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Symptoms
By Mayo Clinic staffEach infectious disease has its own specific signs and symptoms. General signs and symptoms common to many infectious diseases include:
- Fever
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Muscle aches
When to see a doctor
You should seek medical attention if you:
- Have been bitten by an animal
- Are having trouble breathing
- Have been coughing for more than a week
- Have severe headache with fever or seizures with fever
- Experience a rash or swelling
- Have unexplained fever that lasts more than a week or two
References
- Understanding microbes in sickness and in health. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. http://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/microbes/documents/microbesbook.pdf. Accessed June 3, 2011.
- Facts about infectious diseases. Infectious Diseases Society of America. http://www.idsociety.org/factsaboutid.html. Accessed June 3, 2011.
- Routes of transmission. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?sid=1166387393&eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00013-8--s0105&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&uniqId=254689631-5#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00013-8--s0105. Accessed June 3, 2011.
- Anti-infective therapy. In: Mandell GL, et al. Mandell, Douglas and Bennett's Principles and Practice of Infectious Diseases. 7th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Churchill Livingstone Elsevier; 2010. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/page.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..00018-7&isbn=978-0-443-06839-3&uniqId=254689631-5#4-u1.0-B978-0-443-06839-3..X0001-X--s40. Accessed June 3, 2011.
- Infectious disease report. World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/infectious-disease-report/pages/ch1text.html. Accessed June 3, 2011.
- An ounce of prevention keeps the germs away. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/ounceofprevention/docs/oop_brochure_eng.pdf. Accessed June 3, 2011.
- Johnson KS, et al. Lumbar puncture: Technique; indications; contraindications; and complications in adults. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed June 2, 2011.
- Oehler RL, et al. "Down boy!" Infectious diseases spread by cats and dogs. Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice. 2009;17:298.
- Curtis V, et al. Hygiene: New hopes, new horizons. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2011;11:312.
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