Difference Between Infection and Infestation

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Main Difference

The main difference between Infection and Infestation is that infection is the attack of microorganisms, whereas infestation is known as the attack of many multifaceted organisms.

Infection vs. Infestation

Infection is considered as the incursion of microorganisms into the body of the host and cause diseases to the host, whereas the infestation is considered as the incursion of small insects and worms that also cause many diseases to the host. The infection is mainly caused by the attack of microorganisms, for example, fungi, protozoans, bacteria, and viruses; on the contrary, the infestation is primarily caused by the attack of many complex organisms, for example, worms and insects.

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The process of infection is started when microorganisms go into the tissues of the host and begin to multiply, taking over the biological machinery of the host and arresting the regular working of the cells. On the flip side, the process of an infestation started when small worms or insects begin to reproduce on the surface of the host or sometimes inside the lumen. When an infection happens, the body’s immune system started to respond against the invasion of the microorganisms; in contrast, infestation occurs when the body of the host becomes weak, and the invaded pathogens started to damaging the normal cells of the body part where it has infected.

The body shows different symptoms according to different kinds of infections such as stomach ache, sweating, chills, headache, weight loss, body ache, loss of hunger, etc. While the infestation also shows different symptoms according to the type of pathogens attacked and the place where they infect in the body. The infection is treated when it is properly diagnosed; however, there are many different treatments available for the cure of infestation.

Comparison Chart

Infection	Infestation
The attack and development of microorganisms inside the body of the host and further cause harm to the host by producing diseases inside it are known as infection.	An infection which is caused by many complex and larger organisms specifically reproduces on the outer surface of the host, and it also describes the attack of the gastrointestinal tract due to the pathogens such as parasitic worms is known as an infestation.
Considered As
Considered as the incursion of microorganisms into the body of the host and cause diseases to the host	Considered as the incursion of small insects and worms that also cause many diseases to the host
Caused By
Mainly caused by the attack of microorganisms, for example, fungi, protozoans, bacteria, and viruses.	Primarily caused by the attack of many complex organisms, for example, arthropods (mites and ticks), worms, and insects.
Focus Area
Entrance and growth of an infectious particle in the body	Lodgment, growth, and reproduction of complex organisms on the outer surface of the body
Process
The process is started when microorganisms go into the tissues of the host and start to multiply, taking over the biological machinery of the host and arresting the regular working of the cells.	The process is initiated when small worms or insects begin to reproduce on the surface of the host or sometimes inside the lumen.
When it Happens
When it happens, the body’s immune system started to respond against the invasion of the microorganisms.	It occurs when the body of the host becomes weak, and the invaded pathogens started to damaging the normal cells of the body part where it has infected.
Symptoms
The body shows different symptoms according to different kinds of infections such as stomach ache, sweating, chills, headache, weight loss, body ache, loss of hunger, etc.	It also shows various symptoms according to the type of pathogens attacked and the place where they infect the body.
Treatment
It treated when it is properly diagnosed and becomes helpful for the prevention of disease in further increasing.	There are many diverse treatments available for the cure of infestation according to the kind of pathogen attack.
Examples
Eye infections which can be severe infections to mild one in the eye and its nearby areas due to the larval or adult protozoans or may be metazoan parasites, Herpes simplex eye infection which is caused by the kind of herpes simplex virus, lung infections which starts with shortness in breathing, allergies, sneezing, coughs, etc.	The ectoparasitic infestations, which are caused by parasites that live on the outside of the host’s body, scabies, which is caused by a mite (a tiny insect) known as Sarcoptes scabiei.

What is Infection?

The term infection is referred to as the attack or entrance of the microorganisms into the body of the host and causes various diseases into the host body. The microorganisms which produce diseases are known as infectious agents.

The microorganisms which attack usually are bacteria, fungi, protozoans, and viruses. The process of infection is started when microbes go into the tissues of the host and begin to multiply, taking over the biological machinery of the host and arresting the regular working of the cells. As microorganisms cause diseases into the host body, so they are known as pathogens.

What is Infestation?

The term infestation is referred to as the attack of large and complex organisms, which could be insects or worms that produce diseases into the host body. The insects could be ticks, mites, lice or fleas, and worms can be pinworms, roundworms, helminths, and flatworms.

Infestation usually happens in either two ways that are internally or externally. External infestation occurs due to the attack of ectoparasites that are parasitic on the outer surface of the host, such as lice, ticks, mosquitoes, etc. The internal infestation happens due to the attack of endoparasites, which are flatworms, roundworms.

Key Differences

The term infection is caused by the invasion of microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria that enter into the internal tissues of the host and start to multiply and as well as disrupting the normal functioning of the body’s cell. Whereas, the term infestation is defined as the inflection, which is usually caused by comparatively larger and complex organisms such as arthropods, which precisely reproduce on the outer surface of the host’s body. This term also explains the gastrointestinal tract invasion through parasitic worms.
The word infection is mainly originated from the Latin word ‘inficere’ which commonly means to taint; in contrast, the word infestation is originated from the Latin word ‘infestare’ which usually means to attack.
Symptoms are shown because of infections are chills, headache, sweating, stomach ache, weight loss, and loss of hunger, etc., while symptoms of infestation are shown according to the type of pathogen attacks on the body which could be fever and aches in the body.
During the process of infection, the microorganisms make their way into the tissues of the host, and then multiply, and disturbs the normal work of cells, whereas, during an infestation, the insects and worms mostly reproduce on the surface of the host.

Conclusion

The above discussion concludes that the infection is caused by microorganisms when they attack the body of the host and cause diseases in the body and disturbs the normal functioning of the cells; in contrast, the infestation is caused by much larger and complex organisms as compared to the infection which includes insects and worms.