if someone has a bacterial infection is it contagious :: Article CreatorWhat To Know About Skin Infections
Various pathogens can cause skin infections, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The symptoms, treatment, and outlook will depend on the cause.
Infections can vary from mild to serious. Most skin infections are treatable. However, an infection can become more serious if it goes deeper into the skin or spreads across much of the body.
People with a weakened immune system have a higher risk of skin infections and complications from skin infections. This could be due to:
a health condition, such as HIV, diabetes, poor circulation, or malnutrition a side effect of medication, such as chemotherapy or biologic drug use being older or very young have skin folds due to obesity Over-the-counter medications and home remedies can often treat mild infections, but other infections may need medical attention.
Read on to learn more about skin infections and what to do if you have one.
Here are some pictures of some symptoms of various skin infections:
The following are four different types of skin infections:
1. Bacterial skin infections
Bacterial skin infections occur when bacteria enter the skin, either from an outside source or because they are present on the skin. They can enter the skin through a hair follicle or after a wound.
Anthrax is one type of bacteria that can come from the environment.
Staphylococcus and Streptococcus are bacteria that are commonly present on the skin and only cause a problem in certain circumstances. Lyme disease is a tick-borne bacterial infection that can cause skin symptoms along with many other symptoms.
Bacterial infections can be systemic or local. Systemic infections can cause symptoms throughout the whole body, such as a fever, while local infections only affect a specific area.
Some bacterial infections can begin in one area and spread throughout the body.
Some bacterial skin infections, such as impetigo, can spread between people through direct skin contact or with bodily fluids, contaminated food or water, or by touching surfaces where bacteria are present.
Others, such as cellulitis, are not contagious.
Different types of bacterial skin infections include:
Systemic infections that can cause skin rashes include:
Some bacterial infections are mild and easy to treat with topical antibiotics, but other infections require an oral antibiotic or other medical treatment.
2. Viral skin infections
Viruses can cause different types of infections that have skin symptoms, such as:
These viruses are often contagious, and most are systemic.
3. Fungal skin infections
These types of skin infections are caused by a fungus and are most likely to develop in moist areas of the body where surfaces meet, such as the feet, armpit, or where there are skin folds.
In some cases, an allergy to the fungus causes symptoms in other areas that are not directly affected. For instance, a person with a fungal infection on the foot might develop a rash on their fingers. However, this doesn't happen because the person touched their foot. This is known as an "id" reaction.
Different types of fungal infections:
4. Parasitic skin infection
These types of skin infections are caused by a parasite. These infections can spread beyond the skin to the bloodstream and organs. A parasitic infection isn't life-threatening but can be uncomfortable.
Different types of parasitic skin infections include:
Some types of pathogens — notably bacteria and fungi — are typically present on the skin and cause no problems. But if they multiply too much, the immune system can no longer manage them.
In this case, an infection can result.
The cause of a skin infection depends on the pathogen involved.
Bacterial skin infection
These infections occur when bacteria enter the body through a break in the skin, such as a cut or a scratch.
Not all cuts or scratches lead to a skin infection, but there is a higher risk if you:
have a weakened immune system do not keep the wound clean are exposed to certain bacteria, for example, when working outside
Viral skin infection
The most common viruses come from one of three groups of viruses:
Fungal infection
Body chemistry and lifestyle factors can increase the risk of a fungal infection. Fungi often grow in warm, moist environments.
Some risk factors for a fungal infection are:
having sweaty feet or wearing closed footwear wearing sweaty or wet clothes having skin folds due to excess body fat bathing in contaminated water sharing personal items with other people who carry a fungus or have an infection A break or cut in the skin may allow pathogens to get into the deeper layers of the skin.
Parasitic skin infection
Tiny insects or organisms burrowing underneath your skin and laying eggs can cause a parasitic skin infection.
Scabies: An infestation of mites, which causes itching, a rash of small pimples, lines on the skin surface, and scaling or crusty skin. Pediculosis: This is an infection caused by lice. It can cause itching, and lice and nits — their eggs — may be visible. Creeping eruption: Caused by hookworms, this can cause a winding, snake-like rash. Treatment depends on the cause of the infection and the severity.
Some infections will go away on their own or respond to over-the-counter creams.
If an infection is severe, the person is at risk of complications, or the infection is contagious, a doctor may prescribe medication such as:
antibiotics antivirals antifungals antiparasitics The form of the medication will partially depend on the severity of the infection or the risk of complications. A person with a severe infection may need to spend time in the hospital.
Home care and alternative treatments
Home care for a skin infection works to reduce symptoms.
What are the main types of skin infections?
bacterial, commonly caused by Streptococcal or Staphylococcal bacteria viral, such as chickenpox or warts fungal, for instance, a yeast infection parasitic, for example, scabies
What does a bacterial skin infection look like?
