Editorial Team Clostridioides difficile infection (C. diff infection) is an illness of the colon caused by the bacterium Clostridioides difficile. It mainly leads to watery diarrhea, stomach pain or cramping, fever, nausea, and loss of appetite. The infection usually develops after a person takes broad-spectrum antibiotics, which can disrupt the normal “good” bacteria in the gut and … Read more
A tapeworm is a type of parasitic flatworm that belongs to the group Cestoda. It lives in the intestines of many animals, including humans. Tapeworms attach themselves to the intestinal wall using hooks or suckers on their head (called the scolex) and take in nutrients directly from the food their host eats. This can lead … Read more
Hookworm infection is a parasitic disease caused when tiny worm larvae in contaminated soil enter the body, usually through the skin. This most often happens when people walk barefoot in areas with poor sanitation. After entering the skin, the larvae travel through the bloodstream and lungs before reaching the small intestine. Infection can also occur … Read more
Toxoplasmosis is an infection caused by Toxoplasma gondii, a microscopic parasite found around the world. An estimated 30% to 50% of people have been exposed to it, though rates differ depending on local food habits and environmental conditions. The infection is mainly spread by eating undercooked meat, especially pork, lamb, or venison, coming into contact … Read more
Roundworm infection (ascariasis) is a common parasitic disease caused by the roundworm Ascaris lumbricoides. People become infected when they swallow the worm’s eggs, which are found in soil, food, or water contaminated with human feces. This usually happens in areas with poor sanitation. After the eggs are swallowed, they hatch in the small intestine. The … Read more
Leishmaniasis is a group of tropical diseases caused by Leishmania parasites, which are tiny single-celled organisms spread to humans through the bites of infected female phlebotomine sandflies. More than 20 parasite species and over 90 sandfly species can transmit the infection. The disease is found in about 99 countries across Africa, Asia, the Americas, and … Read more
Typhus refers to a group of infectious diseases caused by Rickettsia bacteria and transmitted to humans through arthropod vectors such as fleas, lice, or mites. These diseases, including epidemic typhus, endemic (murine) typhus, and scrub typhus. Globally, murine typhus alone is estimated to cause tens of thousands of infections each year, while large historical outbreaks … Read more
Anaplasmosis is an infectious disease spread by ticks. It is caused by Anaplasma phagocytophilum, a type of bacteria that can only survive inside the cells of its host and is classified as gram-negative (a laboratory term describing its outer cell structure). People become infected mainly through the bite of blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis in the … Read more
Histoplasmosis is an infection caused by breathing in tiny fungal spores from Histoplasma capsulatum, a fungus that grows in soil containing bird or bat droppings. The disease occurs worldwide, including in the Americas, Africa, and Asia, but is especially common in the Ohio and Mississippi River valleys of the United States. Studies show that 60–90% … Read more
Endophthalmitis is a serious inflammation inside the eye, usually caused by bacteria or fungi. It is considered a medical emergency because, without quick treatment, it can cause rapid and permanent loss of vision. The condition most often develops after eye surgeries, especially cataract surgery, where it occurs in about 0.02% to 0.2% of cases worldwide. … Read more