Common other infections difficult to classify

Name of disease: Pathogen:Comments:
AnthraxBacillus anthracis common in cattle, sheep, goats and horses; rare in humans, but can be deadly
Creutzfeld-Jakob diseaseBSE-prion mad-cow disease is believed to be caused by the same prion (see text)
Hanta virus pulmonary syndromehantavirushigh mortality of 50% to 75%
Lassa feverLassa fever virusnatural reservoir is a house rat common in Africa (Mastomys natalensis)
Progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML)JC virus common in immune deficient patients (AIDS etc.)
Rabiesrabies virus rabid dogs and rabid bats are mostly cause in the U.S.
SARSUrbani SARS-associated coronavirusnew strain of flu-like atypical pneumonia from China
Viral hepatitishepatitis virus there are different strains: A, B, C , D, E and G

Other Infections

Introduction:

There are a number of infections that do not quite fit into the conventional categories of respiratory infections, fungal infections or parasitic infections.  I have therefore combined them in this chapter to indicate that they are important, partially because of the recent media attention (anthrax, BSE), but partially because they seem to be playing an increasing role for various and sometimes unknown reasons (for instance Hanta virus, rabies or hepatitis C). The table above lists some common infections in this category with links for more detailed information.

Infections Overview Other infections


 

 

Disclaimer

This outline is only a teaching aid to patients and should stimulate you to ask the right questions when seeing your doctor. However, the responsibility of treatment stays in the hands of your doctor and you.

References

1. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 161.

2. TC Dixon et al. N Engl J Med 1999 Sep 9;341(11):815-826.

3. F Charatan BMJ 2000 Oct 21;321(7267):980.

4. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse   Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 43.

5. JR Zunt and CM Marra  Neurol Clinics Vol.17, No.4,1999: 675-689.

6. The Merck Manual, 7th edition, by M. H. Beers et al., Whitehouse   Station, N.J., 1999. Chapter 162.

7. LE Chapman : Antivir Ther 1999; 4(4): 211-19.

8. HW Cho: Vaccine 1999 Jun 4; 17(20-21): 2569-2575.

9. DO Freedman et al. Med Clinics N. Amer. Vol.83, No 4 (July 1999):     865-883.

10. SP Fisher-Hoch et al. J Virol 2000 Aug; 74(15): 6777-6783.

11. Mandell: Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases, 5th ed., ©   2000 Churchill Livingstone, Inc.

12. Goldman: Cecil Textbook of Medicine, 21st ed., Copyright © 2000   W. B. Saunders Company

13. PE Sax: Infect DisClinics of N America Vol.15, No 2 (June 2001):   433-455.

14. David Heymann, MD, Editor: Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, 18th Edition, 2004, American Public Health Association.

Last Modified: Dec. 5, 2008