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This is a list of infectious diseases arranged by name, along with the infectious agents that cause them, the vaccines that can prevent or cure them when they exist and their current status. Some on the list are vaccine-preventable diseases.
Infectious agent | Common name | Signs and symptoms | Diagnosis | Treatment | Current status | Vaccine(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Acinetobacter baumannii | Acinetobacter infections |
|
Culture | Supportive care | No | |
Actinomyces israelii, Actinomyces gerencseriae and Propionibacterium propionicus | Actinomycosis | Painful abscesses | Histologic findings | Penicillin, doxycycline, and sulfonamides | No | |
Adenoviridae | Adenovirus infection |
|
Antigen detection, polymerase chain reaction assay, virus isolation, and serology | Most infections are mild and require no therapy or only symptomatic treatment. | Under research[1] | |
Trypanosoma brucei | African sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis) |
|
Identification of trypanosomes in a sample by microscopic examination | Fexinidazole by mouth or pentamidine by injection for T. b. gambiense.
Suramin by injection is used for T. b. rhodesiense |
Undergoing worldwide elimination as a public health problem and regional control[2] | Under research[3] |
HIV (Human immunodeficiency virus) | AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) | Opportunistic infections | Antibody test, p24 antigen test, PCR | Treatment is typically a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI) plus two nucleoside analog reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) | Under research[4] | |
Entamoeba histolytica | Amoebiasis | Most are asymptomatic. | Microscopy | Those with symptoms require treatment with an amoebicidal tissue-active agent and a luminal cysticidal agent. Individuals that are asymptomatic only need a luminal cysticidal agent. | No | |
Anaplasma species | Anaplasmosis | Fever, leukopenia, abnormally elevated levels of liver enzymes | indirect immunofluorescence antibody assay for IgG | Tetracycline drugs (including tetracycline, chlortetracycline, oxytetracycline, rolitetracycline, doxycycline, and minocycline) and imidocarb | No | |
Angiostrongylus | Angiostrongyliasis | Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and weakness, fever, central nervous system (CNS) symptoms | Lumbar puncture, brain imaging, serology | Albendazole | No | |
Anisakis | Anisakiasis | Severe abdominal pain, malnutrition, and vomiting | Gastroscopic examination, or histopathologic examination | Albendazole | No | |
Bacillus anthracis | Anthrax | boil-like skin lesion that eventually forms an ulcer with a black center (eschar) | Culture, PCR | Large doses of intravenous and oral antibiotics, such as fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin), doxycycline, erythromycin, vancomycin, or penicillin | Yes | |
Arcanobacterium haemolyticum | Arcanobacterium haemolyticum infection | Head and neck infections, pharyngitis, and sinusitis | Culture in human blood agar plates | erythromycin (proposed as the first-line drug), clindamycin, gentamicin, and cephalosporins | No | |
Junin virus | Argentine hemorrhagic fever | Fever, headache, loss of appetite, vomiting, if left untreated: organ failure | Yes[5] | |||
Ascaris lumbricoides | Ascariasis | Migrating larvae, intestinal blockage, and bowel obstruction | Fecal smear | Albendazole, mebendazole, levamisole and pyrantel pamoate | No | |
Aspergillus species | Aspergillosis | Hemoptysis, chest pain | Chest X-ray and CT, microscopy by silver stains | Voriconazole and liposomal amphotericin B in combination with surgical debridement | No | |
Astroviridae species | Astrovirus infection | Diarrhoea, followed by nausea, vomiting, fever, malaise and abdominal pain | Electron microscopy, enzyme-immunoassay (ELISA), immunofluorescence, and polymerase chain reaction | Supportive care | No | |
Babesia species | Babesiosis | Fever and hemolytic anemia | Giemsa-stained thin-film blood smear | Atovaquone and azithromycin. In life-threatening cases, exchange transfusion is performed. | No | |
Bacillus cereus | Bacillus cereus infection | Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea | Culture | Vancomycin | No | |
multiple bacteria | Bacterial meningitis | neck stiffness, sudden high fever, and altered mental status | Lumbar puncture (contraindicated if there is a mass in the brain or the intracranial pressure is elevated), CT or MRI | Antibiotics | No | |
multiple bacteria | Bacterial pneumonia | Fever, rigors, cough, and runny nose, chest pain | Sputum Gram stain and culture, Chest radiography | Antibiotics | No | |
List of bacterial vaginosis microbiota | Bacterial vaginosis | Increased vaginal discharge that usually smells like fish | Gram stain and whiff test | Metronidazole or clindamycin | No | |
Bacteroides species | Bacteroides infection | No | ||||
Balantidium coli | Balantidiasis | Intermittent diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, abdominal pain, anorexia, weight loss, headache, colitis, and marked fluid loss | microscopic examination of stools, or colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy | Tetracycline, metronidazole or iodoquinol | No | |
Bartonella | Bartonellosis | Carrión's disease, trench fever, cat-scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis, peliosis hepatis, chronic bacteremia, endocarditis, chronic lymphadenopathy, and neurological disorders | microscopy, serology, and PCR | Antibiotics | No | |
