Infectious Diseases

 

Nothing more than bed rest and plenty of fluids to treat the flu. But in some cases, your doctor may prescribe an antiviral medication, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu) or zanamivir (Relenza). If taken soon after you notice symptoms, these drugs may shorten your illness by a day or so and help prevent serious complications.

 

Throughout human history, infectious diseases have caused debilitation and premature death to large portions of the human population, leading to serious social-economic concerns. Many factors have contributed to the persistence and increase in the occurrence of infectious disease (demographic factors,political, social and economic changes, environmental change, public health care and infrastructure, microbial adaptation, etc.), which according to the World Health Organization (WHO), are the second leading cause of death globally (≈ 23 % of deaths) after cardiovascular diseases (WHO, 2010).