Microbes and Infectious Diseases


Microbes that cause disease are called pathogens. Each pathogen has its own activating or residing sites along with its peculiar characteristics and symptoms.


 


Microbes can enter the body through the four spots listed below:


 


• Respiratory tract (mouth and nose) e.g. influenza virus which causes the flu.


• Gastrointestinal tract (mouth oral cavity) e.g. Vibrio cholerae which causes cholera.


• Urogenital tract e.g. Escherichia coli which causes cystitis.


• Breaks in the skin surface e.g. Clostridium tetani which causes tetanus.


 


Firstly, based on the age category to which they spread infections, they cause Pediatric infectious diseases, Adult infectious diseases, Secondly, basing on the mode of transmission, they cause Vector borne and zoonotic infectious diseases, Food and water borne infectious diseases, Airborne and contact infectious diseases