When you’re sick, does the virus/bacteria focus in 1 – few general areas, or does it incorporate into the bloodstream and travel through the entire body (calculated as per ml of blood)?
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“When you’re sick” encompasses a pretty broad range of scenarios. In short, it depends.
Most bacterial infections are limited to one part of the body. Infections that start in one spot (like your kidney, lungs, or bile duct) can spread into the bloodstream if they go untreated. If bacteria get into the bloodstream, it’s generally bad news, and usually fatal without prompt intravenous antibiotics.
For viruses, it depends. Most of the viruses that cause common illnesses like the common cold or gastroenteritis (“stomach flu”) are limited to one type of tissue, like the mucous membranes lining your respiratory tract, and don’t spread into the bloodstream. Other viruses like measles, Epstein-Barr virus (which causes mono), HIV, hepatitis viruses, dengue virus, etc. do spread through your bloodstream, at least for part of the infection cycle.
Besides bacteria and viruses, you can also be infected by parasites and fungi. Fungal bloodstream infections are rare and almost always occur in people with compromised immune systems, while local fungal infections like athlete’s foot are common. Various parasites, notably the parasites that cause malaria, can travel through your bloodstream as well. Other parasites stick to one organ/tissue.
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