"Provides basic consumer health information about the transmission and treatment of diseases spread from person to person, along with facts about prevention, self-care, and drug resistance. Includes index, glossary of related terms, and other resources"-- Provided by publisher.

pt. I. What you need to know about germs -- 1. Understanding microbes (germs) -- What are microbes? -- Microbes can cause different kinds of infections -- Preventing microbial diseases -- General symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of microbial diseases -- 2. The immune system and its functions -- 3. Immunodeficiency and contagious diseases -- 4. Common variable immune deficiency -- 5. Transmission of contagious diseases -- Transmission of microbes that cause contagious diseases -- Preventing the transmission of sexually transmitted disease -- Risk of infectious disease from blood transfusion -- Contagious diseases transmission on airplanes and cruise ships -- 6. Screening internationally adopted children for contagious diseases -- 7. Bioterrorism: disease used as a weapon -- Bioterrorism overview -- Strategic national stockpile of medicine -- U.S. preparedness for health emergencies from bioterrorism (Anthrax) -- 8. Nationally notifiable infectious diseases : protecting the public health. pt. II. Types of contagious diseases -- 9. Adenovirus -- 10. Amebiasis -- 11. Chancroid -- 12. Chickenpox (Varicella) -- 13. Chlamydia and Lymphogranuloma venereum (LGV) -- 14. Cholera -- 15. Clostridium difficile infection -- 16. Common cold -- 17. Conjunctivitis (Pinkeye) -- 18. Coxsackievirus infections -- 19. Cryptosporidiosis -- 20. Diphtheria -- 21. Ebola -- 22. Epstein-Barr Virus and infectious Mononucleosis -- 23. Fifth Disease (Parvovirus B19) -- 24. Genital Herpes -- 25. Gonorrhea -- 26. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Diseases -- 27. Hepatitis: A through E and beyond -- 28. Hib Disease -- 29. Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) -- 30. Human Papillomavirus (HPV) -- 31. Impetigo -- 32. Influenza -- Seasonal flu -- Pandemic flu -- Avian flu -- H1N1 (Swine flu) -- 33. Lice -- Body lice -- Hed lice -- Pubic lace -- 34. Measles -- 35. Meningitis -- 36. Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) -- 37. Mumps -- 38. Non-Polio Enterovirus -- 39. Norovirus -- 40. Pinworms -- 41. Pneumonia -- 42. Polio -- 43. Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection -- 44. Rubella -- 45. Scabies -- 46. Shigellosis -- 47. Shingles -- 48. Staph Infections : Group A -- Staphylococcal infections -- Staphylococcus aureus and pregnancy -- Vancomycin-Intermediate/Resistance S. aureus (VISA/VRSA) -- 49. Streptococcal Infections : Group A -- Strep throat -- Scarlet fever -- Severe/invasive Group A Streptococcal (GAS) disease -- 50. Streptococcal Infections : Group B -- Streptococcus pneumoniae -- Group B strep in pregnancy and newborns -- Adult Group B strep disease -- 51. Syphilis -- 52. Tinea Infections (Ringworm, Jock Itch, Athlete's Foot) -- 53. Trichomoniasis -- 54. Tuberculosis -- 55. Typhoid Fever -- 56. Vaginal and Reproductive Tract Infections -- 57. Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) -- 58. Whooping Cough (Pertussis) -- 59. Zika Virus. pt. III. Self-treatment for contagious diseases -- 60. Self-care for colds or flu -- What to do for colds and flu -- Actions to fight flu and FAQs about preventing seasonal flu -- Taking care of yourself when you have seasonal flu -- Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for flue and colds -- 61. Sore throat care -- 62. Fever: what you can do -- 63. Over-the-counter (OTC) medications -- Over-the-counter medicines : what's right for you? -- Kids are not just small adults : tips on giving OTC medicine to children -- Nonprescription cough and cold medicine use in children -- 64. Avoid drug Interactions -- 65. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) for contagious diseases -- Selecting a CAM practitioner -- Getting to know probiotics -- Herbal supplements -- Dietary supplements -- CAM and Hepatitis C. pt. IV. Medical diagnosis and treatment of contagious diseases -- 66. Diagnostic tests for contagious diseases -- Medical test that diagnose infection -- Strep throat testing and treatment -- Testing for influenza, respiratory infections, and drug-resistant staph infections -- Rapid and home tests for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) -- 67. Prescription medicines that treat contagious diseases -- Antibiotics, antivirals, and other prescription medicines -- Antibiotic safety (using antibiotics wisely) -- Antiviral drugs for seasonal flu -- 68. Antimicrobial (drug) resistance -- 69. Influenza antiviral drug resistance -- 70. Combating antibiotic resistance -- 71. Surveillance of antimicrobial resistance patterns and rates. pt. V. Preventing contagious diseases -- 72. Handwashing prevents the spread of germs -- 73. Vaccines : what they are and how they work -- 74. Types of vaccines and vaccine strategies -- 75. Childhood immunizations: ten vaccines for fourteen diseases -- 76. Questions and answers about childhood vaccines -- 77. Facts about adolescent immunization -- 78. Adult immunization recommendations -- 79. Problems with vaccinations -- 80. Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) -- 81. Vaccination records -- 82. Vaccine misinformation may have tragic consequences -- 83. What would happen if we stopped vaccinations? -- 84. Preventing transmission of infections in hospitals and nursing homes -- Tips for surgery patients to prevent antibiotic resistance -- Prevention and control of influenza in hospitals -- 85. Quarantine and isolation to control the spread of contagious diseases. pt. VI. Additional help and information -- 86. Glossary of terms related to contagious diseases -- 87. Directory of organizations that provide information about contagious diseases.