S Illness Details
Salmonellosis (Salmonella infection)
What is it?
Salmonellosis is an infection with a bacteria called Salmonella. The illness usually lasts 4 to 7 days, and most persons recover without treatment.
Symptoms
Most persons infected with Salmonella develop diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps 12 to 72 hours after infection.
Transmission
Salmonella live in the intestinal tracts of humans and other animals, including birds. Salmonella are usually transmitted to humans by eating foods contaminated with animal feces.
Additional Information
SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)
What is it?
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus, called SARS-associated coronavirus
Symptoms
Symptoms may include headache, an overall feeling of discomfort, and body aches. Some people also have mild respiratory Symptoms at the outset.
Transmission
The main way that SARS seems to spread is by close person-to-person contact. The virus that causes SARS is thought to be transmitted most readily by respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Additional Information
Scabies
What is it?
Scabies is an infestation of the skin with the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabei. Infestation is common, found worldwide, and affects people of all races and social classes.
Symptoms
Pimple-like irritations, burrows or rash of the skin, especially the webbing between the fingers; the skin folds on the wrist, elbow, or knee; the penis, the breast, or shoulder blades. Intense itching, especially at night and over most of the body. Sores on the body caused by scratching. These sores can sometimes become infected with bacteria.
Transmission
Direct, prolonged, skin-to-skin contact with a person already infested with scabies. Infestation may also occur by sharing clothing, towels, and bedding.
Additional Information
Schistosomiasis
What is it?
A disease caused by a parasitic worm. Although Schistosomiasis is not found in the U.S., 200 million people are infected worldwide.
Symptoms
Developing of a rash or itchy skin. Fever, chills, cough, and muscle aches can begin with 1-2 months of infection.
Transmission
Infection occurs when your skin comes in contact with contaminated fresh water in which certain types of snails that carry schistosomes are living. Fresh water becomes contaminated when infected people urinate of defecated in the water.
Additional Information
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs)
What is it?
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (also known as STDs and once called venereal diseases or VD) are infectious diseases that spread from person to person through intimate contact.
Symptoms
STD Symptoms vary, but the most common are soreness, unusual lumps or sores, itching, pain when urinating, and/or an unusual discharge from the genitals.
Transmission
A person can get some STDs, like herpes or genital warts, through skin-to-skin contact with an infected area or sore.
Additional Information
Shigellosis (Shigella infection)
What is it?
Shigellosis (pronounced: shih-guh-lo-sus) is an intestinal infection caused by Shigella bacteria. The bacteria produce toxins that can attack the lining of the large intestine, causing swelling, ulcers on the intestinal wall, and bloody diarrhea.
Symptoms
Symptoms can range from just watery diarrhea to bloody diarrhea, fever, and abdominal pain.
Transmission
Shigella bacteria can contaminate food and water supplies, especially in areas where the sanitation is not adequate. However, most of the time the bacteria are spread when a person comes into contact with another person's stool.
Additional Information
Smallpox
What is it?
Smallpox is a serious, contagious, and sometimes fatal infectious disease.
Symptoms
Fever, malaise, head and body aches, and sometimes vomiting.
Transmission
Generally, direct and fairly prolonged face-to-face contact is required to spread smallpox from one person to another. Smallpox also can be spread through direct contact with infected bodily fluids or contaminated objects such as bedding or clothing.
Additional Information
Streptococcus Pneumoniae (Pneumococcal) Disease
What is it?
Streptococcus pneumonia is a bacterium commonly found in the nasopharynx (back of the nose) of healthy people. More than 90 sterotypes of S. Pneumoniae have been identified.
Symptoms
Include fever, chills, headache, ear pain, cough, chest pain, disorientation, shortness of breath and occasionally stiff neck.
Transmission
The Pneumococcus bacteria is carried in the upper respiratory tract. It is spread by airborne or direct exposure to respiratory droplets from a person who is infected or carrying the bacteria.
Additional Information
