Bacterial Diseases and Modes of Transmission

Tuberculosis (TB)

• Bacteria: Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Symptoms: Coughing (sometimes with blood), chest pain, fatigue, weight loss, fever, night sweats.
• Transmission: Airborne through respiratory droplets from coughs or sneezes of an infected person.

Salmonella

• Bacteria: Salmonella species
• Symptoms: Diarrhea, abdominal cramps, fever, vomiting.
• Transmission: Contaminated food (especially raw or undercooked eggs, poultry, meat, and unpasteurized milk), water, or surfaces.

Cholera

• Bacteria: Vibrio cholerae
• Symptoms: Profuse diarrhea, vomiting, leg cramps, dehydration.
• Transmission: Contaminated water or food, often in areas with poor sanitation.

Gonorrhea

• Bacteria: Neisseria gonorrhoeae
• Symptoms: Painful urination, abnormal discharge (penile or vaginal), pelvic pain (in women).
• Transmission: Sexual contact (vaginal, oral, or anal) with an infected person.

Lyme Disease

• Bacteria: Borrelia burgdorferi
• Symptoms: Fever, headache, fatigue, characteristic "bullseye" rash, joint pain.
• Transmission: Bite from an infected tick (usually the deer tick in the US and parts of Europe).

Pertussis (Whooping Cough)

• Bacteria: Bordetella pertussis
• Symptoms: Severe coughing fits, whooping sound, vomiting after coughing, fatigue.
• Transmission: Airborne through respiratory droplets from coughs or sneezes of an infected person.

Bacterial Meningitis

• Bacteria: Various bacteria (e.g., Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis)
• Symptoms: Stiff neck, severe headache, fever, confusion, sensitivity to light.
• Transmission: Respiratory secretions (coughing, sneezing) or direct contact with an infected person.

Historic Bacteria

Bubonic Plague (Black Death)

• Bacteria: Yersinia pestisblack
• Symptoms: Swollen lymph nodes (buboes) in neck, groin, and armpit
• Transmission: fleas from infested rats, body fluids

Diphtheria

• Bacteria: Corynebacterium diphtheriae
• Symptoms: thick coating on the throat (pseudomembrane)
• Transmission: airborne though respiratory droplets
• Modern treatment: vaccine

Leprosy (Hansen's Disease)

• Bacteria: Mycobacterium leprae
• Symptoms: Skin lesions, nerve damage, paralysis, ulcers
• Transmission: Respiratory droplets (likely)
• Modern treatment: antibiotics

Typhus

• Bacteria: Varioius, genus Rickettsia
• Symptoms: fever, headach, rash
• Transmission: Bacteria carried by body lice, spread from bites
• Modern treatment: antibiotics

Tetanus

• Bacteria: Clostridium tetani
• Symptoms: Muscle spasms, lockjaw
• Transmission: Wound contamination
• Modern treatment: vaccination

Typhoid Fever

• Bacteria: Salmonella enterica
• Symptoms: fever, abdominal pain, diarrhea, rose spots
• Transmission: Contaminated food or water
• Modern treatment: Vaccination and antibiotics