Baylisascaris species | Baylisascaris infection | No | ||||
BK virus | BK virus infection | usually asymptomatic; fever, difficulty urinating | No | |||
Piedraia hortae | Black piedra | formation of nodules on the scalp, moustache and pubic hair | Stain or culture | Antifungal shampoos such as pyrithione zinc, formaldehyde and salicylic acid | No | |
Blastocystis species | Blastocystosis | abdominal pain, itching, usually anal itching, constipation, diarrhea, watery or loose stool | microscopic examination of a chemically preserved stool specimen | Lack of scientific study to support the efficacy of any particular treatment | No | |
Blastomyces dermatitidis | Blastomycosis | fever, chills, arthralgia (joint pain), myalgia (muscle pain), headache, and a nonproductive cough | KOH prep, cytology, or histology | Itraconazole or ketoconazole | No | |
Machupo virus | Bolivian hemorrhagic fever | Headache, fever, myalgia, external and internal bleeding, convulsions, tremors (1/3 of cases) | No | |||
Clostridium botulinum; Note: Botulism is not an infection by Clostridium botulinum but caused by the intake of botulinum toxin. | Botulism (and Infant botulism) | Double vision, drooping of both eyelids, loss of facial expression and swallowing problems | Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), electrochemiluminescent (ECL) tests | Botulism antitoxin and supportive care | No | |
Sabiá virus | Brazilian hemorrhagic fever | Flushing of face and chest, petechiae, bodily swelling caused by edema, low blood pressure, vomiting, malaise, diarrhea, capillary bleeding, hypocoagulability (severe cases) | No | |||
Brucella species | Brucellosis | fevers, sweating (often with characteristic foul, moldy smell sometimes likened to wet hay), and migratory arthralgia and myalgia (joint and muscle pain) | Culture | Tetracyclines, rifampicin, and the aminoglycosides streptomycin and gentamicin | Yes[6] | |
Yersinia pestis | Bubonic plague | Chills, malaise, high fever, muscle cramps, seizures | Culture | Aminoglycosides such as streptomycin and gentamicin, tetracyclines (especially doxycycline), and the fluoroquinolone ciprofloxacin | Under research[7] | |
usually Burkholderia cepacia and other Burkholderia species | Burkholderia infection | No | ||||
Mycobacterium ulcerans | Buruli ulcer | Swollen bump | real-time PCR | The most widely used antibiotic regimen is once daily oral rifampicin plus twice daily oral clarithromycin. | No | |
Caliciviridae species | Calicivirus infection (Norovirus and Sapovirus) | Vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain | No | |||
Campylobacter species | Campylobacteriosis | Fever, headache, and myalgia, followed by diarrhea | Stool culture | Erythromycin can be used in children, and tetracycline in adults. | No | |
usually Candida albicans and other Candida species | Candidiasis (Moniliasis; Thrush) | Redness, itching, and discomfort | In oral candidiasis, simply inspecting the person's mouth for white patches and irritation may make the diagnosis.
Symptoms of vaginal candidiasis are vaginal itching or soreness, pain during sexual intercourse |
Antifungal medications | No | |
Intestinal disease by Capillaria philippinensis, hepatic disease by Capillaria hepatica and pulmonary disease by Capillaria aerophila | Capillariasis | No | ||||
Streptococcus mutans | Dental caries | Tooth pain, difficulty eating, discoloration, tooth loss | Under research[8] | |||
Bartonella bacilliformis | Carrion's disease | Fever, pale appearance, malaise, painless liver enlargement, jaundice, enlarged lymph nodes, and enlarged spleen | Peripheral blood smear with Giemsa stain, Columbia blood agar cultures, immunoblot, indirect immunofluorescence, and PCR | Fluoroquinolones (such as ciprofloxacin) or chloramphenicol in adults and chloramphenicol plus beta-lactams in children are the antibiotic regimens of choice during the acute phase of Carrion's disease. | No | |
Bartonella henselae | Cat-scratch disease | Malaise, decreased appetite, and aches | Polymerase chain reaction | Azithromycin | No | |
usually Group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus | Cellulitis | An area that is red, hot, and painful | By history and physical examination | Penicillinase-resistant semisynthetic penicillin or a first-generation cephalosporin | No | |
Trypanosoma cruzi | Chagas disease (American trypanosomiasis) | Fever, malaise, headache, and enlargement of the liver, spleen, and lymph nodes | Microscopic examination of fresh anticoagulated blood, or its buffy coat, for motile parasites; or by preparation of thin and thick blood smears stained with Giemsa, for direct visualization of parasites | Benznidazole and nifurtimox (though benznidazole is the only drug available in most of Latin America) | Undergoing elimination of human transmissions and regional control[9] | Under research[10] |
Haemophilus ducreyi | Chancroid | Painful sores on the genitalia | Clinical diagnosis | The CDC recommendation is either a single oral dose (1 gram) of azithromycin, a single IM dose (250 mg) of ceftriaxone, oral (500 mg) of erythromycin three times a day for seven days, or oral (500 mg) of ciprofloxacin twice a day for three days. | No | |
