When you think of any infectious disease right now, you will be thinking about COVID-19. Unfortunately, even though we are in the middle of the Coronavirus pandemic, COVID-19 is not the only infectious disease in the USA. The cold and flu are still there, but let’s go over some other ones that are still landing Americans in the hospital daily. The common infectious diseases in the USA are:
Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae
You want to make sure that your raw food is washed well and the food that needs to be cooked such as beef is cooked very well. That is because you’ll catch a bug from the Enterobacteriaceae family, and Escherichia coli or E. Coli is a common one. The bacteria can cause UTIs as well as pneumonia, and the most common antibiotic that treats this bacteria is Carbapenem. However, if it is resistant, then that’s not a good thing!
Staphylococcus Aureus
Staph infections are common and everyone has this bacteria in their skin and upper respiratory systems. However, most of the time it does not cause problems as many people also have this bacteria in their noses. But if it enters the bloodstream, that is when it can be a significant problem. If you have open wounds, then there can be a risk for that to happen. Most antibiotics will kill it off but some are resistant to it.
Lyme Disease
Before taking a walk in the woods, you will want to check for ticks in the area because they can carry the Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria. That can cause dizziness, aches, and pains, and other symptoms and it can be chronic. There are treatments for Lyme Disease but it is a chronic condition that will never go away, unfortunately.
Salmonella
Raw food such as poultry or fish can carry the Salmonella bacteria, and so can prepackaged foods such as salads. If you get infected with this bacteria, it will cause terrible gastrointestinal sicknesses for four days as well as fevers and chills. If you are healthy and not vulnerable, you will be able to pull through even though it is highly unpleasant. However, if you are vulnerable, you can be at risk of it being fatal. Mild cases of Salmonella poisoning are not reported.
Meningococcal Disease
Meningococcal disease is caused by Neisseria meningitides, which is a bacterium also known as meningococcus which can enter the bloodstream through saliva and breath. It can enter the brain and spinal cord region and cause damage, and even death. There are antibiotics that can treat it. However, there is a vaccine for this infection that can help prevent it from happening. You are at risk of developing the infection if you are in closed quarters with others who could carry the bacterium. There are known cases of outbreaks at colleges.
Shigellosis
The cause of Shigellosis is Shigella, a bacterium that can cause gastrointestinal sicknesses as well as a fever on the day of exposure or the day after. Most people do recover on their own but rarely does it cause arthritis after recovery. The best defense to keep yourself safe from this infection is by washing your hands as they can be on surfaces.
There are also many other sexually transmitted infections such as Chlamydia which can lead to sterility, Syphilis which can cause rashes and sores, and even internal organ damage. There is also Hepatitis C which can cause liver disease and can lead to non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. There are treatments for these conditions, but they need to be caught quickly before they have the opportunity to do a lot of damage. Therefore, the best thing you can do is be cautious, practice good hygiene, and get vaccinated against the infections where vaccines offer protection.
