Microorganisms
They are invisible to us, but each day we are exposed to multitudes of very tiny microorganisms. Microorganisms live everywhere - in air, soil, rock and water. For the most part, they do us no harm, but sometimes we encounter disease-causing (pathogenic) microorganisms that make us sick. These can be spread to humans from:
- other humans from sneezing or coughing
- animals by droppings or saliva (Read about "Animal & Insect Borne Diseases")
- insect bites (Read about "Insect Bites")
- contaminated food or water (Read about "Food Safety")
Once microorganisms invade our bodies, they can settle in. They can gobble up nutrients and energy, and can produce toxins, which are like poisons. Those toxins can cause symptoms of common infections, like fevers, sniffles, rashes, coughing, vomiting and diarrhea. (Read about "Diarrhea") There are four major groups of microorganisms: bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa (a type of parasite). Disease microorganisms (most people call them germs) can be from any of these four categories.
Bacteria
Bacteria are microscopic living things that have only one cell (unicellular) and are one of three shapes, rods, balls or spirals. Some bacteria cells exist as individuals while others cluster together to form pairs, chains, squares or other groupings. Vast numbers of bacteria live in, and on, our bodies. Some are beneficial. For example, some bacteria help us digest food, destroy disease-causing cells and give the body needed vitamins. (Read about "Vitamins & Minerals") However, some types of infectious bacteria can make you ill. Some examples of diseases caused by bacteria are:
- anthrax (Read about "Biological Health Threats")
- bacterial vaginosis (Read about "Bacterial Vaginosis")
- botulism (Read about "Biological Health Threats")
- campylobacteriosis (Read about "Campylobacter")
- e-coli (Read about "E. coli")
- group B strep (Read about "Group B Strep")
- impetigo (Read about "Impetigo")
Symptoms include:
-watery diarrhea (at least three bowel movements per day for two or more days)
-fever
-loss of appetite
-nausea
-abdominal pain/tenderness
Viruses
Viruses are the most primitive of microorganisms and are much smaller than bacteria. A virus is basically a tiny bundle of genetic material carried in a shell called the viral coat or envelope. Viruses only exist to reproduce. To do that, they have to take over suitable host cells. They invade the cells and once inside, multiply, killing the host cells in the process. This is what makes you sick. Viruses are easily destroyed by disinfectants outside the body, but can be difficult to eliminate once infection has taken place. The following are examples of viral infections:
-AIDS (Read about "HIV / AIDS")
-avian influenza (Read about "Bird Flu")
-chicken pox (Read about "Childhood Illnesses")
-common cold (Read about "The Common Cold")
-dengue fever (Read about "Dengue Fever")
-fifth disease (Read about "Fifth Disease")
-flu (Read about "Influenza")
-hand, foot and mouth disease (Read about "Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease")
-hepatitis viruses (Read about "Hepatitis A" "Hepatitis B" "Hepatitis C" "Hepatitis D" "Hepatitis E")
-herpes (Read about "STD's" "Herpes")
-human papillomavirus (Read about "STD's")
-measles (Read about "Childhood Illnesses")
-molluscum contagiosum (Read about "Molluscum Contagiosum")
-mononucleosis (Read about "Mononucleosis")
-mumps (Read about "Childhood Illnesses")
-noroviruses (Read about "Noroviruses")
-rabies (Read about "Rabies")
-respiratory syncytial virus (Read about "Respiratory Syncytial Virus"
-Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Read about "Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever")
-roseola (Read about "Roseola")
-rotavirus (Read about "Rotavirus")
-rubella (Read about "Childhood Illnesses")
-severe acute respiratory syndrome (Read about "SARS")
-shingles (Read about "Shingles")
-smallpox (Read about "Biological Health Threats")
-viral meningitis (Read about "Encephalitis & Meningitis")
-viral pneumonia (Read about "Pneumonia")
-viral croup (Read about "Croup")
-warts (Read about "Warts")
-west Nile virus (Read about "Arboviral Encephalitides")
Fungi
There are many, many different kinds of fungi, but only a small number of them make us sick. A fungus is actually a primitive plant that is found in air, in soil, on plants and in water. Some common fungi include mushrooms, yeast, mold and mildew. The body normally hosts a variety of fungi. Some of these are useful to the body, but others may form infections. A fungal infection of humans is called a mycosis. Mycoses can affect skin, nails, hair and internal organs. Some examples of common fungal infections include:
-athlete's foot (Read about "Tinea")
-diaper rash (Read about "Diaper Rash")
-jock itch (Read about "Tinea")
-ringworm (Read about "Tinea")
-thrush (Read about "Thrush")
-vaginal yeast infections (Read about "Vaginal Yeast Infections")
Protozoa
Protozoa are a group of microscopic, single-celled animals. They can be free-living or parasitic in nature. While protozoa can be an important source of food for animals like snails, clams and sponges, they can also cause serious infections in humans. Protozoa can be transmitted to the body by eating contaminated food or water, person-to-person contact, or through the bite of an insect like a mosquito or fly. While many protozoan infections are more common in the tropics and subtropics, they can also affect people in temperate zones as well. Some common examples of protozoa illnesses are:
-malaria (Read about "Travel & Health")
-giardiasis (Read about "Giardiasis")
-cryptosporidiosis (Read about "Cryptosporidiosis")
-toxoplasmosis (Read about "Toxoplasmosis")
-trichomoniasis (Read about "STD's")
Protect yourself
The best way to protect yourself from germs is to steer clear of the things that can spread them. Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze and cover your mouth when you cough to keep from spreading germs. Remember the two words germs fear - soap and water. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, washing your hands with soap and water is one of the best ways to prevent infectious disease. Wash your hands every time you cough or sneeze, before you eat or prepare foods, after you use the bathroom, after you touch animals and pets, after you play outside and after you visit a sick friend or relative. Boil water if you don't know that is it safe to consume and make sure food is fresh and has been stored properly. (Read about "Food Safety")
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