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) | Chickenpox | nausea, loss of appetite, aching muscles, and headache, followed by the characteristic rash or oral sores, malaise, and a low-grade fever | The diagnosis of chickenpox is primarily based on the signs and symptoms, with typical early symptoms followed by a characteristic rash. Confirmation of the diagnosis is by examination of the fluid within the vesicles of the rash, or by testing blood for evidence of an acute immunologic response. | Aciclovir | Yes | |
Alphavirus | Chikungunya | sudden onset, combining high fever, joint pain, and rash | Laboratory criteria include a decreased lymphocyte count consistent with viremia. However a definitive laboratory diagnosis can be accomplished through viral isolation, RT-PCR, or serological diagnosis. | Supportive care | Under research[11] | |
Chlamydia trachomatis | Chlamydia | In women, those who have an asymptomatic infection that is not detected by their doctor, approximately half will develop pelvic inflammatory disease (PID),
In men, painful or burning sensation when urinating |
Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR), transcription mediated amplification (TMA), and the DNA strand displacement amplification (SDA) | azithromycin, doxycycline, erythromycin, levofloxacin or ofloxacin | No | |
Chlamydophila pneumoniae | Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection (Taiwan acute respiratory agent or TWAR) | No | ||||
Vibrio cholerae | Cholera | Profuse diarrhea and vomiting of clear fluid | A rapid dipstick test is available. | oral rehydration therapy (ORT) | Yes | |
usually Fonsecaea pedrosoi | Chromoblastomycosis | Usually, the infection slowly spreads to the surrounding tissue while still remaining localized to the area around the original wound. | microscopy (KOH scrapings) | Itraconazole, an antifungal azole, is given orally, with or without flucytosine. | No | |
Batrachochytrium dendrabatidis | Chytridiomycosis | No | ||||
Clonorchis sinensis | Clonorchiasis | No | ||||
Clostridium difficile | Clostridium difficile colitis | diarrhea, recent antibiotic exposure, abdominal pain, fever, and a distinctive foul odor | Colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy, cytotoxicity assay, toxin ELISA | Vancomycin or fidaxomicin by mouth | No | |
Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii | Coccidioidomycosis | No | ||||
Colorado tick fever virus (CTFV) | Colorado tick fever (CTF) | No | ||||
usually rhinoviruses and coronaviruses | Common cold (Acute viral rhinopharyngitis; Acute coryza) | Cough, runny nose, sneezing, nasal congestion, and a sore throat | Based on symptoms | Supportive care | No | |
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) | Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) | Fever, cough, loss of taste and smell | Yes | |||
Coxsackie B virus | Coxsackie B virus infection | Fever, headache, sore throat, gastrointestinal distress, extreme fatigue as well as chest and muscle pain | Enterovirus infection is diagnosed mainly via serological tests such as ELISA and from cell culture. | There is no well-accepted treatment for the Coxsackie B group of viruses. | Under research[12] | |
PRNP | Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (CJD) | Memory loss, behavioral changes, poor coordination | No | |||
Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus | Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) | No | ||||
Cryptococcus neoformans | Cryptococcosis | Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain and fever | India ink of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) | Intravenous Amphotericin B combined with flucytosine by mouth | No | |
Cryptosporidium species | Cryptosporidiosis | Gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms | No | |||
usually Ancylostoma braziliense; multiple other parasites | Cutaneous larva migrans (CLM) | No | ||||
Cyclospora cayetanensis | Cyclosporiasis | No | ||||
Taenia solium | Cysticercosis | No | ||||
Cytomegalovirus | Cytomegalovirus infection | Fatigue, swollen glands, fever, sore throat, muscle aches | Blood and urine tests, biopsy | Cidofovir, foscarnet, ganciclovir, valganciclovir | Under research[13] | |
Dengue viruses (DEN-1, DEN-2, DEN-3 and DEN-4) – Flaviviruses | Dengue fever | Sudden-onset fever, headache, muscle and joint pains, and a rash | Clinical diagnosis | Treatment depends on the symptoms. | Yes | |
Green algae Desmodesmus armatus | Desmodesmus infection | No | ||||
Dientamoeba fragilis | Dientamoebiasis | No | ||||
Corynebacterium diphtheriae | Diphtheria | fever of 38 °C (100 °F) or above; chills; fatigue; bluish skin coloration (cyanosis); sore throat; hoarseness; cough; headache; difficulty swallowing; painful swallowing; difficulty breathing; rapid breathing; foul-smelling and bloodstained nasal discharge; and lymphadenopathy | Laboratory criteria
Toxin demonstration
Clinical criteria
|
Metronidazole, Erythromycin, Procaine penicillin G | Yes | |
Diphyllobothrium | Diphyllobothriasis | No | ||||
Dracunculus medinensis | Dracunculiasis | Burning pain, blister from which worm emerges | Undergoing worldwide eradication | No | ||
Eastern equine encephalitis virus | Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE) | High fever, muscle pain, altered mental status, headache, meningeal irritation, photophobia, and seizures | Blood tests | Corticosteroids, anticonvulsants, and supportive measures (treating symptoms) | Under research[14] | |
Ebolavirus (EBOV) | Ebola hemorrhagic fever | Flu-like symptoms, severe internal and external bleeding | Yes | |||
Echinococcus species | Echinococcosis | Imaging, Serology test | Surgical removal of the cysts combined with chemotherapy | No | ||
