What is the difference between Contagious Disease and Infectious Disease?

People may see the terms infectious and contagious and assume that these two things mean the same thing. Infectious diseases are those that are caused by bacteria and viruses that are microscopic by nature. Some infectious diseases may spread from one person to another, but not all of them will spread. When infectious diseases can spread, that is the only time when they can be called contagious.

It is safe to say that all infectious diseases are infectious, but not all infectious diseases are contagious. There are different things that people can do to prevent themselves from getting infected. Regular hand washing will always help.

A contagious disease is one that is spread by physical touch, whereas an infectious one is spread via microorganisms in the air or water. In practice, there is virtually no difference in meaning between contagious and infectious when describing a disease or it's spread. Infectious means that an illness that can be passed quickly from one person to another, primarily through the air they both share.

In figurative senses, contagious may represent the spread of good things such as laughter and enthusiasm. Contagious can also refer to bad things such as violence or panic, whereas infectious usually refers to the range of positive things, such as humor or optimism.

Whether contagious or infectious, the disease should be taken seriously. Both types are caused in different ways. Contagious diseases are passed from a person through germs passing. Germs can move through various actions like kissing or coughing. Examples of contagious diseases are colds and flu.

Another popular one is a sexually transmitted disease, which is passed on through the various types of sex. Infectious diseases are caused by germs like bacteria, that get into the body and cause issues. They are not only passed through humans, but a human can get this disease from animals and plants. An example of an infectious disease is Lymes disease.