Infections Health Article

Causes & symptoms

Infections are caused by pathogens invading the tissues of the body and beginning to multiply. Headaches, muscle aches, fever, chills, and fatigue are common symptoms of infections. Many of these symptoms are due to inflammation and the response of the immune system to the pathogens. For example, during an infection, the blood supply is increased to the affected areas; as the blood rushes to the site of infection, it causes the skin to redden. The blood vessels also become more readily able to release WBCs into the tissues; when the WBCs die and decay they form a thick fluid known as pus. Enzymes released by the WBCs may also be responsible for pain and swelling.

More specific symptoms of infection vary according to the site and type of the infection. Some of these symptoms include:

• Gastrointestinal system: Diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, stomachaches, cramps, gas pains, and dehydration.
• Respiratory system: Coughing, sneezing, sore throat, congestion, fever, bronchitis, and runny nose.
• Urinary system: Increased frequency and urgency of urination; pain on urination; blood, pus, or other discharge in the urine; bad-smelling urine or discharge; and vaginal itching.
• Skin: Rashes, sores, itching, and blisters; redness, swelling, tenderness, and pain.
• Joints: Local pain, stiffness, redness, and swelling.

Risk factors for infections include chronic disease; severe emotional stress; broken skin; changes in the pH of various body fluids; malnutrition; surgery; rupture of amniotic membranes; invasive medical or dental procedures; tissue injuries or destruction; decreased flow of body fluids; changes in peristalsis; decreased output of stomach acid; recurrent use of antibiotics; and suppressed immune function. Many infections have a high probability of being passed from person to person. This is especially true of respiratory diseases, which can be transmitted through contact with the sputum and droplets produced by coughing or sneezing. Contact with infected waste products, open sores, skin eruptions, infected clothing and bedclothes, and sexual contact are circumstances which often lead to the further spread of infections.

New concerns about infections continue to baffle researchers and clinicians into the twenty-first century. First, the world faces the threat of infection from bioterrorism, and Americans faced a scare from deliberate distribution of anthrax spores through the United States postal system following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack. The year 1999 saw the first reports of the West Nile virus in the United States, and reported cases of the disease began spreading after that date. Further, clinicians worry about widespread antibiotic resistance, as individuals and the public at large become exposed to more antibiotics for longer periods of time.

Diagnosis

Many infections are minor and self-limiting. Some infections, however, are serious; some can even lead to permanent impairment or death. If an infection does not clear up within a few days, or if it gets worse, a healthcare provider should be consulted. Infections are initially diagnosed by the patient's presentation and by a history of the illness or injury and the symptoms.

A complete blood count (CBC) is a simple clinical test that can be used to diagnose an infection. Increases in the total WBC count usually indicate a bacterial infection; decreases tend to indicate a viral infection or a very severe infection, both of which may cause the destruction of WBCs faster than they can be produced. Increases in specific types of white blood cells known as neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes also point to an infection. An increase in eosinophils may be due to a parasitic infection. A blood chemistry panel may be taken to determine whether there are chemical changes that may have been brought on by an infection.

A serious illness may require further evaluation and diagnostic tests. Additional laboratory tests can be performed using blood, feces, or samples of the infected tissue. Ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) may also be used. In some cases, a tissue sample (biopsy) is taken from the affected site for microbial culture tests and microscopic examination.

Herbal therapy

Echinacea spp. enhances the action of the immune system. It can be taken for up to six weeks to prevent or heal infections. Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) has strong antibiotic qualities. Garlic (Allium sativum) is also antibiotic. Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) has significant antiviral activity. It reduces the bad effects of stress on the health, and has been used to treat herpes, staphylococcal and streptococcal infections, typhus, cholera, pneumonia, and infections caused by Candida albicans. Astragalus membranaceus is a Chinese herb that may be used to enhance the immune system as well as to prevent the recurrence of chronic infections. Pau d'arco (Tabebuia impetiginosa) is recommended for internal fungal infections, while the topical use of tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternfolia) is recommended for some external infections.