Ehrlichia species | Ehrlichiosis | Under research[15] | ||||
Enterobius vermicularis | Enterobiasis (Pinworm infection) | Anal itching that gets worse at night, disturbed sleep | No | |||
Enterococcus species | Enterococcus infection | No | ||||
Enterovirus species | Enterovirus infection | No | ||||
Rickettsia prowazekii | Epidemic typhus | No | ||||
Parvovirus B19 | Erythema infectiosum (Fifth disease) | No | ||||
Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) and human herpesvirus 7 (HHV-7) | Exanthem subitum (Sixth disease) | No | ||||
Fasciola hepatica and Fasciola gigantica | Fasciolasis | No | ||||
Fasciolopsis buski | Fasciolopsiasis | No | ||||
PRNP | Fatal familial insomnia (FFI) | Severe insomnia followed by dementia, hallucinations, and death | No | |||
Filarioidea superfamily | Filariasis | No | ||||
Clostridium perfringens | Food poisoning by Clostridium perfringens | Diarrhea, vomiting, and fever | Stool test | Supportive care | No | |
multiple | Free-living amebic infection | No | ||||
Fusobacterium species | Fusobacterium infection | No | ||||
usually Clostridium perfringens; other Clostridium species | Gas gangrene (Clostridial myonecrosis) | Discoloration, large black blisters, foul odor, pain and numbness | No | |||
Geotrichum candidum | Geotrichosis | No | ||||
PRNP | Gerstmann-Sträussler-Scheinker syndrome (GSS) | No | ||||
Giardia lamblia | Giardiasis | Symptoms vary from none to severe diarrhea with poor absorption of nutrients. | Detection of antigens on the surface of organisms in stool | Treatment is not always necessary. If medications are needed, a nitroimidazole medication is used such as metronidazole, tinidazole, secnidazole or ornidazole. | No | |
Burkholderia mallei | Glanders | No | ||||
Gnathostoma spinigerum and Gnathostoma hispidum | Gnathostomiasis | No | ||||
Neisseria gonorrhoeae | Gonorrhea | Swelling, itching, pain, and the formation of pus | Gram stain and culture | Ceftriaxone by injection and azithromycin by mouth | Under research[16] | |
Klebsiella granulomatis | Granuloma inguinale (Donovanosis) | No | ||||
Streptococcus pyogenes | Group A streptococcal infection |
|
Culture | Penicillin | No | |
Streptococcus agalactiae | Group B streptococcal infection |
|
Gram stain | Penicillin and ampicillin | No | |
Haemophilus influenzae | Haemophilus influenzae infection | Pain, fever | Gram stain | In severe cases, cefotaxime and ceftriaxone delivered directly into the bloodstream are the elected antibiotics, and, for the less severe cases, an association of ampicillin and sulbactam, cephalosporins of the second and third generation, or fluoroquinolones are preferred. | Yes | |
Enteroviruses, mainly Coxsackie A virus and enterovirus 71 (EV71) | Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) | Fever, rash, small blisters | A diagnosis usually can be made by the presenting signs and symptoms alone. If the diagnosis is unclear, a throat swab or stool specimen may be taken to identify the virus by culture. | Medications are usually not needed as hand, foot, and mouth disease is a viral disease that typically resolves on its own. Currently, there is no specific curative treatment for hand, foot and mouth disease. | Under research[17][18] | |
Sin Nombre virus | Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) | No | ||||
Heartland virus | Heartland virus disease | No | ||||
Helicobacter pylori | Helicobacter pylori infection | Stomach ulcers | No | |||
Escherichia coli O157:H7, O111 and O104:H4 | Hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) | thrombocytopenia and microangiopathic hemolysis, plus one or more of the following: neurological symptoms (e.g., confusion, cerebral convulsions, seizures); renal impairment (e.g., elevated creatinine, decreased estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR], abnormal urinalysis); and gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms (e.g., diarrhea, nausea/vomiting, abdominal pain, gastroenteritis). | First diagnosis of aHUS is often made in the context of an initial, complement-triggering infection, and Shiga-toxin has also been implicated as a trigger that identifies patients with aHUS. | Treatment involves supportive care and may include dialysis, steroids, blood transfusions, and plasmapheresis. | No | |
Bunyaviridae species | Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) | Redness of cheeks and nose, fever, chills, sweaty palms, diarrhea, malaise, headaches, nausea, abdominal and back pain, respiratory problems | HFRS is difficult to diagnose on clinical grounds alone and serological evidence is often needed. | There is no cure for HFRS. Treatment involves supportive therapy including renal dialysis. | No | |
Hendra virus | Hendra virus infection | No | ||||
Hepatitis A virus | Hepatitis A | Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dark urine, jaundice, fever, abdominal pain | Blood tests | Supportive care, liver transplantation | Yes | |
Hepatitis B virus | Hepatitis B | None, yellowish skin, tiredness, dark urine, abdominal pain | Blood tests | Antiviral medication (tenofovir, interferon), liver transplantation | Yes | |
Hepatitis C virus | Hepatitis C | Typically none | Blood testing for antibodies or viral RNA | Antivirals (sofosbuvir, simeprevir, others) | Under research[19] | |
Hepatitis D Virus | Hepatitis D | Feeling tired, nausea and vomiting | Immunoglobulin G | Antivirals, pegylated interferon alpha | No | |
