The concept of infestation comes from the Latin word infestatio . A word that, in turn, emanates from the Latin verb "infestare", which can be translated as "corrupt", "infest", "destroy" or "alter".
The term refers to the act and result of becoming infested or infesting .
This verb (infest), for its part, is usually used with respect to the invasion of a living being by a pathogenic organism . Infest can also refer to causing damage or filling a place .
For example: "Thanks to the campaign promoted by the local government, the infestation rate of the mosquito that causes dengue has been considerably reduced" , "The decomposition of meat caused an infestation of larvae" , "No cases of infestation of human beings by this arthropod .
Contagion, spread or inoculation are some of the words that function as synonyms for the term we are now dealing with.
An infestation occurs when a parasitic agent invades an organism . Parasites , such as mites , lice, and ringworms, gain access to a living being to survive.
What are the differences between an infestation and an infection ? In principle, it must be said that, according to the Royal Spanish Academy ( RAE ), infecting is what a pathogenic microorganism does when it invades an organism to multiply.
Infestation and infection, therefore, are similar ideas. In both cases there is a living being that invades another, causing damage through the development of a pathological process. The specificity of each notion is generally associated with the size of the invader: infestation is carried out by macroscopic organisms, while infection is carried out by microscopic organisms.
In the health field, the word that we are currently addressing is also used. Thus, we speak, for example, of pediculosis or lice infection. This situation can be experienced by people who will count itchy scalp as their main symptoms. The treatment will consist of removing nits using the so-called nit comb and also using a pharmacological product that is applied to the hair.
Likewise, when there is someone in a home who has this type of infestation, it is necessary to take extreme hygiene measures, wash all clothes and even bedding at a minimum height of 50º C, eliminate any possible lice that may be on the combs. and brushes by placing them in hot water for about fifteen minutes and even thoroughly vacuuming the home and especially the textile elements, such as rugs, cushions or blankets used on the sofa.
For parapsychology , an infestation consists of the irruption of paranormal phenomena in the same place , without the intention of establishing an interaction or communication being detected.
In the same way, we cannot forget that the term in question is also used within the field of video games. Thus, for example, in the game Days Gone one of the missions that the player must carry out is called Camp Sherman Infestation.