Report Immediately!
Classically 3 stages,
1. Catarrhal (1–2 weeks): mild URI symptoms, most contagious
2. Paroxysmal (2–6 weeks): Paroxysms of severe coughing followed by inspiratory "whoop", Post-tussive vomiting, Apnea in infants
3. Convalescent (weeks–months): gradual recovery
Bordetella pertussis
(immediately with lab evidence)
An interaction with an animal most people would prefer to avoid
Animal Bites
(Immediate)
This disease can cause a chancre, or firm, painless ulcer, approximately 2–6 weeks after contact
What is Syphilis?
(submit within one day)
Can cause cyclic fevers, on microscopy may see ring forming within WBC, sickle cell trait may be protective
Malaria
(within a day with lab evidence)
Thrives in unpasteurized dairy, soft cheeses, deli meats, contaminated cold cuts. Transplacental transmission and vaginal transmission during birth can result in neonatal meningitis.
Listeria monocytogenes
(within a day)
Spread via aerosolized water, associated with contaminated water sources in hospitals, hotels. Can cause atypical pneumonia with hyponatremia, diarrhea, and high fever. Urine antigen test.
Legionella
(report immediately)
This gram-positive rod can be found in soil, is an obligate aerobe, and has a toxin linked to bioterrorism attacks.
(immediate with lab evidence)
Can cause urethritis, cervicitis, PID, ectopic pregnancy, infertility, sometimes mucopurulent cervical discharge, often asymptomatic in women. Can result in Reiter syndrome of reactive arthritis, conjunctivitis, urethritis.
Chlamydia
(within a day, lab evidence if LGV strain)
Can cause greasy foul smelling diarrhea weeks after hiking
Giardia
(within a day)
Can cause descending paralysis in a baby who ate honey under a year old.
Botulism (Clostridium botulinum or botulinum toxin or other botulism producing Clostridia)
(immediate with evidence)
This gram-negative comma-shaped rod can cause massive dehydration, hypokalemia, metabolic acidosis. Treatment primarily oral rehydration (glucose + electrolytes), doxycycline shortens duration.
Vibrio Cholera
(immediate with lab evidence)
CRASH and burn
Conjunctivitis
Rash
Adenopathy (cervical, usually unilateral)
Strawberry tongue / mucositis
Hands and feet changes (erythema, edema → desquamation)
Burn = fever ≥5 days
Kawasaki Syndrome
Can cause urethritis, dysuria, purulent discharge, cervicitis, PID, Fitz-Hugh–Curtis syndrome ("violin-string" adhesions on liver which hurt). Culture on special agar (Thayer Martin)
Neisseria gonorrhoeae
(within a day, with lab evidence)
This parasite has decal-oral transmission, can cause bloody diarrhea, abdominal pain. Rarely, manigests with liver abscess – “Anchovy paste” exudate (classic), RUQ pain. Endemic regions – Mexico, India, tropical countries.
Entamoeba histolytica
(within a day)
A contagious form of inflammation of a protective brain barrier
Infectious meningitis
(within a day, lab evidence unless HSV)
Acid-fast bacillus, obligate aerobe, slow-growing, facultative intracellular. Transmitted via respiratory droplets. Can cause caseating granulomas, Langhans giant cells, ghon focus + ghon complex. Reaction or secondary stage can appear as fever, night sweats, weight loss, hemoptysis with cavitary lesions in upper lobes.
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis
Death within a particular group due to a disease whose course can be shortened with Oseltamivir / Zanamivir
Influenza-associated pediatric mortality
Dr. Sarah Lambros recently gave a fantastic lecture on this disease's complications
HIV
(so much, entire separate document)
This bacteria has been found in rodent urine here in Baltimore, Hawaii also a hot spot. Biphasic illness first with flu symptoms, then meningitis, conjunctival suffusion, jaundice, renal failure. Weil Disease is severe disseminated form.
Leptospirosis
(within a day with evidence)
Zoonotic infection, transmitted via rabbits, ticks, deer flies, or handling animal carcasses. Classic presentation: Painful papule → ulcer with black base at inoculation site, regional lymphadenopathy. May also cause pneumonia, oculoglandular, oropharyngeal, and typhoidal variants. Highly infectious — need biosafety precautions
Francisella tularensis (Tularemia)
(immediate with evidence)
Systemic infection of a genus of bacteria associated with the plague
Yersiniosis
(within a day with lab evidence)
Transmitted by Ixodes scapularis tick in Northeastern U.S., especially coastal New England. Risk factors: asplenia, elderly, immunocompromised.
Classic triad:
Irregular fevers, hemolytic anemia, fatigue
Jaundice, dark urine, hepatosplenomegaly
Severe disease: ARDS, DIC, heart failure, especially in asplenic patients
Babesiosis (Babesia microti)