Hepatitis E virus | Hepatitis E | Nausea, jaundice | Hepatitis E virus (HEV) | Rest, ribavirin (if chronic) | Yes | |
Herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2) | Herpes simplex | Blisters on genitalia and lips | Based on symptoms, PCR, viral culture | Aciclovir, valaciclovir, paracetamol (acetaminophen), topical lidocaine | No | |
Histoplasma capsulatum | Histoplasmosis | Nonspecific respiratory symptoms, often cough or flu-like | Histoplasmosis can be diagnosed by samples containing the fungus taken from sputum (via bronchoalveolar lavage), blood, or infected organs. It can also be diagnosed by detection of antigens in blood or urine samples by ELISA or polymerase chain reaction. | In the majority of immunocompetent individuals, histoplasmosis resolves without any treatment. Antifungal medications are used to treat severe cases of acute histoplasmosis and all cases of chronic and disseminated disease. Typical treatment of severe disease first involves treatment with amphotericin B, followed by oral itraconazole. | No | |
Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus | Hookworm infection | Under research[20] | ||||
Human bocavirus (HBoV) | Human bocavirus infection | No | ||||
Ehrlichia ewingii | Human ewingii ehrlichiosis | Fever, headache, myalgias, and malaise | The diagnosis can be confirmed by using PCR. A peripheral blood smear can also be examined for intracytoplasmic inclusions called morulae. | Doxycycline | No | |
Anaplasma phagocytophilum | Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) |
|
PCR | Doxycycline | No | |
Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) | Human metapneumovirus infection | No | ||||
Ehrlichia chaffeensis | Human monocytic ehrlichiosis | Fever, headache, malaise, and muscle aches (myalgia). | PCR | Doxycycline | No | |
One of the human papillomaviruses | Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection | Warts | Yes | |||
Human parainfluenza viruses (HPIV) | Human parainfluenza virus infection | Under research[21][22] | ||||
Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1) | Human T-lymphotropic virus 1 infection | Under research[23][24] | ||||
Hymenolepis nana and Hymenolepis diminuta | Hymenolepiasis | Abdominal pain, loss of appetite, itching around the anus, irritability, and diarrhea | Examination of the stool for eggs and parasites | Praziquantel, niclosamide | No | |
Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) | Epstein–Barr virus infectious mononucleosis (Mono) |
|
Diagnostic modalities for infectious mononucleosis include:
|
Infectious mononucleosis is generally self-limiting, so only symptomatic or supportive treatments are used. | Under research[25] | |
Orthomyxoviridae species | Influenza (flu) | The onset of symptoms is sudden, and initial symptoms are predominately non-specific, including fever, chills, headaches, muscle pain or aching, a feeling of discomfort, loss of appetite, lack of energy/fatigue, and confusion. These symptoms are usually accompanied by respiratory symptoms such as a dry cough, sore or dry throat, hoarse voice, and a stuffy or runny nose. | Diagnostic methods that can identify influenza include viral cultures, antibody- and antigen-detecting tests, and nucleic acid-based tests. | Treatment of influenza in cases of mild or moderate illness is supportive and includes anti-fever medications such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen, adequate fluid intake to avoid dehydration, and resting at home. | Under research[26] | |
Yes | ||||||
Isospora belli | Isosporiasis | Infection causes acute, non-bloody diarrhea with crampy abdominal pain, which can last for weeks and result in malabsorption and weight loss | Microscopic demonstration of the large typically shaped oocysts is the basis for diagnosis. Because the oocysts may be passed in small amounts and intermittently, repeated stool examinations and concentration procedures are recommended. If stool examinations are negative, examination of duodenal specimens by biopsy or string test (Enterotest) may be needed. The oocysts can be visualized on wet mounts by microscopy with bright-field, differential interference contrast (DIC), and epifluorescence. They can also be stained by modified acid-fast stain. | Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole | No | |
Japanese encephalitis virus | Japanese encephalitis | Fever, headache and malaise, cachexia, hemiparesis, convulsions and a raised body temperature between 38–41 °C (100–106 °F), Mental retardation | Available tests detecting JE virus-specific IgM antibodies in serum and/or cerebrospinal fluid, for example by IgM capture ELISA. | Supportive | Yes | |
unknown; evidence supports that it is infectious | Kawasaki disease | Fever > 5 days, large lymph nodes, rash, sore throat, diarrhea | Based on symptoms, ultrasound of the heart | Aspirin, immunoglobulin | No | |
multiple | Keratitis | Treatment depends on the cause of the keratitis. Infectious keratitis can progress rapidly, and generally requires urgent antibacterial, antifungal, or antiviral therapy to eliminate the pathogen. Antibacterial solutions include levofloxacin, gatifloxacin, moxifloxacin, ofloxacin. It is unclear if steroid eye drops are useful or not | No | |||
Kingella kingae | Kingella kingae infection | No | ||||
PRNP | Kuru | Body tremors, random outbursts of laughter, gradual loss of coordination | Autopsy | None | No | |
Lassa virus | Lassa fever | Partial or complete, temporary or permanent hearing loss | Laboratory testing | Supportive | No | |
