What are Germs? What
Germs do my kids come in contact with?
Germs, bacteria, microorganisms, microbes all comprise the germ category.We cannot see germs that cause disease,
but with the help of a microscope we can see them. Germs are found everywhere, there are
two types that can make us sick: viruses and certain types of
bacteria.
Note: not all germs are bad.
Germs in general are microorganisms, so tiny that they can only be seen
using a microscope. Most of them are harmless, and some actually help
you keep healthy. Others called pathogens are the germs that can make
us sick by causing contagious diseases.
The microbiologists classify the most
common pathogens as being viruses, bacteria (the ones making our
elementary grade school kids sick). Followed by fungi, parasitic
worms, rickettsiae and protozoan.
Virus examples would be the common cold, contagious childhood diseases such
as chicken pox, measles, mumps, even cold sores and fever blisters.
These are classified as pathogens, translation those capable of causing
diseases.
Most viruses are considered pathogens
and attack the normal activity of the cell causing the cell to make
more of the virus until the cell explodes passing the virus onto other
cells, which in turn repeat the same process.
Different viruses cause different
diseases.
Bacteria
Are a major group of living organisms.
They are also the most abundant of all organisms. The study of
bacteria is known as bacteriology a sub field of microbiology.
Single celled organisms having one of
three shapes: rod, round or spiral and are either gram positive or
gram negative based upon the cell wall structure. Bacteria can
reproduce quickly by splitting in half producing two identical clone
daughter cells. You can come into contact with bacteria almost
anywhere. Most bacteria however do not cause problems and assist us in
our normal body functions. Other bacteria are pathogenic like the
virus and can cause disease when they produce toxins that poison the
body.
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Examples of diseases caused by bacteria
include tetanus, pneumonia and strep throat. Bacteria grows in certain
foods that are not handled and stored properly and can cause food
poisoning. Remember, bacteria does not grow in cold or extreme hot,
but prefers warm damp places.
Benefits of bacteria include the ability
of bacteria to decompose cellulose (plant tissue), which is also used
by man in industry such as waste processing and bioremediation.
Hydrocarbon digesting bacteria are used in assisting with the clean up
of oil spills such as the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989. Bacteria are
also beneficial in yeast and molds and are used in preparation of
fermented foods such cheese, pickles, vinegar, wine and yogurt. They
may also be bio-engineered for production of therapeutic drugs
including insulin. Bacteria in our body helps convert milk proteins to
lactic acid as well as provide Vitamin K.
So how does hand washing
help?
Hand washing is important because it
helps reduce the spread of germs from one person to another. By
washing our hands properly we reduce the chance of getting the germs
into our body as well as helps prevent from passing them to other
people. |
