Difference Between Infection and Disease

Infection vs. Disease: What’s the Difference? 

One can have an infection even if their body does not develop any disease. However, if they have a disease, they are surely infected.

Disease-triggering microbes freely exist in the human microbiome. However, in some typical scenarios, the presence of pathogenic microbes can cause an infection. To quickly identify these situations, it is essential to know the differences between infection and disease.

Comparison Between Infection and Disease

The table given below shows the fundamental differences between infection and disease:

Similarities Between Infection and Disease

Diseases and infections begin when pathogens act in specific ways or are simply present in the body. Another similarity is associated with how pathogens interact inside the body and, in return, how the host's immune system responds. Finally, both diseases and infections may affect a person's overall well-being and health. The severity of these conditions can range from minor inflammations/ irritations to life-threatening outcomes.

How Your Body’s Immune System Restricts Infection?

Your body's defence against infection is the immune system. It is a complex network of interdependent cells, tissues, and organs.

Practically, your immune system prevents the spread of infection symptoms through the following process:

1. Identifying Pathogens

Your immune system constantly monitors your body for unfamiliar invaders like bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Specialised cells called antigen-presenting cells recognise these foreign substances by detecting unique markers on their surfaces.

Once a pathogen is identified, the cells alert other immune system components, ensuring a rapid and targeted response to potential threats.

2. Triggering the Immune Response

Upon detecting a pathogen, the immune system quickly mobilises its defences. White blood cells, such as T-cells and B-cells, are activated and begin to multiply. Chemical signals called cytokines are released, orchestrating inflammation and recruiting more immune cells to the infection site, helping to contain and eliminate the invader efficiently.

3. Building a Memory

After successfully finishing off an infection, your immune system creates a memory of the pathogen. Memory cells, a special type of white blood cell, retain information about the invader’s unique markers. If the same pathogen tries to infect you again, these memory cells enable a faster and stronger immune response, often preventing symptoms.

Leading an overall high-quality life is essential to facilitating the proper functioning of your body's immune system. Only that way can you ensure lower susceptibility to the development of diseases and health complications.