Welcome to the Disease Directory. Click on the name of the disease, condition, or prevention to learn more about it.
A
| Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) | AIDS is a disease caused by the virus HIV that damages the body's immune system and destroys its ability to fight illness. |
| Anthrax | Anthrax is a serious disease caused by a bacterium that forms spores. |
B
| Baby Bottle/Nursing Tooth Decay | Nursing/baby bottle tooth decay is a dental condition that can destroy the teeth of an infant or young child. |
| Bacterial Meningitis | Bacterial meningitis is a severe infection of the bloodstream and meninges (a thin lining covering the brain and spinal cord). |
| Bed Bugs | Small insects that feed on human blood. They are usually active at night. Bed bugs are reddish brown, oval and flat, and about the size of an apple seed. |
| Blood Pressure | Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. |
| Botulism | Botulinum toxin is the single most poisonous know substance. It is a series illness caused by a nerve toxin. There are three types of botulism: food, wound and infant botulism. |
C
| Campylobacter / Campilobacteriosis - |
Campylobacter is a bacteria that causes an infection in the small intestine. |
| Chickenpox / Varicela |
Chickenpox is a highly contagious disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus. It causes a fever and a blister-like rash but is vaccine-preventable. |
| Chlamydia | Chlamydia is the most common STD reported in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control there are more than a million reported cases in the United States. |
| Many people have trouble figuring out if they have the symptoms of a common cold, or something more serious, such as seasonal influenza. Check out this helpful fact sheet for some clear differences between the two. | |
| Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) | COVID-19 is a virus identified as a cause of human respiratory illness in 2019. 2019-nCoV was first reported in Wuhan, China. |
D
| Dengue Fever | This acute fever is caused by the bite of an infected mosquito. The types of mosquitoes that transmit the Dengue live in tropical urban areas of the world. Dengue cannot be spread directly from person-to-person. |
| Diabetes | Diabetes means that your blood glucose (often called blood sugar) is too high. Your blood always has some glucose in it because your body needs glucose for energy to keep you going. But too much glucose in the blood can cause health problems. |
E
| Ebola | Ebola is a rare and deadly disease caused by infection with a virus of the family Filoviridae. Ebola viruses are found in several African countries. |
| E. Coli | E. coli is a bacteria that can cause severe illness and even death in humans. Infection usually occurs by consuming contaminated food, often due to inadequately cooked beef, raw milk, fruits and/or vegetables which are contaminated with ruminant feces. |
F
| Fifth Disease | Fifth Disease is a mild rash illness which occurs most commonly in children. Although the facial rash may cause alarm, the disease is mostly harmless. |
| Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) | FMD is a severe, highly contagious, viral disease causing illness in cows, pigs, sheep, goats, deer and other animals with divided hooves. |
G
| Giardiasis | Giardia is a protozoan, or parasite, that can cause intestinal illnesses. |
| Gonorrhea | Gonorrhea is a bacterial STD (sexually transmitted disease) that, if untreated, can damage the reproductive organs in both males and females. |
H
| Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease | Hand, foot and mouth disease (HFMD) is a common infant and children’s virus. |
| Head Lice | Head lice are parasitic insects found on the heads of people. Having head lice is very common. |
| Hepatitis A | Hepatitis A is a liver disease that sets in quickly. Common symptoms include fever, loss of appetite, weight loss, nausea and abdominal discomfort. |
| Hepatitis B | Hepatitis B is a serious liver disease that can cause lifelong infection, cirrhosis (scarring) of the liver, liver cancer, liver failure, and death. Symptoms may or may not be present and include loss of appetite, nausea, and joint aches. |
| Hepatitis C | Hepatitis C is a liver disease that can have symptoms and last a lifetime, or can show no symptoms and go away on its own. |
| Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) | HIV is the virus that can lead to Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). |
| Human Papillomavirus (HPV) | The HPV virus can cause changes in the cervix and lead to cervical cancer. In fact, almost all cervical cancers are related to HPV. |
I
| Influenza (Flu) | Influenza (Flu) is a viral infection of the nose, throat, bronchial tubes and lungs. |
J
| Not Applicable |
K
| Not Applicable |
L
| Lead Poisoning: Child | Adult | Lead is a toxic metal that produces many bad health effects. Lead poisoning is a preventable disease that affects adult and children's health. |
| Legionnaires' Disease | Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia or lung infection. People can get the disease when they breathe in the steam from a whirlpool spa contaminated with the Legionella bacteria. |
| Listeriosis | Listeriosis is an infection usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes. |
| Lyme Disease | Lyme Disease is a tick-borne infection that normally lives in small animals. The first sign of infection is usually a circular rash. If treated promptly, complete recovery is possible. |
M
| Measles | Measles (Rubeola) is a contagious disease caused by a virus. |
| MERS-CoV | Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is a viral respiratory illness. To date, all reported cases have been linked to countries in or near the Arabian Peninsula. |
| Monkeypox | Monkeypox is a rare but potentially serious viral illness that typically begins with flu-like illness and swelling of the lymph nodes and progresses to a rash on the face and body. Most infections last 2-to-4 weeks. |
| Mumps | Mumps is an acute viral disease caused by the mumps virus. |
N
| Naegleria Fowleri | Organism that lives in warm freshwater and enters the body through the nose. |
| Nitrate | Nitrates are a chemical compound that are formed naturally from the combination of nitrogen and oxygen or ozone. |
| Norovirus (stomach virus) | Norovirus, or the stomach virus, is commonly confused with seasonal flu (influenza), although the two are not related. Nausea, diarrhea and vomiting are common with the stomach virus. Influenza is a respiratory illness. |
O
| Not Applicable |
