What is the difference between endogenous and exogenous infe

What is the difference between endogenous and exogenous infections? What is a protein allergen?

Solution

Endogenous infections are defined as those infections that are caused by microorganisms that are already in the body whereas exogenous infections are defined as those which are caused by microorganisms from the external environment. Usually in endogenous infection, microbes are already present in the body but in dormant state but are stimulated by some factors, tuberculosis may be taken as a case. However, in exogenous infection microorganism gain their entry through respiratory, gastrointestinal, vaginal, urinal or through injury. In case of exogenous infection, pathogenic bacteria entering the body always cause disease. However, in case of endogenous infection, some bacteria normally residing in the gut usually don’t cause any infection; however, if the same bacterium enters the other sterile organ may cause infection there. As an instance, the residential bacterium E. coli of the GI tract enters the urinary tract. This causes a urinary tract infection. Sometimes the same type of infection occurs through both the exogenous and endogenous ways. For example, the exogenous eczema occurs by an external irritant while as endogenous eczema of which one type is infant eczema occurs by a stimulant already present within the body. Examples of exogenous infections include Salmonella enterocolitis, Cholera, Anthrax, Botulism etc. and examples of endogenous infections include tuberculosis etc.