Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Acute Life-Threatening Infections

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of Public Health

  • 159 Accesses

Synonyms

Highly dangerous infectious diseases; Infectious diseases with a critical course

Definition

Acute life‐threatening infectious diseases are characterized by the fact that they can take a lethal course within a few hours or a couple of days. The pathogens or their toxins can cause a cardiocirculatory shock, a failure of the functions of the central nervous system, respiratory insufficiency or multiorganic failure.

Basic Characteristics

Reasons for Life-Threatening Courses of Infections

Whether an infectious disease takes a life‐threatening course or not, depends on various factors. The severity of an infection is determined by the virulence of the pathogens and the organs or organic systems that are involved; deadly courses have to be feared in cases where impairment of vital functions or multiorganic failure occur. The development of serious infections is facilitated by a weakened immune status or underlying (chronic) disease. Further...

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 1,079.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 549.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Behrman RE, Kliegman RM, Jenson HB (2003) Nelson Textbook of Paediatrics, 17th edn. W.B. Saunders Company, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  2. Gorbach SL, Bartlett JG, Blacklow NR (2004) Infectious diseases, 3rd edn. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  3. Hay WW, Myron Lewin MJ, Sondheimer JM, Deterding RR (2005) Current pediatric diagnosis & treatment, 17th edn. Mc Graw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  4. Kliegman RM, Greenbaum LA, Lye PS (2004) Practical strategies in pediatric diagnosis and therapy, 2nd edn. Elsevier Saunders, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  5. Osborn LM, Thomas DeWitt TG, First LR, Zenel JA (2005) Pediatrics, 1st edn. Elsevier Mosby, Philadelphia

    Google Scholar 

  6. http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dvrd/rabies/

  7. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs114

  8. http://www.who.int/vaccines/en/neotetanus.shtml

  9. http://www.emedicinehealth.com/toxic_shock_syndrome/article_em.htm

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Klinik für Kinder und Jugendmedizin, Friedrich Ebert Krankenhaus, Neumünster, Germany

    Monika Korn

Authors
  1. Monika Korn
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Network EUROlifestyle Research Association Public Health Saxony-Saxony Anhalt e.V. Medical Faculty, University of Technology, Fiedlerstr. 27, 01307, Dresden, Germany

    Wilhelm Kirch (Professor Dr. Dr.) (Professor Dr. Dr.)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2008 Springer-Verlag

About this entry

Cite this entry

Korn, M. (2008). Acute Life-Threatening Infections . In: Kirch, W. (eds) Encyclopedia of Public Health. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5614-7_36

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-5614-7_36

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4020-5613-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4020-5614-7

  • eBook Packages: MedicineReference Module Medicine

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation