Why do I need to see a specialist?
Infectious diseases is the medical specialism that diagnoses, investigates and treats infections caused by micro-organisms, such as:
- bacteria
- viruses
- fungi
- parasites
These infectious agents can be acquired by:
- direct contact with another person (skin-to-skin contact, sexual intercourse, etc.)
- contact with a specific environment (water, animals, ticks, etc.)
- staying in a hospital or other healthcare facility (healthcare-associated infections)
In some cases, infections may penetrate the body to affect all the organs. Fever and chills are common symptoms of infectious diseases, but patients can experience a wide variety of symptoms.
Infectious diseases usually require complex diagnostic tests to identify the pathogenic micro-organism involved and target the treatment accordingly.