Legionella pneumophila | Legionellosis (Legionnaires' disease) | Cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle pains, headaches | Urinary antigen test, sputum culture | Effective antibiotics include most macrolides, tetracyclines, ketolides, and quinolones. | No | |
Legionella pneumophila | Pontiac fever | No | ||||
Leishmania species | Leishmaniasis | Skin ulcers, fever, low red blood cells, enlarged liver | Leishmaniasis is diagnosed in the hematology laboratory by direct visualization of the amastigotes (Leishman–Donovan bodies). Buffy-coat preparations of peripheral blood or aspirates from marrow, spleen, lymph nodes, or skin lesions should be spread on a slide to make a thin smear and stained with Leishman stain or Giemsa stain (pH 7.2) for 20 minutes. | For visceral leishmaniasis in India, South America, and the Mediterranean, liposomal amphotericin B is the recommended treatment and is often used as a single dose. Rates of cure with a single dose of amphotericin have been reported as 95%. In India, almost all infections are resistant to pentavalent antimonials. In Africa, a combination of pentavalent antimonials and paromomycin is recommended. These, however, can have significant side effects. Miltefosine, an oral medication, is effective against both visceral and cutaneous leishmaniasis. | Under research[27] | |
Mycobacterium leprae and Mycobacterium lepromatosis | Leprosy | Numbness, small nodules, deformation of extremities | In countries where people are frequently infected, a person is considered to have leprosy if they have one of the following two signs:
|
Rifampicin, dapsone, clofazimine | Undergoing worldwide elimination of transmission[28] | Under research[29] |
Leptospira species | Leptospirosis | None, headaches, muscle pains, fevers | Testing blood for antibodies against the bacterium or its DNA | Doxycycline, penicillin, ceftriaxone | Yes | |
Listeria monocytogenes | Listeriosis | Diarrhea, fever, headache | Culture of blood or spinal fluid | Ampicillin, gentamicin | No | |
Borrelia burgdorferi, Borrelia garinii, and Borrelia afzelii | Lyme disease (Lyme borreliosis) | Expanding area of redness at the site of a tick bite, fever, headache, tiredness | Based on symptoms, tick exposure, blood tests | Doxycycline, amoxicillin, ceftriaxone, cefuroxime | Under research[30] | |
Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi | Lymphatic filariasis (Elephantiasis) | Severe swelling of extremities, thickened skin | Microscopic examination of blood | Albendazole with ivermectin or diethylcarbamazine | Undergoing worldwide elimination[31] | No |
Lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) | Lymphocytic choriomeningitis | Fever, lack of appetite, headache, muscle aches, malaise, nausea, and/or vomiting | Blood test | Symptomatic and supportive | No | |
Plasmodium species | Malaria | Headache, fever, shivering, joint pain, vomiting, hemolytic anemia, jaundice, hemoglobin in the urine, retinal damage, and convulsions | Examination of the blood, antigen detection tests | Antimalarial medication | Undergoing worldwide eradication | Yes |
Marburg virus | Marburg hemorrhagic fever (MHF) | Fever, weakness, myalgias | Blood test | Supportive | Under research[32] | |
Measles virus | Measles | Fever, cough, runny nose, red Fever, cough, runny nose, inflamed eyes, rash | Typically, clinical diagnosis begins with the onset of fever and malaise about 10 days after exposure to the measles virus, followed by the emergence of cough, coryza, and conjunctivitis that worsen in severity over 4 days of appearing. Observation of Koplik's spots is also diagnostic. | Supportive care | Undergoing regional elimination[33] | Yes |
Middle East respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus | Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) | Fever, cough, shortness of breath | rRT-PCR testing | Symptomatic and supportive | Under research[34] | |
Burkholderia pseudomallei | Melioidosis (Whitmore's disease) | None, fever, pneumonia, multiple abscesses | Growing the bacteria in culture mediums | Ceftazidime, meropenem, co-trimoxazole | No | |
multiple | Meningitis | Fever, headache, neck stiffness | Lumbar puncture | Antibiotics, antivirals, steroids | No | |
Neisseria meningitidis | Meningococcal disease | Flu-like symptoms, stiff neck, altered mental status, seizures, purpura | Treatment in primary care usually involves prompt intramuscular administration of benzylpenicillin, and then an urgent transfer to hospital (hopefully, an academic level I medical center, or at least a hospital with round the clock neurological care, ideally with neurological intensive and critical care units) for further care. Once in the hospital, the antibiotics of choice are usually IV broad spectrum 3rd generation cephalosporins, e.g., cefotaxime or ceftriaxone. Benzylpenicillin and chloramphenicol are also effective. | Yes | ||
usually Metagonimus yokagawai | Metagonimiasis | Diarrhea and colicky abdominal pain | Metagonimiasis is diagnosed by eggs seen in feces. | Praziquantel | No | |
Microsporidia phylum | Microsporidiosis | PCR | Fumagillin has been used in the treatment. Another agent used is albendazole. | No | ||
Molluscum contagiosum virus (MCV) | Molluscum contagiosum (MC) | Small, raised, pink lesions with a dimple in the center | Based on appearance | Cimetidine, podophyllotoxin | No | |
Monkeypox virus | Monkeypox | Fever, headache, muscle pains, shivering, blistering rash, swollen lymph nodes | Testing for viral DNA | Supportive, antivirals, vaccinia immune globulin | Yes | |
