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Infections
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Infections at work are those created by exposure to harmful micro-organisms such as bacteria, fungi, viruses, internal parasites, and other infectious proteins known as prions. These are called 'biological agents' in health and safety legislation. You may be harmed by micro-organisms by being infected with the micro-organism, by being exposed to toxins produced by the micro-organism, or by having an allergic reaction to the micro-organism or substances it produces.
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Infections of the urinary tract are the second most common type of infection in the body. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) account for about 8.3 million doctor visits each year.* Women are especially prone to UTIs for reasons that are not yet well understood. One woman in five develops a UTI during her lifetime. UTIs in men are not as common as in women but can be very serious when they do occur.
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Infections are caused by pathogens invading the tissues of the body and beginning to multiply. Headaches, muscle aches, fever, chills, and fatigue are common symptoms of infections. Many of these symptoms are due to inflammation and the response of the immune system to the pathogens. For example, during an infection, the blood supply is increased to the affected areas; as the blood rushes to the site of infection, it causes the skin to redden. The blood vessels ... become more readily able to release WBCs into the tissues; when the WBCs die and decay they form a thick fluid known as pus. Enzymes released by the WBCs may also be responsible for pain and swelling.
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Infections are to blame for many of these deaths. Seeking a barrier against infection as preemies' skin matures, Gary Darmstadt of Johns Hopkins University and his team worked with 497 low-birth weight infants admitted to a hospital in Bangladesh. Overall, babies treated with sunflower-seed oil were 41 percent less likely to develop infections than were those who received conventional care. Sunflower-seed oil appears to be a culturally acceptable alternative for mothers and nurses in Bangladesh. The challenge is to get the sunflower-seed oil into the hands of mothers who might otherwise opt to buy cheaper emollients that may not cut infection rates. Reading Level (Lexile): 1250;
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Infections may be spread via respiratory droplets, direct contact, contaminated food, or vectors, such as insects. They can ... be transmitted sexually (see sexually transmitted diseases) and from mother to fetus. Immunity is the term used to describe the capacity of the host to respond to infection. Drugs that help fight infections include antibiotics and antiviral drugs.
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