Biotech.Philippines

Germs and Diseases General Terms:

Germs

Germs are microorganisms that can be found in all kinds of places. They can invade plants, animals, and humans, and can cause sickness. FALLACY: All germs cause harm. Not all germs causes harm but knowing more about germs will protect us.

Major types of germs: Viruses, Bacteria, Molds and Fungi

• Virus – microorganisms that need a suitable host to multiply. The main mission of a virus is to reproduce. It takes over your cells and destroys the host cell in process.
  
  Examples of illnesses caused by Viruses: Influenza, AIDS , Polio , Tonsillitis , Common Cold, Ear Infections, Rabies , Mumps , Dengue , West Nile Viruses, SARS Swine Flu and Avian Flu.

• Bacteria - tiny, one celled organisms that get its nutrients from their environment e.g. human body. Bacteria can reproduce within or outside your body and can cause infections. Some bacteria are good like lactobacillus acidophilus that helps in food digestion and destroys disease causing organisms.
  
  Examples off illnesses caused by Bacteria: severe gastrointestinal illness caused by E. coli, acne sepsis, cholera, gastritis, impetigo, anthrax, ear and kidney infections and UTI.

• Fungi - molds, yeasts and mushrooms are all types of fungi. Can be harmful since they steal nutrients from another living organism.

Examples of illnesses caused by fungi are: ringworm, jock itch, athlete’s foot and thrush.

• Pathogens - most commonly use to refer to infectious organisms. It is a disease producer. These include bacteria, viruses and fungi.

• Parasite - An organism that lives in or on and takes its nourishment from another organism. A parasite cannot live independently.

• Swine Flu Virus (H1N1) - According to the CDC, Influenza A H1N1 is a respiratory disease typically found in pigs that is caused by type A influenza viruses. Influenza A H1N1 strain is contagious and can spread from human to human.

• MRSA - Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Any strain of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria that is resistant to a large group of antibiotics called the beta-lactams, which include the penicillin and the cephalosporins. It causes very hard to treat infections.

• Salmonella – is a genus of bacteria that are major cause of food borne illness. It is transmitted through the consumption of contaminated food of animal origin (meat, poultry, eggs and milk).

Some of the illnesses caused by Salmonella are: typhoid fever and salmonellosis.

• Hepatitis - is liver inflammation due to a viral infection. It may present in acute (recent infection, relatively rapid onset) or chronic forms. Commonly caused by one of these three viruses: the hepatitis A virus, the hepatitis B virus, the hepatitis C virus.

• C.Diff - (Clostridium Difficile) happens when the C.Difficile bacteria, which naturally reside in the body becomes over-populated. The overpopulation causes toxins to be released. C.Diff is present in the stool of infected people. It forms spores that can be transferred by direct contact to toilets, bed rails, towel racks, and other surfaces. People can also spread the spores from hand to mouth when coming in contact with contaminated surfaces.

• Polio – also called poliomyelitis is a contagious and historically devastating disease. This is a viral illness, and in about 95% produces no symptoms at all.

• E.Coli -(Escherichia coli) is a common type of bacteria that can get into food, like beef and vegetables. This is an infectious disease that can be passed from an infected person to another.

• Influenza - is a viral infection that affects mainly the nose, throat, bronchi and, occasionally, lungs. The virus is transmitted easily from person to person via droplets and small particles produced when infected people cough or sneeze. Influenza tends to spread rapidly in seasonal epidemics.

• Dengue - Dengue fever is a disease caused by a family of viruses that are transmitted by the bite of a striped Aedes aegypti mosquito. Dengue hemorrhagic fever is a more severe form of the viral illness. Manifestations include headache, fever, rash, and evidence of hemorrhage in the body.

• Malaria - is an infectious disease caused by a parasite, Plasmodium, which infects red blood cells. The disease is transmitted to humans when an infected Anopheles mosquito bites a person and injects the malaria parasites into the blood. Occurs more in tropical countries.

• West Nile - virus transmitted from the bite of a mosquito (primarily the Culex pipiens mosquito) that is infected with the West Nile virus. Mosquitoes become infected by feeding on birds that are infected with the virus