Pneumonia is an illness where either one or both of the tissue of the lungs swell, and the air sacs within the lungs begin to fill with mucus. It is most commonly caused by bacteria and viruses. In other cases, it can be caused by fungi or even an inhaled particle of food, in some rare cases. That doesn’t make them all contagious, though. Here is a breakdown of what pneumonia is, and whether or not it is contagious.
Shingles, which is caused by the varicella zoster virus, is an illness that one in three people will deal with in their lifetime. This is because the chickenpox virus is still in their body, and has reactivated to form what is now at this age, shingles. Various factors like age, medical status, and other diseases that could’ve possibly caused it to reactivate. Is shingles contagious? Can you catch shingles by hugging someone with shingles? While chickenpox is also caused by the same virus, does that mean that shingles is, too?
The black plague is not a disease you hear about very frequently unless you’re reading a book or watching a movie about the Middle Ages. Also known as the bubonic plague and the “Black Death,” although the plague is not commonly seen in most parts of the world, there are some undeveloped areas where there are still outbreaks. Because of this, researchers are currently working on a vaccine for the plague, with one currently in clinical trials.
Anthrax is an infectious disease caused by the bacteria Bacillus anthracis. Anthrax bacteria can form spores, which are dormant structures that are very resilient. People contract this illness by coming into contact with infected animals or contaminated animal products. Anthrax cannot transmit from person to person. While anthrax is a serious disease, a vaccine is available for those who develop it. Discover how often the vaccine is available, who should take it, and its safety below.
When summer comes to an end each year, there is always a bit of a whirlwind of activity, especially when it comes to packing up your items and heading for your first year of college. While it is fun to imagine what your dorm room will look like, there are other things that you also should be considering, like vaccination against meningitis.
