Infectious diseases pose significant threats to public health and the global economy, necessitating rapid and accurate detection of the causative microorganisms to prevent their transmission. Nanomaterials, with their unique size‐dependent physical and chemical attributes, present innovative solutions for the detection of infectious diseases, thereby playing a crucial role in the development of advanced detection technologies. This review describes the application of inorganic nanomaterials in the detection of infectious diseases, focusing on the potential uses of nanomaterials, including carbon nanoallotropes, quantum dots, gold and silver nanoparticles, magnetic nanoparticles and upconversion nanoparticles.