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infectious disease

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infectious disease

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Also known as pestilence, infectious diseases, disease by infectious agent, ID, communicable disease, communicable diseases, zymotic disease, zymotic diseases

disease caused by infection of pathogenic biological agents in a host organism

AI overview

An infectious disease is an illness caused when harmful biological agents—like bacteria, viruses, or parasites—get into your body and multiply. It matters because these diseases can spread from person to person and affect public health, making them a significant concern for individuals and communities.

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Research

1,009,713 papers

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Wikidata facts

Image
Malaria.jpg
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Commons category
Infectious diseases and disorders
ICD-9-CM
136.8
NCI Thesaurus ID
C26726
Sources (7)

via Wikidata · CC0

~40 min read

Article

An infection is the invasion of tissues by pathogens, their multiplication, and the reaction of host tissues to the infectious agent and the toxins they produce. An infectious disease, also known as a transmissible disease or communicable disease, is an illness resulting from an infection.

Infections can be caused by a wide range of pathogens, most prominently bacteria and viruses. Hosts can fight infections using their immune systems. Mammalian hosts react to infections with an innate response, often involving inflammation, followed by an adaptive response.

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