20 Diseases Caused by Bacteria

Diseases caused by bacteria, also known as bacteriosis, can be easily treated with antibiotics, or their aggravation can lead to death.

Most bacteria are transmitted by eating contaminated food or in contact with sick people.

Symptoms vary depending on the type of disease. Prevention is often based on simple care such as hand and food washing and vaccination.

See below the list of the main diseases caused by bacteria:

Botulism is caused by bacteria Clostridium botulinum. The first cases of the disease were registered by the consumption of contaminated sausages and other canned meat products.

  • Streaming: ingestion of contaminated food.
  • Symptoms: constipation, dizziness, distorted vision and difficulty opening eyes in the light. The worsening of the disease can lead to the patient's death as a result of paralysis of the respiratory muscles.
  • Treatment: the patient must be hospitalized for treatment to eliminate the bacteria.
  • Prevention: Be careful when choosing canned foods, making sure that the can does not have rust or is stuffed.

Brucellosis is an infection caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella.

  • Streaming: contact with infected animals or ingestion of contaminated animal foods.
  • Symptoms: chills, headache, tiredness, fever.
  • Treatment: antibiotics should be administered, in addition to rest and hydration.
  • Prevention: Wear gloves or wash hands after contact with animals, eat well-done meat, boil milk before drinking.

Cystitis

Cystitis is a chronic disease characterized by an irritation or inflammation of the bladder wall.

In most cases, it is caused by the bacteria. Escherichia coli, naturally present in the intestine.

  • Streaming: Drinking too little water can fail to clean up bacteria present in the bladder, such as wearing tight underwear.
  • Symptoms: frequent urge to urinate, burning when urinating, fever.
  • Treatment: use of antibiotics.
  • Prevention: drink water often, urinate as soon as you need it, avoid tight underwear.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.

  • Streaming: sexual intercourse; from mother to child in childbirth.
  • Symptoms: burning when urinating; frequent urge to urinate; painful and swollen testicles in men; pain in the lower abdomen, in the case of women.
  • Treatment: administration of antibiotics for the couple, preventing reinfection.
  • Prevention: condom use.

Cholera is an infectious disease caused by bacteria Vibrio cholerae. If left untreated, it can lead to death due to the intense dehydration it causes.

  • Streaming: ingestion of contaminated water or food.
  • Symptoms: diarrhea, dehydration, vomiting, weakness, weight loss and abdominal cramps.
  • Treatment: hydration and use of antibiotics.
  • Prevention: wash fruits and vegetables thoroughly before eating, as well as wash your hands thoroughly before meals and improve basic sanitation.

Whooping cough

Pertussis is an infectious respiratory disease caused by bacteria Bordetella pertussis.

  • Streaming: through sneezing, saliva and coughing of infected people.
  • Symptoms: fever, sneezing, malaise, prolonged dry cough and shortness of breath.
  • Treatment: in addition to drinking plenty of fluids, patients should be given analgesics and anti-inflammatory drugs, which should be isolated so that they do not transmit the disease to other people.
  • Prevention: childhood vaccination.

Diphtheria

Diphtheria is an infectious disease caused by bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Its main characteristic is inflammation of the throat, which causes swelling in the neck region.

  • Streaming: contact with infected people, through saliva or skin lesions.
  • Symptoms: sore throat, plaque on the tonsils, fever and malaise, cough, fever, chills and runny nose. Worsening of the disease can lead to death from asphyxia.
  • Treatment: patients must be isolated and disease control can be done with antibiotics.
  • Prevention: childhood vaccination.

Scarlet fever

Scarlet fever is an infectious disease caused by bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes. It is characterized by the appearance of scarlet-red eruptions on the skin.

  • Streaming: contact with infected people, through saliva or nasal secretion.
  • Symptoms: red patches on the skin, high fever, sore throat, muscle pain, itchy body, nausea and vomiting.
  • Treatment: penicillin should be administered, except for allergy sufferers, for whom another type of antibiotic is given.
  • Prevention: avoid contact with other patients and good hygiene.

Typhoid fever

Typhoid fever is an acute bacterial disease caused by the bacteria Salmonella enterica serotype Typhi.

It is associated with low socioeconomic levels and poor basic sanitation, environmental and personal hygiene conditions.

  • Streaming: ingestion of contaminated water or food.
  • Symptoms: prolonged high fever, headache, nausea, poor appetite, malaise and vomiting. In some cases, constipation, while in others diarrhea. As the disease worsens, there is a risk of abdominal bleeding and generalized infection, which can result in death.
  • Treatment: rest and liquid-based food, mainly. In addition to these precautions, antibiotics should be administered to patients.
  • Prevention: maintain hygiene habits, wash and cook food well before consumption, avoid or prevent travel to disease-prone areas.

Gonorrhea

Gonorrhea is a sexually transmitted disease caused by bacteria Neisseria gonorrhea.

  • Streaming: sexual intercourse; from mother to child in childbirth.
  • Symptoms: pain and burning when urinating, bleeding, yellowish discharge and strong odor.
  • Treatment: patients should be given antibiotics.
  • Prevention: use condoms.

leprosy

Leprosy is a chronic disease, formerly known as leprosy. is caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium leprae, also known as Hansen's bacillus.