This will depend on the infection, but it will usually involve inflammation – redness, and swelling.
What is the most common bacterial infection of the skin?
Impetigo is a common example of a bacterial infection. Others include cellulitis and Lyme disease. The most common bacteria associated with skin infections are the Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species.
Skin infections can result from bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic causes. The way they affect the body will depend on the specific pathogen. Some cause skin symptoms as part of a wider infection, while others cause local symptoms only.
Skin infections are often highly treatable, but severe symptoms and complications can arise if a person has a weakened immune system.
Some infections are are contagious, such as scabies, and people need to take care not to pass them on before or during treatment.
See your doctor if you have any concerns about signs of a skin infection.
Is Pneumonia Contagious? Yes, When It's Caused By Bacteria Or Viruses
Most types of pneumonia are contagious. When pneumonia is caused by a virus or bacteria — as it usually is — it can spread from person to person through respiratory droplets. To prevent the spread of pneumonia, you should practice good hygiene, work to boost your immune system, refrain from smoking, and get the necessary vaccines. This article was medically reviewed by Jason R. McKnight, MD, MS, a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine. Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice. Pneumonia is an infection that causes the air sacs in one or both lungs to fill with fluid or pus. Each year, more than 250,000 Americans are hospitalized with pneumonia, and about 50,000 die from the disease.
Signs and symptoms of pneumonia can vary depending on the type and severity, but they typically include:
There are many different types of pneumonia — and most of them can be contagious. Here's what you need to know about the types of pneumonia, how they spread, and how to protect yourself.
Which types of pneumonia are contagious?
Pneumonia is contagious when it is caused by infectious pathogens, like bacteria or viruses. This is the case with most types of pneumonia, including:
Bacterial pneumonia is the most common type of pneumonia in adults and is typically caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pneumoniae. Bacterial pneumonia can occur on its own, or as a result of a viral cold or flu. You might also catch bacterial pneumonia during a hospital stay for another illness, because your immune system is already weakened and you are more susceptible. Methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) pneumonia is a type of bacterial pneumonia caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Those who work or live in crowded spaces with frequent skin-to-skin contact, like nursing homes, daycare centers or hospitals, are at an increased risk for this type of pneumonia. Viral pneumonia is the most common cause of pneumonia in children younger than five years old. Any virus that infects the respiratory tract can cause viral pneumonia, but the flu virus is the most common cause of viral pneumonia in adults, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Walking pneumonia, also known as atypical pneumonia, generally describes a mild case of pneumonia, often caused by a common bacterium known as Mycoplasma pneumonia. This type of pneumonia accounts for about 10% to 40% of pneumonia cases not acquired in hospitals or health care facilities. If you have bacterial pneumonia, you'll remain contagious until you've been on antibiotics for 24 to 48 hours. If you have viral pneumonia, you will be contagious until your symptoms subside.
However, pneumonia is not contagious when it is caused by a foreign substance, like when food, drink, or saliva enters the lungs and causes inflammation. This is called aspiration pneumonia, which accounts for about 5% to 15% of pneumonia cases acquired outside of health care facilities.
Risk factors for aspiration pneumonia include anything that may make swallowing more difficult, such as:
Poor gag reflex after a stroke or brain injury Receiving medication, like general anesthesia, meant to put you in a deep sleep Drinking large amounts of alcohol How do you get pneumonia?
The way pneumonia develops and spreads depends on the type and cause, says David Cutler, MD, family medicine physician at Providence Saint John's Health Center.
Many types of microbes — including bacteria, viruses, and fungi — can cause pneumonia. These germs commonly spread when an infected person coughs or sneezes and expels bacterial or viral droplets. These droplets could land on a surface, such as a table or a doorknob, infecting others who come into contact with the surface and then touch their eyes or mouth. Or, you may breathe in respiratory droplets from an infected person.
Most of the time, your immune system can effectively fight off these germs. But sometimes they overpower your body's natural defenses and invade your lungs. In response, your body produces white blood cells to fight off the attackers, filling the lung's air sacs with pus or cellular debris and causing pneumonia.
Adults older than 65 and children under the age of two are at an increased risk of developing pneumonia. This is because an older adult's immune system isn't as robust as a young adult's, and a young child's immune system is still developing.
Those who are immunocompromised or take medication that suppresses the immune system, like oral corticosteroids, are also at an increased risk of pneumonia because their bodies may not be able to fight off the germs that cause the infection.
