INFECTIOUS DISEASES

WHAT IS AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE?

Infectious diseases are disorders caused by organisms — such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or
parasites. Many organisms live in and on our bodies. They're normally harmless or even helpful,
but under certain conditions, some organisms may cause disease.

1. Bacteria- Bacteria are prokaryotes, which consist of a single cell with a simple internal structure.
Bacteria are microscopic single-celled organisms that thrive in diverse environments. They can live
within soil, in the ocean and inside the human gut.

2. Virus- A virus is a biological agent that reproduces inside the cells of living hosts. When infected
by a virus, a host cell is forced to produceof identical copies of the original virus at an extraordinary
rate.

3. Fungi- Fungi constitute a large, diverse group of heterotrophic organisms, most of which are
found as saprobes in the soil and on decomposing organic matter.

4. Parasites- A parasite is an organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from or
at the expense of its host.
infectious diseases
1. Mumps (Epidemic Parotitis)