Mumps virus | Mumps | Parotitis and non-specific symptoms such as fever, headache, malaise, muscle pain, and loss of appetite | Antibody testing, viral cultures, and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction | Supportive | Yes | |
Rickettsia typhi | Murine typhus (Endemic typhus) | Headache, fever, muscle pain, joint pain, nausea and vomiting | Early diagnosis continued to be based on clinical suspicion. | The most effective antibiotics include tetracycline and chloramphenicol. | No | |
Mycoplasma pneumoniae | Mycoplasma pneumonia | Fever, malaise, cough, headache | Chest X-Ray, Chest CT, blood test | Erythromycin, doxycycline | No | |
Mycoplasma genitalium | Mycoplasma genitalium infection | Discharge and pain from genitals | Nucleic acid amplification test | Azithromycin, moxifloxacin | No | |
numerous species of bacteria (Actinomycetoma) and fungi (Eumycetoma) | Mycetoma | Triad: painless firm skin lump, multiple weeping sinuses, grainy discharge | Ultrasound, fine needle aspiration | Antibiotics or antifungal medication | No | |
parasitic dipterous fly larvae | Myiasis | Boil with larva inside | Examination and serologic testing | Petroleum jelly over the central punctum | No | |
most commonly Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae | Neonatal conjunctivitis (Ophthalmia neonatorum) | Antibiotic ointment (erythromycin, tetracycline, or rarely silver nitrate or Argyrol) | No | |||
Nipah virus | Nipah virus infection | Under research[35] | ||||
Norovirus | Norovirus | Diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, headache | Based on symptoms | Supportive care | Under research[36] | |
PRNP | (New) Variant Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease (vCJD, nvCJD) | No | ||||
usually Nocardia asteroides and other Nocardia species | Nocardiosis | Pulmonary infection
Neurological infection
Cardiac conditions
Lymphocutaneous disease
Ocular disease
Disseminated nocardiosis
|
chest x-ray to analyze the lungs, a bronchoscopy, a brain/lung/skin biopsy, or a sputum culture. | trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole or high doses of sulfonamides | No | |
Onchocerca volvulus | Onchocerciasis (River blindness) | Undergoing elimination in the WHO regions of the Americas and Africa[37] | Under research[38] | |||
Opisthorchis viverrini and Opisthorchis felineus | Opisthorchiasis | No | ||||
Paracoccidioides brasiliensis | Paracoccidioidomycosis (South American blastomycosis) | No | ||||
usually Paragonimus westermani and other Paragonimus species | Paragonimiasis | No | ||||
Pasteurella species | Pasteurellosis | No | ||||
Pediculus humanus capitis | Pediculosis capitis (Head lice) | Itching, nits attached to hair | No | |||
Pediculus humanus corporis | Pediculosis corporis (Body lice) | No | ||||
Pthirus pubis | Pediculosis pubis (pubic lice, crab lice) | No | ||||
multiple | Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) | Lower abdominal pain, vaginal discharge, fever, burning with urination, pain with sex, irregular menstruation | Based on symptoms, ultrasound, laparoscopic surgery | Typical regimens include cefoxitin or cefotetan plus doxycycline, and clindamycin plus gentamicin. | No | |
Bordetella pertussis | Pertussis (whooping cough) | Severe coughing fits ending in gasps | Nasopharyngeal swab | erythromycin, clarithromycin, or azithromycin | Yes | |
Yersinia pestis | Plague | Fever, weakness, headache | Finding the bacterium in a lymph node, blood, sputum | Gentamicin and a fluoroquinolone | Under research[7] | |
Streptococcus pneumoniae | Pneumococcal infection | Pneumococcal pneumonia, otitis media, bloodstream infections and bacterial meningitis. | Culture | cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolones such as levofloxacin and moxifloxacin | Yes | |
Pneumocystis jirovecii | Pneumocystis pneumonia (PCP) | shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing (of gradual onset), fever, dry/non-productive cough, weight loss, night sweats | chest X-ray and an arterial oxygen level | trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole | No | |
multiple | Pneumonia | Cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, fever | Based on symptoms, chest X-ray | Antibiotics, antivirals, oxygen therapy | No | |
Poliovirus | Poliomyelitis | Fever, sore throat | Finding the virus in the feces or antibodies in the blood | supportive care | Undergoing worldwide eradication | Yes |
Prevotella species | Prevotella infection | No | ||||
usually Naegleria fowleri | Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) | Fever, vomiting, stiff neck, seizures, poor coordination, confusion, death | flagellation test | Miltefosine, fluconazole, amphotericin B, posaconazole, voriconazole, targeted temperature management | No | |
JC virus | Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy | clumsiness, progressive weakness, and visual, speech, and sometimes personality changes | finding JC virus DNA in spinal fluid, brain CT | No | ||
Chlamydophila psittaci | Psittacosis | severe pneumonia | Culture | tetracyclines and chloramphenicol | No | |
Coxiella burnetii | Q fever | fever, malaise, profuse perspiration, severe headache, muscle pain, joint pain, loss of appetite, upper respiratory problems, dry cough, pleuritic pain, chills, confusion, and gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea | Based on serology | doxycycline, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, ciprofloxacin, and ofloxacin | Yes | |
