Infectious Diseases

Meningococcal Infections (Meningitis)

Meningococcal meningitis is a form of meningitis caused by a specific bacterium known as Neisseria meningitidis. Meningitis is characterized by inflammation of the membranes around the brain or spinal cord. This inflammation can begin suddenly or develop gradually. Symptoms may include fever, headache and a stiff neck, sometimes with aching muscles. Nausea, vomiting and other symptoms may also occur. Skin rashes occur in about half of all individuals with meningitis. There were about 25,000 incidences of the disease in 2006.

Mumps

Mumps is a contagious viral infection that can cause painful swelling of the parotid glands, which are the salivary glands located between the ear and the jaw. Mumps can affect many body systems and cause flu-like symptoms, abdominal pain, swollen cheeks and swollen and painful testicles. However, up to 20 percent of people who are infected with the mumps virus do not have any symptoms. Mumps is spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes, as well as through contact with recently contaminated items such as tissues, drinking glasses and dirty hands.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is frequently but not always due to infection, causing one or both lungs to become inflamed. The infection may be bacterial, viral, fungal or parasitic. Symptoms may include fever, chills, cough, chest pain and shortness of breath. Pneumonia can be contracted in daily life, such as at school or work. This is called community-based pneumonia. Someone can also get it when they are in a hospital or nursing home. This is called hospital-based pneumonia. It may be more severe when the person is already ill.

Polio

Polio (poliomyelitis) is a viral illness that damages nerves that control muscles, resulting in muscle weakness. In severe illnesses, a person can lose the ability to move both arms and legs (paralysis) and may be unable to breathe without help. Symptoms of polio include: headache, sudden fever, sore throat, neck and back stiffness, muscle weakness and pain. Polio is now rare in developed countries because most children receive immunization against the virus.

Rabies

Rabies is a disease caused by a virus that can affect the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) of any kind of mammal, including humans. Rabid animals can spread the disease through their saliva or brain matter. People who get rabies are almost always exposed from a bite from a rabid animal. Because of widespread animal vaccination programs, people in the U.S. rarely get rabies: it is more common in developing nations. According to the World Health Organization there are about 55,000 human deaths worldwide.