Infectious Diseases

Common Cold

Sneezing, scratchy throat, runny nose—everyone knows the first signs of a cold, probably the most common illness known. People in the United States suffer 1 billion colds each year, according to some estimates. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 22 million school days are lost annually in the United States due to the common cold.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) Infection

Cytomegalovirus infection (CMV) is a viral infection that rarely causes obvious illness in the immunocompetent. The virus that causes CMV is part of the herpes virus family and, like other herpes viruses, may become dormant for a period of time and then be reactivated. Physicians recognize three clinical forms of CMV. These include: (1) CMV inclusion disease of the newborn, which ranges in severity from being without symptoms to being a severe disease affecting the liver, spleen and central nervous system, with possible developmental disabilities; (2) Acute acquired CMV infection, which is similar to infectious mononucleosis and characterized by fever, a feeling of being not quite right (malaise), skeletal-muscular pain and the absence of a sore throat; (3) CMV in immunocompromised persons (for instance, people who have had organ transplants or who have HIV) with increased risk for difficult eye infections (CMV retinitis), gastrointestinal CMV and encephalitis. Therapy is available for both prevention and treatment of CMV. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 40,000 children are born with congenital CMV infection.

Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis Vaccines

Diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (usually called “whooping cough”) are all dangerous infectious diseases caused by bacteria (different bacteria are responsible for each infection).

The major symptoms of diphtheria include sore throat and swollen glands, as well as the characteristic grayish material that coats the back of the throat and may make breathing difficult. The bacteria produce toxins that damage the heart, brain and nerves, ultimately leading to death if not treated. The bacteria responsible for tetanus also produce a toxin that affects the nerves. This can lead to muscle stiffness and spasms, especially in the face and neck muscles (which will cause “lock jaw,” the condition most people associate with tetanus). Even with treatment, tetanus can be fatal.

Pertussis is better known as whooping cough. This is because the major symptom is violent coughs, followed by a “whoop” sound as the patient struggles to breathe in. The coughing spells can be so powerful that they result in broken ribs, vomiting and broken blood vessels in the face.

Whooping cough used to be the leading cause of childhood illness in the U.S. and diphtheria used to be a leading cause of death in children. Tetanus was also alarmingly prevalent. Thankfully, all three diseases have become quite rare in the U.S. since immunization became routine.