Elephantiasis Elephantiasis is a syndrome that results in swelling or thickening of the tissue of the legs, genitals, or female breasts. There are two types of elephantiasis: One is caused…

Ehrlichiosis Human ehrlichiosis, an infectious disease that’s transmitted by the bite of an infected tick, was first diagnosed in 1986. The genus Ehrlichia contains a number of emerging species that…

Eczema Herpeticum Contact Precautions Eczema herpeticum, also known as Kaposi varicelliform eruption, is a rare disseminated herpes infection that occurs at the site of preexisting skin damage, most commonly atopic…

Ecthyma Contact Precautions Ecthyma is a bacterial infection of the skin that results in an ulcerative pyoderma involving the lower epidermis and dermis. It is considered a deeper form of…

Ebola Virus Infection Contact Precautions Droplet Precautions One of the most frightening viruses to come out of the African subcontinent, the Ebola virus first appeared in 1976. More than 400…

Dysentery Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the lower digestive tract that involves frequent passage of severe diarrhea-type stool. The stool may contain mucus and blood, depending on the causative…

Diphyllobothriasis Diphyllobothriasis is a cestode, or tapeworm, infection. Tapeworms are capable of self-fertilization; however, Diphyllobothrium eggs complete their development in an aquatic environment and then become infective. Humans are the…

Diphtheria Droplet Precautions Contact Precautions Diphtheria is an acute, highly contagious, toxin-mediated infection caused by Corynebacterium diphtheriae, a gram-positive rod that usually infects the respiratory tract, primarily the tonsils, nasopharynx,…

Dermatophytosis Dermatophytosis (tinea) is a group of superficial fungal infections usually classified according to their anatomic location. Dermatophytosis may affect the scalp (tinea capitis), the bearded skin of the face…

Dengue Fever Dengue fever, a virus that causes flu-like symptoms, is transmitted by the bite of an infected mosquito. The incubation period is generally 5 to 10 days. Dengue fever…