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Common Infectious Disease Classification – not all are contagious (human to human transmission)
and the ones that are vary in their mode of transmission. Some are human>human, others involve an
animal vector (zoonotic).
DISEASES CLASSIFIED BY SPECIFIC PATHOGEN (in some cases more than one closely related
pathogen): The following is a very small sample sorted by pathogen type; protozoa, bacteria, viruses, fungi.
Malaria is caused by the protozoan, Plasmodium falciparum or P. vivax.
African Sleeping Sickness is caused by the protozoan, Trypanosoma brucei.
Lyme disease is caused by the bacterium Borrelis burgdorferi.
Cholera is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae.
Strep Throat/Scarlet Fever is caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes.
Syphillus is caused by the spiral-bacterium Treponema pallidum.
Gonorrhea is caused by the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhea.
Plague is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis.
Tuberculosis is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosum.
Leprosy is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium leprae.
Diptheria is caused by the bacterium Corynebacterium diptherae.
Pertussis (whooping cough) is caused by the bacterium Bordatella pertussis.
Legionnaire’s Disease is caused by Legionella bacteria (see also pneumonia).
Botulism is caused by the endospore-forming bacterium Clostridium botulinum.
Tetanus is caused by the endospore-forming bacterium Clostridium tetani.
Anthrax is caused by the endospore-forming bacterium Bacillus anthrasis.
AIDS is caused by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus).
Ebola is caused by the Ebola Virus.
Rabies is caused by the Rabies Virus.
Mononucleosis is caused by the Epstein Barr Virus.
Measles is caused by Measles (Rubeola) Virus.
Mumps is caused by the Mumps Virus.
Polio is caused by the Polio Virus.
Chickenpox/Shingles is caused by Varicella-Zoster Virus.
Yeast Infection (throat, vagina, diaper rash) is caused by the fungus, Candida albicans.
Athlete’s Foot (Tinea Pedis) is caused by the fungi in the genus Trichophyton.
Ringworm is caused by the fungi in the genus Trichophyton.
DISEASES CLASSIFIED BY THE TARGET ORGAN OR ORGAN SYSTEM Each of which is known to be
cuased by multiple pathogens (bacterial or viral), with variation in virulence often based on the pathogen.
Again, the following represents a small sample of the more common types of infection.
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. Bacteria and viruses.
Bronchitis is an infection of the bronchi and/or bronchioles. Bacteria and viruses.
Influenza is a respiratory infection caused by multiple strains of influenza virus.
Colds are caused by multiple viruses belonging to either Rhinoviurs or Coronavirus groups.
Sinusitis (sinus infection) is an infection of the sinuses (upper respiratory) caused by bacteria and viruses.
Ear Infection (Otitis media) is caused by bacteria or viruses.
Hepatitis is an infection of the liver caused by viruses designated Hepatitis A, B, C, D, or E.
Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs, including the urethra, bladder, ureters, and kidneys) are caused by multiple
bacterial species.
Colitis is an infection of the colon caused by bacteria and in some cases, unknown causes.
Gastro-intestinal (GI) infections are infections of the stomach and/or intestines.
Menengitis is an infection of the meninges (the protective coverings of the brain/spine).
Dermatitis is an infection of the skin caused by bacteria, viruses, and fungi.