Rabies virus | Rabies | Fever, extreme aversion to water, confusion, excessive salivary secretion, hallucinations, disrupted sleep, paralysis, coma, hyperactivity, headache, nausea, vomiting, anxiety | fluorescent antibody test (FAT) | Supportive care | Undergoing worldwide elimination in humans and animals[39] | Yes |
Borrelia hermsii, Borrelia recurrentis, and other Borrelia species | Relapsing fever | fever, chills, headaches, muscle or joint aches, and nausea | blood smear | Tetracycline-class antibiotics | No | |
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) | Respiratory syncytial virus infection | wide variety of signs and symptoms that range from mild upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) to severe and potentially life-threatening lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) | A variety of laboratory tests | Treatment for RSV infection is focused primarily on supportive care. | Under research[40] | |
Rhinosporidium seeberi | Rhinosporidiosis | No | ||||
Rhinovirus | Rhinovirus infection | No | ||||
Rickettsia species | Rickettsial infection | No | ||||
Rickettsia akari | Rickettsialpox | No | ||||
Rift Valley fever virus | Rift Valley fever (RVF) | No | ||||
Rickettsia rickettsii | Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) | No | ||||
Rotavirus | Rotavirus infection | Yes | ||||
Rubella virus | Rubella | Undergoing regional elimination[41] | Yes | |||
Salmonella species | Salmonellosis | No | ||||
SARS coronavirus | Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) | Under research[42] | ||||
Sarcoptes scabiei | Scabies | No | ||||
Group A Streptococcus species | Scarlet fever | No | ||||
Schistosoma species | Schistosomiasis | Undergoing regional elimination and being eliminated as a public health problem[43] | Under research[44] | |||
multiple | Sepsis | No | ||||
Shigella species | Shigellosis (bacillary dysentery) | No | ||||
Varicella zoster virus (VZV) | Shingles (Herpes zoster) | Yes[45] | ||||
Variola major or Variola minor | Smallpox (variola) | Eradicated worldwide | Yes | |||
Sporothrix schenckii | Sporotrichosis | No | ||||
Staphylococcus species | Staphylococcal food poisoning | No | ||||
Staphylococcus species | Staphylococcal infection | No | ||||
Strongyloides stercoralis | Strongyloidiasis | No | ||||
Measles virus | Subacute sclerosing panencephalitis | Yes | ||||
Treponema pallidum | Bejel, Syphilis, and Yaws | Yaws is undergoing worldwide eradication[46] | Under research[47] | |||
Taenia species | Taeniasis | No | ||||
Clostridium tetani | Tetanus (lockjaw) | Yes | ||||
Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) | Tick-borne encephalitis | Yes | ||||
usually Trichophyton species | Tinea barbae (barber's itch) | No | ||||
usually Trichophyton tonsurans | Tinea capitis (ringworm of the scalp) | No | ||||
usually Trichophyton species | Tinea corporis (ringworm of the body) | No | ||||
usually Epidermophyton floccosum, Trichophyton rubrum, and Trichophyton mentagrophytes | Tinea cruris (Jock itch) | No | ||||
Trichophyton rubrum | Tinea manum (ringworm of the hand) | No | ||||
usually Hortaea werneckii | Tinea nigra | No | ||||
usually Trichophyton species | Tinea pedis (athlete's foot) | No | ||||
usually Trichophyton species | Tinea unguium (onychomycosis) | No | ||||
Malassezia species | Tinea versicolor (Pityriasis versicolor) | No | ||||
Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes | Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) | Under research[48][49] | ||||
Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati | Toxocariasis (ocular larva migrans (OLM)) | No | ||||
Toxocara canis or Toxocara cati | Toxocariasis (visceral larva migrans (VLM)) | No | ||||
Toxoplasma gondii | Toxoplasmosis | No | ||||
Chlamydia trachomatis | Trachoma | Undergoing regional elimination and worldwide elimination as a public health problem[50] | No | |||
Trichinella spiralis | Trichinosis | No | ||||
Trichomonas vaginalis | Trichomoniasis | No | ||||
Trichuris trichiura | Trichuriasis (whipworm infection) | No | ||||
usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis | Tuberculosis | Undergoing worldwide elimination as a public health problem | Yes | |||
Francisella tularensis | Tularemia | Under research[51] | ||||
Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica, serovar typhi | Typhoid fever | Yes | ||||
Rickettsia | Typhus fever | No | ||||
Ureaplasma urealyticum | Ureaplasma urealyticum infection | No | ||||
Coccidioides immitis or Coccidioides posadasii.[52] | Valley fever | No | ||||
Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus | Venezuelan equine encephalitis | No | ||||
Guanarito virus | Venezuelan hemorrhagic fever | No | ||||
Vibrio vulnificus | Vibrio vulnificus infection | No | ||||
Vibrio parahaemolyticus | Vibrio parahaemolyticus enteritis | No | ||||
multiple viruses | Viral pneumonia | No | ||||
West Nile virus | West Nile fever | Under research[53] | ||||
Trichosporon beigelii | White piedra (tinea blanca) | No | ||||
Yersinia pseudotuberculosis | Yersinia pseudotuberculosis infection | No | ||||
Yersinia enterocolitica | Yersiniosis | No | ||||
Yellow fever virus | Yellow fever | Yes | ||||
Zeaspora fungus | Zeaspora | No | ||||
Zika virus | Zika fever | rash, fever, red or swollen eyes, pain in joints, | Under research[54] | |||
Mucorales order (Mucormycosis) and Entomophthorales order (Entomophthoramycosis) | Zygomycosis | No |