infection
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infection
A contagious illness caused by pathogens such as viruses or bacteria. In everyday usage, the term often refers to a milder, temporary illness such as a cold or a flu-like infection.
Wegen eines grippalen Infekts musste sie eine Woche zu Hause bleiben.
Because of a flu-like infection, she had to stay home for a week.
'Der Infekt' (infection) is a common short form of the longer word 'die Infektion' (infection). While 'Infektion' often describes a more serious or more specific infection, 'Infekt' is used in everyday language for milder illnesses.
Ich glaube, ich bekomme einen Infekt, mein Hals kratzt schon.
I think I'm coming down with an infection; my throat is already scratchy.
The combination 'grippaler Infekt' (flu-like infection) is very common and describes a cold or a mild flu. Typical verbs are 'sich einen Infekt einfangen/zuziehen' (to catch/pick up an infection) or 'einen Infekt auskurieren' (to fully recover from an infection).
Zieh dich warm an, damit du dir keinen Infekt einfängst.
Dress warmly so you don't catch an infection.
'Infekt' (infection) is a very common word when talking about an unspecified, milder illness. It is often used when you do not know exactly whether it is a cold, the flu, or something else.
Viele Kinder im Kindergarten haben gerade einen Magen-Darm-Infekt.
Many children in the kindergarten currently have a gastrointestinal infection.
illness / disease
'die Krankheit' and 'der Infekt' can both mean that someone is sick. However, 'Krankheit' is the general word and can refer to many physical or mental health problems. 'Infekt' is more specific: it is caused by pathogens such as viruses or bacteria and is often something temporary, for example a cold. The words can be confused because an 'Infekt' is also a 'Krankheit'. But not every 'Krankheit' is an 'Infekt'. If the cause is an infection, 'Infekt' is more precise.
Am Wochenende bleibt Frau Schmidt zu Hause, weil sie einen Infekt hat.
Ms. Schmidt is staying home this weekend because she has an infection.
Nach der Krankheit braucht du noch ein paar Tage Ruhe.
After the illness, you still need a few days of rest.