Common Illnesses & Symptoms
List of Common Illnesses
Common illnesses and chronic diseases which have plagued humankind leading to epidemics and worldwide pandemics and have killed millions of people throughout history.
ADDucation Tips: Click column headings with arrows to sort common illnesses and symptoms. Click the + icon to show any hidden columns. Set your browser to full screen and zoom out to show as many columns as possible. Start typing in the Filter table box to find anything inside the table of worst of common illnesses.
| Common Illnesses | Infection, virus carrier | Incubation | Symptoms, course | Treatment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athlete’s foot | Barefoot on damp surfaces. | Variable. | Inflamed, itchy skin between the toes. | Powder, cream. |
| Candidiasis | Intercourse. | Variable. | Glans or vaginal irritation, white discharge. | Anti-fungals. |
| Chickenpox | Droplet and contact. | 11-21 days. | Fever, headache, rash. | Compresses. |
| Cholera | Unclean food or water. | 1-5 days. | Violent diarrhea, dehydration, can be fatal. | Hydration. |
| Conjunctivitis | From hands to the eyes. | Variable. | Itching, eye irritation / redness, pus. | Antibiotics. |
| Coronavirus COVID-19 | Droplet infection via mucous membranes from coughing and/or direct contact with fomites[1]. | 2-14 days. | Fever, dry cough, fatigue. Can be fatal to vulnerable groups, typically following respiratory failure. | No vaccine or effective treatment as of 19 Apr 2020. |
| Dengue | Aedes aegypti mosquito. | 5-8 days. | Fever, headache, joint and muscle pain. | Painkillers. |
| Diphtheria | Droplet infection. | 4-6 days. | Fever, gray tongue coating, can lead to heart damage. | Antibiotics. |
| Ebola fever | Urine, feces, blood, saliva. | 7-14 days. | Fever, diarrhea, internal bleeding and frequently fatal. | Experimental drugs only. |
| Flu | Droplet infection. | 1-3 days. | Fever, sweating, chills, headache and body aches. | Tablets. |
| Gonorrhea | Intercourse. | 2-10 days. | Pain and/or discharge during urination. | Antibiotics. |
| Hepatitis A | Unclean food or water. | 3-6 weeks. | Flu-like symptoms and course. | Rest, loose clothing, healthy environment. |
| Herpes | Direct contact. | Variable. | Recurrent sores / redness. | Antivirals. |
| Impetigo |
Contact with infected person or object. | 1-3 days. | Itchy rash, sores and pus filled blisters, possible fever. | Oral antibiotics or antibiotic cream. |
| Leprosy | Droplet infection. | 3-5 years. | Bright spots on the skin, nerves destroyed. | Antibacterial. |
| Malaria | Anopheles mosquito. | 10-40 days. | Fever with chills, heat, fatigue, headache. | Antimalarials. |
| Measles | Droplet infection. | 7-14 days. | Cold symptoms, fever, red rash. | Drugs. |
| Mumps | Droplet infection. | 2-3 weeks. | Jaw pain, swelling of the parotid gland. | Drugs. |
| Plague | Rat fleas. | 2-5 days. | Fever and swollen lymph nodes, often fatal. | Antibiotics. |
| Polio | Droplet infection. | 3-14 days. | Fever, headache, neck and muscle stiffness, paralysis. | Bed rest, vaccination. |
| Rubella | Droplet infection. | 17-21 days. | Fever and rash. | Drugs. |
| Scarlet fever | Droplet infection. | 2-4 days. | Sore throat, headache, red rash. | Antibiotics. |
| Shingles | Reactivation of varicellazoster viruses. | Variable. | Painful rash (blisters) on ribs or waist. | Antiviral agents; painkillers. |
| Skin fungus | Direct contact. | Variable. | Scales and spots on head and skin. | Antifungals. |
| Sleeping sickness | Tsetse fly bite. | 3 days to 4 weeks. | Fever, fatigue, headache, coma, death. | Protozoan agents. |
| Smallpox | Droplet infection. | 12 days. | Fever, rash, often fatal. | Vaccination. |
| Syphilis | Intercourse. | 3-4 weeks. | Ulcers on the genitals, rash, fatigue. | Antibiotics. |
| Tapeworm | Eating contaminated food. | 5 weeks. | Intestinal pain, worm limbs excreted in stool. | Anthelmintics. |
| Tetanus | Infection via wounds. | 3 days to 3 weeks. | Rigid smile, trismus, muscle spasms. | Antitoxin. |
| Trichomoniasis | Sex or wet towels. | Variable. | Inflammation of the vagina, yellow discharge. | Protozoan agents. |
| Typhoid | Unclean food or water. | 7-14 days. | Headache and abdominal pain, fever, diarrhoea, possibly deadly. | Antibiotics. |
| Whooping cough | Droplet infection. | 7-14 days. | Coughing with outstretched tongue, fever, vomiting. | Antibiotics. |
| Yellow fever | Aedes aegypti mosquito. | 3-6 days. | Neck, head and back pain, fever, renal failure, possibly fatal. | Still unknown, possible vaccinations. |
Important! ADDucation’s list of common illnesses and diseases with symptoms and possible treatments is published for information only. Always seek professional medical advice if you, or anyone else, is experiencing any of the symptoms of the infectious diseases and illnesses in the table above. [1]Fomites include; human skin cells, hair, contaminated clothing, bedding, towels, surfaces, touchscreens, keyboards, buttons, handles, switches etc.
Lists Related to Common Illnesses:
- List of Vitamins and Their Function…
- Common Phobias and Fears…
- Common illnesses and symptoms in German: Häufige Krankheiten
- Compiled by Robert Junker, last updated 19 Apr 2020.
- Spotted a mistake or have a suggestion to improve our list of common illnesses and symptoms? Please add your comments below…
Leave a Reply