Infectious process: what is it?

The infectious process is a complex, multi-component process that involves the interaction of all kinds of infectious agents with the human body. Among other things, it is characterized by the development of complex reactions, various shifts in the work of internal organs and organ systems, changes in hormonal status, and various immunological defense mechanisms and resistance factors (nonspecific).

Infectious process - the basis for the development of any disease of an infectious nature. After heart diseases and cancer pathologies, diseases of an infectious nature, by prevalence, occupy the third place and, therefore, the knowledge of their etiology is extremely important in medical practice.

To the causative agents of infectious diseases include all kinds of microorganisms of animal or vegetable origin - lower fungi, rickettsia, bacteria, viruses, spirochetes, protozoa. The infectious agent is the primary and compulsory cause that leads to the onset of the disease. It is these agents that determine how specific the pathological condition will be, and what the clinical manifestations will be. But we need to understand that not every penetration of the "enemy" agent will give rise to the disease. In the event that the mechanism of adaptation of the organism will prevail over the mechanism of damage, the infectious process will be insufficiently complete and there will be a pronounced response of the immune system, as a result of which the infectious agents will pass into the inactive form. The chance of such a transition depends not only on the state of the body's immune system, but also on the degree of virulence, pathogenicity, as well as invasiveness and many other properties characteristic of a pathogenic microorganism.

Pathogenicity of microorganisms is their direct ability to cause the onset of the disease.

The infectious process is built in several stages:

- Overcoming the barriers of the human body (mechanical, chemical, environmental);

- colonization and adhesion by the causative agent of the accessible cavities of the human body;

- reproduction of harmful agents;

- formation by the body of protective reactions to the harmful effect of a pathogenic microorganism;

- restoration of the internal environment of the human body, as well as the acquisition by a person of immunity to a pathogenic microorganism.

It is these periods of infectious diseases that most often are passed by any person into whose organism "enemy" agents enter. Infections of the vagina also do not constitute an exception and go through all these stages. It should be noted that the time from the penetration of the agent into the body and before the appearance of the first symptoms of the disease is called incubation.

Knowledge of all these mechanisms is extremely important, since infectious diseases are one of the most frequent on the planet in terms of occurrence. In this regard, it is extremely important to understand all the features of infectious processes. This will not only diagnose the disease in time, but also pick up the correct treatment tactics.