Common Signs and Features by Organ System
Aninfectionis the invasion of the body by a disease-causing organism called apathogen.
Infections can be classified in a number of different ways.
Others may be spread by an animal or insect or picked up from the environment.
Verywell / Theresa Chiechi
This article discusses general symptoms of infections and symptoms when different parts of the body have an infection.
Classifying Symptoms
The signs and symptoms of an infection can also vary.
Some are generalized and nonspecific, like fever, fatigue, and chills.
These includeantibioticsfor bacterial infections,antiviralsfor viral infections, antifungals for fungal infections, and antiparasitics for parasitic diseases.
During an infection, people often experience nonspecific, generalized symptoms as a result of the underlying inflammatory response.
Blood
Bloodstream infections are most commonly associated with bacteria (bacteremia).
Septicemiais the term used to describe a serious blood infection.Sepsisoccurs when the response to the infection causes organ damage.
Others may become chronic and lead toprogressive liver injury(particularly withhepatitis Bandhepatitis C).
Hepatitissimply describes the inflammation of the liver, whether by infection or other causes.
Symptoms of viral hepatitis may include:
Chronic hepatitis infection can lead tocirrhosis,liver failure, andliver cancer.
Gastrointestinal Tract
The gastrointestinal tract is the passage through which food enters the body and exits asstool.
The pathogens are often transmitted by contaminated food and shared personal items.
Common causes of infectious gastroenteritis include bacteria likeEscherichia coliandSalmonella,viruses likerotavirusandnorovirus, and parasites likeGiardia lambliaandCryptosporidium.
Ears
Otitis is the general term for an infection of the ear.
Eye infections are frequently associated with viruses likeadenovirusand herpes simplex virus.
Bacterial causes includeStaphylococcus aureusandStreptococcus pneumonaieas well as sexually transmitted infections (STIs) likegonorrheaandchlamydia.
An eye infection often involves only one eye but can easily spread to both.
Some STIs can also cause vaginitis.
These includechlamydia,genital herpes,gonorrhea,HIV,human papillomavirus (HPV),syphilis, andtrichomoniasis.
Symptoms vary not only by sex but also by the site of the infection.
In some cases, there may be no symptoms at all.
Even so, sexually transmitted infections should be considered if you haverisk factors for STIs.
Skin
Skin infections are due to an almost encyclopedic array of pathogens.
These characteristics can help direct the diagnosis and ensure the correct treatment plan.
Symptoms may also be specific for the part of the body or organ that is infected.
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