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Bacteria are everywhere, and it’s crucial to understand them if you want to maintain your health. In fact, there are over 2,000 types of bacteria, and some of them can be quite harmful! For instance, E. coli can cause urinary tract infections and pneumonia, and it can even lead to meningitis in people with weakened immune systems. Here are fifty bacterial diseases that you need to know about – could you catch one?
Anthrax
One disease you might have heard of is anthrax, which attacks lung tissue. It’s caused by Bacillus anthracis, a bacterium that grows best in oxygen-free environments and reproduces quickly. Anthrax spores can live in soil for up to twenty years and be released into the air from soil disturbance and construction work. If inhaled, they enter your lungs and begin to reproduce quickly, releasing toxins that attack lung tissue and cause lesions, severe bleeding, and death.
Plague
The plague is not a bacteria—it’s caused by a virus. But, like many viruses and bacteria, it can be transmitted from one human to another (via infected fleas). It’s infamous for killing roughly one-third of Europe in just four years during The Black Death (1347-1351), but cases are now exceedingly rare thanks to antibiotics. An outbreak occurred in Madagascar in 2017; no deaths were reported, but cases still popped up as recently as February 2018. Symptoms include a high fever, red or black skin lesions that may bleed, and swollen lymph nodes. If you have these symptoms, see your doctor immediately—antibiotics work best if administered early.
Typhoid fever
The infection spread through bacteria entering a person’s bloodstream, Typhoid fever is often found in areas with poor sanitation and less-than-clean water supplies. It can be treated if caught early, but it has been known to kill 10% of patients who don’t receive treatment right away. Prevention methods include washing your hands regularly and boiling food or drinking water before consuming it. There are vaccines available for people at high risk of catching typhoid fever. That includes travelers visiting areas where typhoid fever is common and healthcare workers who frequently come into contact with infected patients.
E. coli infection
The bacterium Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common, but dangerous, strain of bacteria that infects millions of people each year. Most E. coli infections are transmitted through food or water contaminated with human feces and can lead to diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. A particularly severe type of E. coli infection—known as a hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)—can be life-threatening for children under 5 years old and elderly adults; it often causes acute kidney failure and central nervous system problems. Preventing infection is key: wash your hands before handling food to avoid spreading pathogens around your kitchen—and definitely don’t drink unpasteurized milk products if you want to avoid E. coli!
Smallpox
Despite being officially eradicated in 1980, smallpox is believed to have killed around 300–500 million people over its roughly 2000 years of recorded existence. Although it’s been wiped off our planet, there are some scientists who believe that smallpox still exists in some parts of Eastern Europe and Asia. There’s also a possibility that DNA strains could be used by terrorist groups as biological weapons or even sold on black markets as potential vaccines. After all, there are few viruses more deadly than smallpox. No one knows if it still exists today but we’re certainly not taking any chances; global health organizations like WHO and CDC track down labs with poxvirus strains for destruction on a regular basis because nobody wants another strain to leak into public hands.
Staph infections
Staphylococcus bacteria are a common cause of infection. Staph infections typically start with small, skin sores that develop into pus-filled blisters. When you’re dealing with staph infections, if they’re on your skin they can be treated by dabbing on some antibiotic ointment. If your staph infection enters your bloodstream, however, things become much more serious.
Rheumatic fever
Caused by streptococcal bacteria, rheumatic fever is an inflammation of the heart and joints that can damage your organs. It usually develops about three weeks after you’ve contracted strep throat or a skin infection. Symptoms include pain in your muscles, joints, and chest; swelling of one or more fingers; joint pain; headaches; high fevers; and feeling tired all day long. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent heart damage.
Streptococcus pneumonia
As one of many bacteria that commonly cause strep throat, pneumonia, and other infections, pneumococcus is a common infectious disease. While it’s easily treatable when caught early, there are several strains of pneumococcus that produce toxins, which can be lethal if not treated in time. Among children under five years old, pneumonia kills over 800 per day. Fortunately, vaccination against some strains is simple and painless enough to be administered to babies in their first few months of life. Although prevention methods exist for most forms of pneumococcus infection, death rates aren’t likely to change much in developed countries until they improve sanitation standards or discover a cure for bacterial disease entirely.
Leprosy (Hansen’s disease)
Leprosy (also known as Hansen’s disease) is caused by Mycobacterium leprae, a slow-growing bacterium that invades nerve cells and other cells of the body. It spreads from person to person through prolonged contact with respiratory droplets or feces of those with active infections. Although it has been very rare in developed countries for decades (just nine cases were reported in the U.S. between 1993 and 2013), it still affects some 200,000 people globally every year and most are from developing countries where advanced medicine is difficult to come by—so if you have symptoms that sound like leprosy, don’t let your guard down just because you live in a modern country!
Streptococcus pyogenes (S. pyogenes, Group A strep, GAS, Streptococcal sore throat)
This is a very common bacteria and is usually transmitted through direct contact with bodily fluids. Group A strep causes strep throat, scarlet fever, and impetigo. Strep throat is so common it has been estimated that 1 in 5 people carries GAS in their mouths at any given time. This can result in an infection if a person’s immune system isn’t up to par. The symptoms of strep throat range from sore throat to fever, headache, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and coughing. If you have these symptoms after close contact with someone else who has been diagnosed with strep throat or if you experience them for more than one day, call your doctor immediately as it could be life-threatening.
Gonorrhea
It might not be as catchy as syphilis, but gonorrhea has still managed to stick around for centuries. Caused by a bacteria called Neisseria gonorrhoeae, it can infect both men and women through unprotected vaginal, oral, or anal sex. If left untreated, it can lead to serious health problems including infertility and ectopic pregnancy in women. It’s also associated with an increased risk of HIV transmission in both men and women.
Tuberculosis (TB or TBs)
Tuberculosis (TB) is a bacterial disease that usually affects your lungs. However, TB can also affect other areas of your body, such as your kidneys or spine. Most people who develop TB are children under age 5 or adults over age 40. But some young and middle-aged adults can get it, too. People with compromised immune systems—such as people with HIV/AIDS—are also at higher risk for TB infection. There’s a vaccine available to prevent TB in high-risk individuals, including people with HIV/AIDS and health care workers who come into contact with patients who have active TB. Other forms of treatment are available to treat TB once you’re infected.
