📋 Detailed Common Diseases Chart
🦠 Disease 🧬 Cause 🤒 Main Symptoms 🫱 How It Spreads 💉 Vaccine / Prevention ⚠️ Important Facts
🧒 Polio Poliovirus Fever, sore throat, headache, weakness; severe cases can cause paralysis Mainly through contaminated stool, food, water, hands; can also spread through respiratory droplets 💉 Polio vaccine (IPV; schedules vary by country) Can cause permanent paralysis and can be life-threatening. CDC describes polio as a contagious infection affecting the nerves and brain.
🔴 Smallpox Variola virus High fever followed by a characteristic progressive rash, blisters and scabs Mainly through prolonged close face-to-face contact; historically also through contaminated materials 💉 Smallpox vaccines exist, but routine vaccination is not recommended for the general public because smallpox has been eradicated 🌎 Eradicated worldwide. The last naturally occurring case was in 1977, and WHO declared eradication in 1980.
🌡️ Measles Measles virus High fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and widespread rash Very easily spread through the air and direct contact 💉 MMR vaccine Can cause pneumonia, brain swelling and other serious complications, particularly in young children.
😮💨 Mumps Mumps virus Fever, tiredness, headache and swollen/tender cheeks or jaw Airborne droplets and close contact 💉 MMR vaccine Can cause complications including brain inflammation, hearing loss and inflammation of the testicles or ovaries.
🌸 Rubella Rubella virus Mild fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and rash Respiratory droplets and close contact 💉 MMR vaccine Usually mild in children but very dangerous during pregnancy, potentially causing miscarriage, stillbirth or serious birth defects.
🫁 Whooping Cough (Pertussis) Bordetella pertussis bacteria Severe coughing attacks, sometimes with a “whooping” sound; vomiting may occur Respiratory droplets and close contact 💉 DTaP/Tdap vaccines Can be especially dangerous for babies and young children.
💪 Tetanus Clostridium tetani bacteria Muscle stiffness, painful spasms and difficulty breathing Bacteria enter through wounds or broken skin, often from contaminated soil or objects 💉 DTaP/Tdap/Td vaccination; wound care Does not normally spread from person to person. Severe disease can cause breathing problems and death.
🗣️ Diphtheria Corynebacterium diphtheriae bacteria Sore throat, fever, weakness and potentially difficulty breathing Respiratory droplets and close contact 💉 DTaP/Tdap/Td vaccines Can produce a serious infection of the throat and respiratory system and may damage other organs.
🫧 Chickenpox (Varicella) Varicella-zoster virus Itchy rash with fluid-filled blisters, fever and tiredness Airborne spread and direct contact with blister fluid 💉 Varicella vaccine Usually mild in children, but complications can occur.
🫁 Tuberculosis (TB) Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria Persistent cough, chest pain, coughing up blood/sputum, fever, weight loss and night sweats Through the air when someone with active lung/throat TB coughs, speaks or sings 💉 BCG vaccine is used in many countries; prevention also includes testing and treatment of TB infection TB can be inactive (latent) or active. People with inactive TB do not have symptoms and do not spread TB.
🧡 Hepatitis A Hepatitis A virus Often no symptoms in young children; older children/adults may develop fever, nausea, abdominal discomfort and jaundice Contaminated food/drink and close contact 💉 Hepatitis A vaccine Infects the liver and can occasionally cause severe disease.
💛 Hepatitis B Hepatitis B virus May have no symptoms; can cause fatigue, nausea and jaundice Contact with infected blood or body fluids 💉 Hepatitis B vaccine Can become a chronic infection and may lead to liver damage, liver failure or liver cancer.
🧠 Hib Disease Haemophilus influenzae type b bacteria Depends on infection site; may cause meningitis, pneumonia or bloodstream infection Respiratory droplets and close contact 💉 Hib vaccine Babies and children under 5 are particularly vulnerable; serious disease can cause brain damage, hearing loss or death.
🫁 Pneumococcal Disease Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteria Can cause pneumonia, ear infections, bloodstream infection or meningitis Respiratory droplets and close contact 💉 Pneumococcal vaccines Severe infections can cause meningitis, hearing loss, brain damage or death.
🤧 Influenza (Flu) Influenza viruses Fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache and tiredness Mainly respiratory droplets and close contact 💉 Seasonal flu vaccine Flu can be particularly serious for babies, young children, older adults and people with certain health conditions.