Dr. Vidya Sundareshan

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterial species which grows in the digestive tract in your body especially stomach. About 60 percent of the world’s population is infected by this bacterium. It has a tendency to cause peptic ulcers that comprises of majority of stomach or duodenal ulcer.

Reactive arthritis is a condition in which there is inflammation of the joints with pain and swelling which occurs following an infection elsewhere in the body. The joint itself is not infected and often the primary infection has already resolved. This is a rare conditions occurring in about 0.6 to 27 people per 100,000 population, affecting predominantly young adults with equal incidence in men and women.

Dengue is an infectious disease caused by the Dengue virus which is transmitted through the Aedes mosquito. This illness is encountered very commonly in various tropical regions with over 3.9 billion individuals at risk of acquiring the infection. The illness is seasonal, with epidemics occurring most frequently in the summer and monsoon or rainy months. Annually, nearly 400 million infections appear worldwide affecting all age groups. The disease is widely prevalent in Africa and the Indian subcontinent which are also the areas with the highest mortality from dengue.

An infectious disease specialist is a medical professional who has been trained to prevent, diagnose, and treat infectious diseases. They see patients who are exhibiting signs or symptoms of an infectious disease and perform a variety of tests to determine the type of disease and prevent it from spreading.

The Nipah virus is a relatively new virus that affects the brains of humans and certain animals like bats, pigs and horses, causing neurological symptoms and death. This was first reported in 1998, when it caused encephalitis (brain fever) in pigs and pig farmers in Malaysia. Since then, there have been multiple outbreaks in Bangladesh, India and the Philippines. The most recent outbreak has been reported in the south Indian state of Kerala where the disease is thought to have been acquired from bats.

Lyme Disease is an infectious disease affecting the skin, brain, nerves and joints, which is caused by a bacterium called Borrelia burgdorferi. The bacteria is transmitted to humans through the bite of the deer tick. Lyme disease is the most common tick borne disease in the US. Annually, 300000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year. The disease is encountered in the north eastern states of the US which reflects the distribution of the bacteria and tick in the US.

The deer tick also known as the black legged tick is a hard bodied tick that is found across the Midwest and east coast of the United States. The tick is infamous for being the agent that spread the bacteria causing Lyme disease, which is an infectious disease affecting the skin, brain, heart and joints. Scientifically named Ixodes scapularis, the deer tick consumes blood of its host for survival. The tick is no larger than the size of a sesame seed, however, upon feeding it gets engorged to several times its previous size. The male ticks are slightly smaller than females and the life span of the tick is roughly 2 years in the wild.

Chikungunya is an infectious disease caused by a virus that is transmitted by the Aedes mosquito, which is also the responsible vector for transmission of dengue and yellow fever. This disease occurs episodically every few years in various parts of Africa, Asia and the Indian Subcontinent. The major clinical feature is severe joint pains which can often last from 6 to 12 months or even longer.The virus is taken up by the Aedes mosquito during a blood meal from an infected human and transmits it to another human through a bite. The virus multiplies in the skin before spreading through the body to affect to the joint.

Scabies is a condition caused by mites. It causes the skin to itch and burn and can sometimes lead to a rash. It is very contagious and is easily transmitted from person to person via touch. It can also be passed along when an infected person touches a surface and leaves a mite or egg behind, which is picked up by another person. Scabies is treatable, and most people recover in just a few days. It can affect people of all ages and usually spreads quickly through communities.

Malaria is a disease that is caused by a parasite and spread by mosquitos. It can cause severe symptoms and even be deadly. It kills about 600,000 people every year. It is more prevalent in tropical areas and areas where there are large populations of mosquitos. People who live in these areas or who are traveling there are often given vaccinations or oral medications to help prevent them from contracting malaria.