How to prevent the spread of pneumonia
To reduce your risk of getting or spreading pneumonia, you should do the following:
Practice good hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds after touching frequently used public surfaces. In addition, coughing into your elbow — and not your hands — can help decrease the spread of pathogens that cause pneumonia. Boost your immune system. To keep your immune system strong and protect yourself against illness, you should exercise regularly and eat a healthy diet full of fruits and vegetables. Read more about how to boost your immune system. Don't smoke. Smoking damages your lungs and reduces their ability to defend against germs. A 2016 analysis of 27 studies examining the effect of tobacco smoke on developing pneumonia found that smokers older than 65 are at a 64% increased risk for pneumonia. Get the necessary vaccines
In addition, there are several vaccines that can help protect against some viruses and bacteria that cause pneumonia, Cutler says.
These include the following:
Pneumococcal pneumonia vaccine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends this vaccine for babies and children younger than two years old and adults age 65 and older. Influenza vaccine. The CDC recommends everyone six months and older get a flu vaccine every year to protect against the infectious diseases and related health complications, like pneumonia. Hib vaccine. The CDC recommends this vaccine for all children younger than five years old. It protects against the Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib) bacteria that can cause pneumonia and meningitis. Takeaways
Most people who have pneumonia are effectively treated at home, according to the NHLBI. But pneumonia can also be a life-threatening condition, especially for older adults or people with chronic lung problems, like asthma.
Overall, getting vaccinated, practicing good hygiene, and staying away from someone you know is sick can reduce your risk for developing pneumonia, Cutler says.
If you do experience signs of pneumonia, like difficulty breathing, chest pain, and a persistent fever of 102 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, you should seek immediate medical attention.
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Is Eczema Contagious?
Eczema is not a contagious skin condition. However, some possible complications of eczema, such as infections, may be contagious.
Eczema is a chronic inflammatory skin condition that may cause dry, itchy, and discolored skin. The National Eczema Association reports that it affects nearly 32 million people in the United States.
Many people think that eczema may be contagious.
However, eczema is not a transmittable disease. Even if you have an active rash, it cannot pass to someone else through physical contact like hugging, sneezing, or during sexual intercourse.
Researchers also suggest that eczema is a genetic condition, which means you could inherit the condition from one of your parents. Inheritance is not a form of transmission, but some people may confuse the terms.
Keep reading to learn more about eczema complications that may be contagious and how to treat them.
Eczema weakens the skin barrier, which is the outer layer of skin that helps protect it from environmental irritants and retain moisture.
The weaking process may cause dry, itchy skin that can crack on its own or when you scratch it. A compromised skin barrier and itching can increase your risk of contracting an infection because the collective actions leave wounds on your skin.
The most common secondary infection associated with eczema is Staphylococcus aureus (S. Aureus). Your skin's surface naturally contains S. Aureus, so it's easy for it to enter cracks in your skin.
Other common secondary infections may include:
viral, such as the herpes simplex virus bacterial, such as impetigo, cellulitis, and other Staphylococcus strains fungal, such as Candida If you have infected eczema, the secondary infection can pass to another person through close contact like shaking hands, hugging, and kissing. In rare cases, a herpes simplex virus may lead to a complication called eczema herpeticum, which is also contagious.
Symptoms of infected eczema may include:
skin redness or other color changes that spread around the original rash blisters that ooze (weep), crack, or crust over pain severe itchiness clear or yellow discharge It's important to cover up weeping blisters or rashes and to speak with a healthcare professional if you experience symptoms of infection. They could help provide a proper treatment plan for you.
The exact cause of eczema isn't known, but research from 2015 suggests that up to 75% of people with eczema have inherited the condition.
It's important to note that inheritance is not transmission. Inheritance means genetic information from one or both of your parents is passed on to you.
Several genetic mutations that could affect the skin barrier or immune system are associated with eczema. In fact, so far, 62 genes have been associated with eczema, with filaggrin (FLG) being the most commonly studied.
Infected eczema isn't always preventable, but there are several things you can do to greatly reduce your risk.
Preventing cracks in your skin or open wounds from developing are the best ways to avoid an infection. This may include regularly moisturizing and trying to resist the urge to scratch your skin, which is easier said than done.
keeping your hands busy, such as doing yard work, art, or playing music regularly moisturizing your symptoms applying moisturizer within 3 minutes of bathing taking oatmeal baths staying well hydrated applying compresses or wet wraps to affected areas following your eczema treatment plan avoiding possible triggers, such as using detergents with fragrances or wearing certain clothes If you have any blisters, it's important to keep them wrapped to avoid possible infections.
Eczema is a chronic inflammatory condition that may cause itchy and dry skin patches. It is not contagious, which means it cannot be transmitted from one person to another.
However, broken skin caused by an eczema rash is vulnerable to contagious infections.
If you have eczema, protect any open wounds or areas of cracked skin to reduce your risk of infection.
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