A-Z Health Topics

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is a tropical mosquito that is part of the Aedes species. It is capable of transmitting several viruses, including Zika, dengue, chikungunya, and yellow fever. These mosquitoes are small and have a black and white pattern on their legs and other parts of the body.

Amebiasis is an infection caused by a parasite, called Entamoeba histolytica. It lives in the feces (poop) of a person. Most infections occur in a person’s stomach and intestines (gastrointestinal tract). In some people, the disease may occur in the liver, lungs, skin, and other parts of the body.

If you’re bitten or scratched by a domestic animal (your own, a stray or someone else’s), a wild animal or directly exposed to a bat (bite, scratch, or the bat has touched or landed on you):

Asthma is a chronic (long-term) disease in which a person’s airways are inflamed, making it difficult to breathe. The airways become more inflamed when “triggers” are inhaled, which can cause them to produce more mucous and may also cause the muscles around the airway to tighten.

Baylisascaris procyonis is a roundworm parasite found in intestines of raccoons. This roundworm can infect people as well as a variety of other animals including dogs. The infection in humans is rare, but can be severe if the parasites infect the eye, brain, spinal cord, and/or other organs

Blastomycosis is an infection caused by a group of fungus called Blastomyces. The fungus is usually found in wet soil in wooded areas near water and rotting plants. It grows as mould in the soil, and once it enters the body it grows as yeast. The fungus often causes an infection in the lungs. It can also affect other areas such as the skin and bone.

Botulism is a rare infection caused by the bacteria, Clostridium botulinum. These germs make a toxin (poison) that affects your nervous system and can cause paralysis. This germ is found worldwide in soil and dust and also can be found in the intestines of animals.

Campylobacter enteritis is an infection caused by a group of bacteria.  These germs live mostly in the intestines of animals, including poultry, cattle, rodents, and household pets.

Enterobacteriaceae are a group of bacteria (germs), many of which live naturally in our bowels. These germs are also found in the environment. CPE is a type of enterobacteriaceae that makes carbapenemase enzymes. These enzymes can break down many types of antibiotics (medications that fight bacteria).

Chickenpox is a common and preventable infection caused by the varicella-zoster virus.

Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted infection (STI) caused by bacteria (germs), called chlamydia trachomatis.  It is one of the most common bacterial STIs.

Cold weather can be harmful to your health. While the health risks related to cold are higher for certain groups (such as people who work outdoors, people with pre-existing heart conditions or respiratory illnesses, older adults, infants, young children, and those who are experiencing homelessness), everyone is potentially at risk.

A common cold, or a viral upper respiratory infection, is an infection of the nose and throat. Many different viruses (germs) can cause a cold. While the common cold and influenza (flu) symptoms can seem very similar, the flu is usually more severe.

Cyclosporiasis is an intestinal (bowel) infection caused by a parasite (germs), called cyclospora cayetanensis.  The germs live in humans, and are most common in warm and humid countries.

Escherichia coli, also called E. coli, are bacteria that are often found in the intestines of people and animals. There are different types of E. coli. Some types of E. coli are not harmful, but others like E. coli O157:H7, can make some people very sick. Usually illness is caused by eating contaminated food or water, having contact with someone who is sick with the bacteria, or animals that carry it.

Ebola is a severe acute viral illness in humans. Ebola risk is very low in Windsor-Essex. To date, there have not been any cases of Ebola in Canada, and the risk to Ontarians remains low.

Les entérobactéries sont un groupe de bactéries (germes) qui se retrouvent naturellement dans les intestins. Ces bactéries se retrouvent aussi dans l’environnement. Les EPC sont un type d’entérobactéries qui produisent des enzymes appelées carbapénèmases. Ces enzymes peuvent décomposer de nombreux types d’antibiotiques (médicaments luttant contre les bactéries), rendant ainsi les bactéries très résistantes et difficiles à traiter.