  • Streaming: through sneezing, saliva and coughing of infected people.
  • Symptoms: spots on the skin, at the spot the temperature increases more than in the rest of the body. Lumps also appear on the elbows, hands and ears. Swelling in hands and feet. Loss of muscle strength and joint pain.
  • Treatment: antibiotics should be administered to patients, the duration of which can vary from 6 months to 1 year, depending on the type of leprosy.
  • Prevention: go to the doctor to make a diagnosis when there is contact with sick people.

Impetigo

Impetigo is an infection of the most superficial layer of the skin that affects mainly children, caused by bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus from group A.

It has two forms: bullous impetigo and non-bullous impetigo.

  • Streaming: contact with wounds, through nasal secretion or utensils used by patients.
  • Symptoms: In the case of bullous impetigo: blisters on the arms, chest and buttocks, fever and itching. In non-bullous impetigo: pain due to the appearance of ulcers with pus, especially in the legs.
  • Treatment: patients should be given antibiotics and wound ointments.
  • Prevention: wash your hands very well when you are close to the patient and avoid picking up utensils used by the patient. This is because this disease has a very high level of contagion.

leptospirosis

Leptospirosis is a bacterial disease that affects humans and animals. It is caused by bacteria of the genus Leptospira.

There is a risk of death in 40% of cases if not treated properly. That's because it can cause kidney damage, inflammation of the membrane surrounding the brain, liver failure, and respiratory failure.

  • Streaming: contact with water or objects that contain urine from infected animals.
  • Symptoms: high fever, muscle pain, malaise, cough, red eyes and red spots all over the body.
  • Treatment: patients should be hydrated and take antibiotics.
  • Prevention: wash food well before consuming it, close water tanks, vaccinate animals.

Meningitis

Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal cord. It can be caused by bacteria, viruses or fungi.

Bacterial meningitis can lead to death if not diagnosed in time. The 3 most common types of bacterial meningitis are caused by bacteria: meningococci, pneumococci and Haemophylus.

  • Streaming: through sneezing, saliva and coughing.
  • Symptoms: headache and neck pain, neck stiffness, high fever and red spots.
  • Treatment: patients should be given antibiotics into a vein as soon as possible. This is because the disease can result in deafness or even death.
  • Prevention: vaccination and avoid contact with patients.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is a lung infection caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi or other parasites. The most common form occurs by the bacteria Streptococcus pneumoniae.

  • Streaming: through sneezing, saliva and coughing of infected people.
  • Symptoms: body pain, persistent shortness of breath, high fever, cough, weakness and tiredness.
  • Treatment: patients should be given antibiotics. As the disease progresses, hospitalization is necessary.
  • Prevention: avoid excessive exposure to air conditioning and take adequate care of colds so that they do not develop into a more serious condition that results in pneumonia.

Salmonellosis is a gastrointestinal infection caused by bacteria of the genus salmonella and Enterobacteriaceae family.

  • Streaming: ingestion of contaminated food, especially undercooked poultry meat, eggs and water.
  • Symptoms: colic, diarrhea, headache and abdominal pain, fever and vomiting.
  • Treatment: hydration of the patient and, in its worsening, administration of antibiotics.
  • Prevention: consume well-washed and cooked foods, drink boiled milk, wash hands thoroughly before meals.

Stye

Stye or hordeolum is an inflammation of the Zeiss and Mol sebaceous glands, located in the eyelid, near the roots of the eyelashes. It occurs due to bacterial infection, usually staphylococci.

  • Streaming: through touching the lesion or contact with the patient's tear.
  • Symptoms: eyelid swelling, itching, redness, light sensitivity and pain when blinking.
  • Treatment: administration of eye drops or ointment.
  • Prevention: wash your hands well when having contact with your eyes, do not sleep with makeup on, lack of hygiene in contact lenses and avoid passing your hands over the injury site.

Tetanus is an infectious disease caused by bacteria Clostridium tetani. Attacks the central nervous system.

If left untreated, it can lead to death.

  • Streaming: through small cuts or wounds that come into contact with feces, plants, rusty objects and that may have the bacteria.
  • Symptoms: muscle stiffness, fever, headache, muscle spasms, and difficulty opening your mouth.
  • Treatment: administration of muscle relaxant and antibiotic.
  • Prevention: vaccination, careful cleaning of wounds.

Trachoma

Trachoma is an inflammatory, chronic, and relapsing disease that affects the eyes. is caused by the bacteria Chlamydia trachomatis.

  • Streaming: contact with people who have trachoma or with objects used by them.
  • Symptoms: burning eyes, enlarged pupil, itching and tearing.
  • Treatment: administration of antibiotic-based eye drops or ointment.
  • Prevention: do not use utensils used by the patient, wash your hands well.

Tuberculosis or pulmonary phthisis is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis, also called Bacillus of Koch (BK).

  • Streaming: approximation with sick people who are indoors.
  • Symptoms: fatigue, fever, cough, weight loss, lack of appetite, sweating, hoarseness and bloody sputum, in the most severe cases.
  • Treatment: administration of three types of medication, in a treatment that takes months.
  • Prevention: childhood vaccination, proper nutrition, strict hygiene care in contact with sick people.

Also learn about other diseases:

  • Diseases Caused by Fungi
  • Virus Diseases
  • Diseases Caused by Protozoa
  • Exercises on Bacteria
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