*Infections: What You Need to Know* According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)Trusted Source, infectious and parasitic diseases account for about 15.5 million doctor’s visits and 3.7 million emergency room visits each year. *An infection* occurs when another organism enters your body and causes disease. The organisms that cause infections are very diverse and can include things like viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. You can acquire an infection in many different ways, such as directly from a person with an infection, via contaminated food or water, and even through the bite of an insect. Let’s take a closer look at infections, the types of organisms that cause them, and actions you can take to help prevent becoming ill. *Types of infections* Below, we’ll explore the different types of infections, list some examples you may be familiar with and possible treatments. *_Viral infections_* Viruses are very tiny infectious organisms. They’re even smaller than bacteria. Viruses are parasitic and require a host cell in which to carry out their life cycle. Once the virus has entered the host cell, it’s able to use cellular components to reproduce. New viruses are released from the host cell, a process that’ll sometimes cause the host cell to die. Some examples of viral infections include: influenza (the flu), common cold, measles, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), chickenpox, viral hepatitis, which can include hepatitis A, B, C, D, and E etc. Most of the time, the treatment of viral infections centers on relieving symptoms until your immune system clears the infection. And in some cases antiviral drugs are available. *_Bacterial infections_* Bacteria are single-celled microorganisms. They’re very diverse, coming in a variety of different shapes and sizes. Bacteria can be found in all sorts of environments, including soil, bodies of water, and in or on our bodies. Although there are a great many bacteria in and on our bodies, these bacteria often don’t cause disease. In fact, the bacteria in our digestive tract can help us digest our food. However, sometimes bacteria can enter our bodies and cause an infection. Some examples of bacterial infections include: strep throat, gonorrhea, tuberculosis, cholera etc. Bacterial infections are most often treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics are medications that affect bacterial growth. They can either impede bacteria from multiplying or kill them outright. *_Fungal infections_* Fungi are another diverse group of organisms that can include things like yeasts and molds. They can be found throughout the environment, including in the soil, indoors in moist areas like bathrooms, and on or in our bodies. Not all fungi can make you ill, but some examples of fungal infections include: vaginal yeast infections, ringworm, athlete’s foot etc Fungal infections can be treated with antifungal medications. *_Parasitic infections_* Parasites live on or in a host organism and get food or other nutrients at the host’s expense. e.g Malaria, toxoplasmosis, tapeworm infection etc. *_Prions_* Prion actually isn’t an organism at all — it’s a protein. Prions can affect normal body proteins and cause them to fold into abnormal shapes. They can cause development of dementia and difficulties walking or speaking. An example is Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Kuru. There’s currently no curative treatment for prion diseases. However, there are medications that may slow their progression. *Symptoms* Each infectious disease has its own specific signs and symptoms. General signs and symptoms common to a number of infectious diseases include: Fever Diarrhea Fatigue Muscle aches Coughing Experience a rash or swelling *Infections And The Immune system* Your immune system is a complex network of cells, signals, and organs that work together to help kill germs that cause infections. Many of these are special blood cells that travel in the blood until they find germs to attack. White blood cells are part of the immune system. (Red cells and platelets are not.) *_White blood cells help fight infections_* There are different types of white blood cells, and they each have a key role in the body’s defense against germs: Neutrophils Lymphocytes (which include T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes) Monocytes Macrophages _Neutrophils are key infection-fighters._ Normally, most of our white blood cells are neutrophils. Neutrophils form a very important defense against most types of infection. For most people with cancer, having a low neutrophil count is the biggest risk factor for getting a serious infection. Ask your doctor if your cancer treatment will cause your neutrophil count to drop. *-Lymphocytes can make antibodies; they mark, signal, and destroy germs._* Some treatments, most often those given during a bone marrow (stem cell) transplant, can cause a shortage of lymphocytes. B and T lymphocytes help fight viruses, but have different jobs: B-lymphocytes make special proteins called antibodies that recognize and kill certain germs. They also can mark germs to be destroyed by other cells. T-lymphocytes make signaling substances called cytokines that tell other cells what to do. They also destroy cells infected by viruses. *_Monocytes and macrophages help recognize invaders, and kill fungi and parasites._* They help lymphocytes recognize germs. They can surround and digest germs that have been coated by antibodies (the proteins made by B-lymphocytes). They help fight bacteria, fungi, and parasites. *The Immune system And Glutathione* Glutathione (GSH) is required by the immune system for two important reasons: it protects host immune cells through its antioxidant mechanism and it provides the optimal functioning of lymphocytes and other cells of the immune system. Many research have shown that infections attacks and overpowers the white blood cells with low glutathione levels due to oxidative stress. When infection is active the glutathione levels of the body falls, sometimes as low as 30% of normal. This is key to understanding infections and Glutathione connection. Research also found out that by boosting the glutathione level in patients with viral infections like AIDS, prevented the growth of infected CD4 and CD8 cells (part of the immune system) and strengthens the growth of healthy CD4 and CD8 to gradually fight off the infections
