Infectious Diseases

What This Covers

• Viral, bacterial, and fungal infections
• Tick-borne and insect-borne diseases
• Antibiotic resistance and stewardship
• Emerging infections and outbreaks
• Prevention, symptoms, and treatment options

Featured Guides

All Infectious Diseases Guides

35 guides

• Measles in the United States: Outbreaks, Vaccination, and Risk — A clear, evidence-based guide to measles in the U.S., including outbreaks, symptoms, complications, vaccination, and what to do if exposed.
• Nipah Virus — A rare but highly lethal zoonotic virus causing encephalitis and respiratory disease, monitored globally for outbreak potential.
• Measles and Pregnancy: Risks by Trimester, Critical Weeks, and What to Do After Exposure — Measles infection during pregnancy can increase risks of miscarriage, preterm birth, and severe maternal illness. Learn trimester-specific risks and how to reduce harm.
• Measles and International Travel: Vaccines, Timing, Infants, and What to Do After Exposure — Travel increases measles exposure risk. Learn vaccine timing, infant considerations, outbreak travel planning, and post-exposure steps.
• Measles Vaccine (MMR/MMRV): Schedule, Catch-up, Effectiveness, and Safety — How the measles vaccine works, who should get it, catch-up guidance, outbreak doses, and common questions about safety.
• Measles (Rubeola): Symptoms, Risks, Vaccination, and Outbreaks — Measles is one of the most contagious viruses known. Learn symptoms, risks, vaccination guidance, and why outbreaks are resurging worldwide.
• US Vaccines & Measles (2026): What Changed, What Hasn’t, and What Matters — A clear guide to US vaccine policy changes, measles resurgence, and practical risk-based decision-making for families.
• Why Measles Comes Back First When Vaccination Rates Fall — An explainer on why measles resurges before other diseases when immunization coverage declines.
• Candida auris (C. auris): A Drug-Resistant Fungal Infection Explained — An evidence-based guide to Candida auris, a multidrug-resistant fungal infection spreading in hospitals worldwide. Covers risks, transmission, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
• Hepatitis B Vaccination in Newborns: Birth Dose vs Delayed Dose — Clear, evidence-based guidance on the hepatitis B birth dose, delayed dosing, and global vaccination policies.
• Hepatitis B: Risks, Prevention, and Treatment — A clear overview of hepatitis B, including symptoms, transmission, chronic disease risks, vaccination schedules, and treatment options.
• Insect-Borne Infections: Understanding Vector-Borne Disease — How mosquitoes, ticks, and other insects spread infection, and what you can do to reduce risk.
• Lyme Disease — A clear, evidence-based guide to Lyme disease — causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and long-term outcomes.
• Post-Treatment Lyme Disease Syndrome (PTLDS) — Why some people have ongoing symptoms after treated Lyme disease, and what is (and isn’t) known.
• Tick Bite Management — Practical steps after a tick bite — removal, observation, and when to seek treatment.
• Vaccine Myths and Facts — Separating persistent vaccine myths from evidence-based facts — from autism claims to ‘too many, too soon.’
• Why Combination Vaccines Exist — Combination vaccines like MMR and DTaP reduce injections, improve coverage, and maintain identical safety and immune response compared to single shots.
• Antibiotic Resistance — When bacteria and fungi no longer respond to the drugs meant to kill them, infections become harder — sometimes impossible — to treat.
• Rabies — Risks, Symptoms & What To Do After a Bite — Rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but 100% preventable with prompt post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP). Learn risks, symptoms, prevention, and urgent steps after exposure.
• West Nile Virus (WNV) — What West Nile virus is, how it spreads, how to recognize it, and what you can do to prevent infection.
• Azelastine Nasal Spray and COVID-19 Prevention — Review of a phase 2 clinical trial testing whether azelastine, an allergy nasal spray, can reduce SARS-CoV-2 infections.
• Bacterial Meningitis — Bacterial meningitis is a life-threatening infection of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, requiring immediate antibiotics and hospital care.
• Cellulitis — Cellulitis is a common bacterial skin infection causing redness, swelling, warmth, and pain; severe cases may spread rapidly and require urgent care.
• Pneumonia — Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that inflames the air sacs, causing cough, fever, and breathing difficulty; it can be life-threatening in infants, older adults, and people with chronic illness.
• Sepsis — Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused by the body’s extreme response to an infection, leading to organ damage and shock if untreated.
• Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) — A UTI is an infection of the urinary system — most often the bladder — causing burning urination, frequency, and urgency; kidney infections can be serious and require prompt care.
• COVID-19 Vaccines: What We Know, What We Don’t — mRNA vaccines changed the course of the pandemic. Understanding their benefits, limitations, and uncertainties is key to informed choice.
• Tuberculosis (TB): Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment — Tuberculosis is a serious bacterial infection that primarily affects the lungs. Learn about transmission, symptoms, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment.
• Whooping Cough (Pertussis): Why Vaccination Still Matters — Pertussis is a highly contagious respiratory infection. Vaccination remains the best protection for children and communities.
• Flu vs. Cold — Key Differences & What to Do — How to tell influenza from a common cold, what symptoms to watch for, when to test, and when to seek care.
• Gastroenteritis — Preventing the Spread — How gastroenteritis spreads and the steps you can take to prevent infection in households and communities.
• Legionnaires' Disease — Causes, Symptoms, and Prevention — What Legionnaires' disease is, how it spreads, symptoms to watch for, who's at risk, and how to reduce exposure — especially when traveling.
• COVID-19 Vaccination Guidelines — United States (August 2025, Updated October 2025) — The FDA’s latest approvals, CDC’s stalled guidance, and AAP/ACOG recommendations on COVID-19 vaccination as of October 2025.
• Evidence-First COVID Vaccine Policy — A framework for evaluating COVID-19 vaccine policy based on absolute risk, safety signals, and transparent choice.
• How E. coli Responds to Chemical Cues — Overview of how Escherichia coli regulates transport of antibiotics and other chemicals through porins and efflux pumps.