infected with TB bacteria, but no symptoms or signs of illness.
• Bacteria remains dormant in the body and may become active later.

Active TB Disease

• TB bacteria become active, multiplying in the body and causing symptoms.
• Can be further classified as Pulmonary or Extrapulmonary TB.

Pulmonary TB

• The most common form of TB, affecting the lungs.
• Further classified into smear-positive or smear-negative TB.
  • Smear-positive: TB bacteria visible in sputum samples under a microscope.
  • Smear-negative: TB bacteria not visible under a microscope, but still present in the lungs.

Extrapulmonary TB

• Affects other parts of the body like lymph nodes, bones, and kidneys.

Venereal Diseases (Sexually Transmitted Infections)

• Infections are transmitted through sexual contact.
• Prevention: safe sex, regular STI testing, and open communication with partners.

Chlamydia

• Caused by Chlamydia trachomatis, a common STI.
• Symptoms: discharge, pain during urination/sex.

Gonorrhea

• Caused by Neisseria gonorrhoeae, affecting genitals, rectum, and throat.
• Symptoms include discharge and pain during urination/sex.

Syphilis

• Caused by Treponema pallidum, progresses through stages with various symptoms like sores, rash, fever, and fatigue.

Herpes

• Caused by herpes simplex virus (HSV).
• Causes painful sores or blisters around the mouth or genitals, and can be spread even without symptoms.

Human Papillomavirus (HPV)

• Causes genital warts and raises risk of certain cancers like cervical cancer.

HIV/AIDS

• Caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), leading to AIDS if untreated.
• Symptoms: fever, fatigue, swollen lymph nodes; some may be asymptomatic for years.

Other Infective Diseases

Influenza (Flu)

• Respiratory illness caused by influenza virus.
• Symptoms: fever, cough, sore throat, and body aches.
• Dangerous for those with weakened immune systems, the elderly, and young children.

Malaria

• Caused by Plasmodium parasite, transmitted by Anopheles mosquito.
• Symptoms: fever, chills, and flu-like symptoms.
• Can lead to organ failure and death if left untreated.

Zika Virus

Spread by Aedes mosquito.

• Symptoms: fever, rash, and joint pain; can cause birth defects if pregnant women get infected.

Dengue Fever

• Also spread by the Aedes mosquito.
• Symptoms: fever, severe headache, joint/muscle pain, and rash. Severe cases can lead to dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Measles

• Caused by measles virus.
• Respiratory illness that is highly contagious.
• Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, and rash. Severe cases can lead to pneumonia, brain damage, or death.

Polio

• Caused by poliovirus.
• It is a viral infection that can cause paralysis and death.
• Largely eradicated by vaccines.

Hepatitis

• Caused by different viruses.
• It results in liver inflammation, and can lead to liver damage, cirrhosis, or liver cancer.

Ebola

• Caused by Ebola virus.
• Symptoms: fever, bleeding, and organ failure.
• Spread via contact with bodily fluids of infected people and is fatal.

Respiratory System

• A critical system for breathing and gas exchange.
• Various organs work together to take in oxygen, expel CO2, and regulate blood pH.

Functions of the Respiratory System

• Supply oxygen (O2) to body cells and remove carbon dioxide (CO2).
• Production of speech.
• Defense against foreign material.
• Hormonal regulation of blood pressure.

Processes Involved in Respiration

Pulmonary Ventilation

• Breathing

External Respiration

• Diffusion of O2 and CO2 between air in the lungs and capillaries.
• Gases are exchanged between air in the lungs and pulmonary capillaries. High to low concentration.

Internal Respiration

• Diffusion of O2 and CO2 between blood and tissue cells.
• Gases are exchanged between blood and tissue cells.

Cellular Respiration

• Use of O2 by body cells to produce energy, releasing CO2 and H2O.

Parts of the Respiratory System

Nose (Nostrils or Nares)

• Filters particles, warms/humidifies air, and receives odors.

Pharynx

• Common passage for food and air. Epiglottis prevents food from entering the trachea during swallowing.

Larynx (Voicebox)

• Contains vocal cords and supporting tissue which makes sound.

Trachea (Windpipe)

• Serves as a passage for air to the bronchi

Bronchi

• Foreign objects enter the right bronchus more easily.
• Each divides into smaller bronchioles, which terminate into alveoli(airsacs)

Lungs

• Pyramid-shaped, spongy organs molded into the thoracic cavity.

Pleura

• Serous membrane coverings that enclose each lung.
  • Parietal pleura: lines the thoracic cavity.
  • Visceral pleura: covers the lung.

Respiratory Disorders

Abscess (Lung)

• Localized collection of pus in a cavity formed by tissue disintegration.

Asphyxiation

• Suffocation

Asthma

• Recurrent attacks of spasm and swelling of airways, causing wheezing.

Atelectasis

• Incomplete expansion of the lungs at birth, or collapse of the adult lungs.

Bronchiectasis

• Chronic dilatation of one or more bronchi.

Bronchitis

• Inflammation of one or more bronchi

Carcinoma

• Malignant epithelial cell growth that tends to infiltrate tissues and metastasize.

COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)

• Progressive disease increasing difficulty to breathe.
• A combination of Chronic Bronchitis, Chronic Asthma, and Emphysema.

Deviated Septum

• Defect in the wall between nostrils.

Diphtheria

• Acute bacterial infection primarily affecting the nose, throat, or larynx.

Effusion

• Escape of fluid.

Emphysema

• Pathologic accumulation of air in tissues/organs.

Fibrosis

• Formation of scar tissue in lungs

Flail Chest

• Paradoxical chest wall movement due to multiple rib fractures.

Hemothorax

• Blood in the pleural thoracic cavity.

Hiccough

• Sharp inspiratory sound with spasm of the glottis and diaphragm.

Hyaline Membrane Disease

• Lack of surfactant leads to hyaline material in the alveoli.

Laryngotracheobronchitis

• Inflammation of the larynx, trachea, and bronchi.

Pertussis

• Whooping cough.

Pleurisy

• Inflammation of the pleura

Pneumoconiosis

• Lung disease from permanent deposition of particulate matter.

Rhinorrhea

• "Runny nose".

URTI

• Upper Respiratory Tract Infection, for cold or flu.

Miscellaneous Terms

Aerosol

• Sprayed medication for bronchial distress.

Anoxia

• Without oxygen

Apnea

• Temporary breathing cessation

Bifurcation

• Division into branches

Bronchodilator

• Agent dilating the bronchi.

Bronchospasm

• Spasmodic contraction of bronchi muscles

Cheyne-Stokes

• Breathing pattern with waxing and waning depth.

Consolidation

• Solidification of lung tissue.

Cyanosis

• Blueish discoloration from insufficient oxygen

Dysphonia

• Voice impairment

Dyspnea

• Labored breathing

Expectorants

• Agents that promotes expectoration

Hemoptysis

• Spitting of blood from lungs

Hiatus

• Gap , especially in the diaphragm.

Hilus

• Part of the lung where vessels, nerves, and bronchi enter

Hypercapnia

• Excess carbon dioxide in the blood

Hyperventilation

• Increased rate/depth of respiration.

Hypoxia

• Insufficient oxygen.