P
| Pandemic Influenza | Pandemic flu is a global outbreak of disease that occurs when a new influenza virus appears or emerges in the human population, causes serious illness, and then spreads easily from person to person worldwide. |
| Pertussis (Whooping Cough) | Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that affects the respiratory system that produces spasms of coughing that may end in a high-pitched, deep inhalation (the "whoop"). However, pertussis is vaccine preventable and treatable with antibiotics. |
| Plague | Plague is an infectious disease that affects animals and humans. It is caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis. |
| Pneumonia | Pneumonia is a leading cause of serious illness in children and adults throughout the world. The lungs are typically attacked by pneumonia bacteria. If left untreated, serious complications can result. |
Q
| Not Applicable |
R
| Rabies | Rabies is a preventable viral disease of mammals most often transmitted through the bite of a rabid animal. |
| Radium | Radium is a radioactive element that occurs naturally in very low concentrations in the earth’s crust. |
| Recreational Water Illnesses (RWIs) | Recreational water illnesses are spread by swallowing contaminated water from swimming pools, spas, lakes, rivers, floodwaters or oceans. |
| Ricin | Ricin is a poison that can be made from the waste left over from processing castor beans. |
| Rodent Control | Rats and mice are a nuisance and can spread disease to people when handled, through rodent bites and by contact with rodent feces, urine or spit. Rodents can spread diseases such as plague, hantavirus and salmonellosis. |
| Rotavirus | Rotavirus causes severe diarrhea in babies and young children. It is often accompanied by vomiting and fever. |
| RSV | Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most frequent cause of respiratory disease in infants and young children. |
S
| Salmonella | Salmonellosis (salmonella) is a bacteria that is found in contaminated foods. Salmonella grows when foods are improperly handled or prepared. |
| Secondhand and Thirdhand Smoke | Secondhand smoke is a combination of the smoke exhaled by smokers and the smoke given off by the end of a cigarette, hookah, pipe or cigar. Thirdhand smoke is the odor you smell and breathe from a smoker’s hair or clothing, the interior of his/her car or inside his/her home long after the smoke is gone. Both of these kinds of smoke can be harmful to innocent non-smokers. |
| Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) | Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a viral respiratory illness caused by a Coronavirus that was first reported in Asia in February 2003. |
| Shingles | Shingles is a painful skin rash, often with blisters. The rash is caused by the same virus that causes chickenpox. Only someone who has had a case of chickenpox can get shingles. |
| Shigella | Shigella is a bacterial infection caused by direct or indirect fecal oral transmission. This happens when basic hygiene and hand washing habits are inadequate. |
| Smallpox | Smallpox is a very serious disease; it is contagious and sometimes life-threatening. Smallpox is caused by the variola virus, which spreads from contact with infected persons. |
| Staph Infection/MRSA | Staphylococcus aureus, often simply referred to as “Staph,” are bacteria commonly carried on the skin or in the nose of healthy people. Approximately 25% to 30% of the population has the bacteria, but it does not harm them. Staph can cause infections. In fact, it is the most common cause of skin infections in the United States. |
| Stomach Virus (Norovirus) | The "stomach virus" (norovirus) is commonly confused with seasonal flu (influenza), although the two are not related. Nausea, diarrhea and vomiting are common with the stomach virus. Influenza is a respiratory illness. |
| Streptococcus—Group A (Strep Throat) | Strep throat is an infection that can cause throat pain, difficulty swallowing, red and swollen tonsils, a fever, or rash. |
| Stroke | According to the American Stroke Foundation, stroke is the third leading cause of death in the US. Although stroke affects people of all ages, genders and races, people over 55, males and African-Americans are at higher risk. |
| Sun Exposure Facts | Any time the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays are able to reach the earth, you need to protect yourself from excessive sun exposure. UV rays can cause skin damage during any season or temperature. |
| Syphilis | Syphilis is a sexually transmitted disease (STD) caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum. It is passed from person to person through direct contact. |
T
| Tetanus | Tetanus or lockjaw, is a bacterial infection that affects the nervous system. Because of widespread immunization, tetanus is a rare disease. |
| Tuberculosis | Tuberculosis (TB) is a serious infectious disease, which is spread almost exclusively by airborne transmission of bacteria. |
| Tularemia | Tularemia, also known as "rabbit fever," is a disease that is typically found in animals, especially rodents, rabbits and hares. Tularemia is usually a rural disease and has been reported in all U.S. States except Hawaii. |
U
| Not Applicable |
V
| Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers | Viral hemorrhagic fevers (VHF's) refer to a group of illnesses that are caused by several distinct families of viruses. Some types of hemorrhagic fevers can cause relatively mild illnesses, however, many of these viruses cause severe, life-threatening disease. |
| Viral Meningitis | Viral meningitis is an inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord. While serious, it rarely causes death in people with normal immune systems. |
W
| West Nile Virus | West Nile Virus is spread through the bite of a mosquito. There are several steps you can take to reduce mosquito breeding and avoid mosquito bites. Both of which will help reduce your chances of being bitten by an infected mosquito. |
| Whooping Cough / Pertussis | Pertussis is a highly contagious bacterial disease that affects the respiratory system that produces spasms of coughing that may end in a high-pitched, deep inhalation (the "whoop"). However, pertussis is vaccine preventable and treatable with antibiotics. |
X
| Not Applicable |
Y
| Not Applicable |
Z
| Zika Virus | Zika virus can infect humans, mosquitoes and monkeys. The virus has not been found in mosquitoes in the continental United States. However, U.S. cases have been reported in returning travelers. | |
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