Infection: The uninvited universe

Abstract

This book offers a look inside the world of infection--a world we all need to survive. The microscopic creatures that live on, in, and around us play profound roles in the ways the world works--roles that are vital to our lives. Every moment of every day, we swim in a sea of microorganisms--some good, some bad, some indifferent. The challenge is to separate the good from the bad, because we cannot live without the good, and the bad may kill us. Author Gerald N. Callahan explores our infectious world to reveal some of the most incredible discoveries in the study and treatment of infectious diseases: (1) Infection plays a significant role in many chronic ailments, including schizophrenia, gastric ulcers, and obsessive-compulsive disorder; (2) Physicians are successfully treating gastrointestinal and other human diseases by infecting their patients with parasitic worms; (3) Antibiotic overuse and a false sense of security have led to the resurgence of several diseases we thought were conquered and have created new threats; and (4) Infection and infectious diseases have and will steer the course of our world. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved) (Source: jacket)