Have you ever wondered how and why we fall sick?
Well, our body is very amazing. It is like a fortress protected
by the skin, the white blood cells (the soldiers) and the antibodies
made by these cells (the bullets). Our body is under constant attack
by small, tiny organisms called the germs (the enemy). These germs
are so small that we need to use a microscope to see them. These
germs, when they enter into our body, go on an attack spree and
cause damage to the body or part of the body. That is called an
infection. Sometimes they may cause an infection only in one particular
part of the body like your eyes, lungs etc or may affect the whole
body causing fever. Our body tries to fight these germs with the
help of the white blood cells and the antibodies. Sometimes, we
may need to take medicines like antibiotics that almost bulldoze
the germs.
The
germs that cause infection are of 4 types :-
- Bacteria
(pronounced as back – tea – ri-ah) – They are
tiny single celled creatures and cause infectious like pneumonia,
sore throat, sinusitis, ear infectious and boils.
- Viruses (pronounced as why – rus-is) – They are organisms
that depend on a living cell to live. They usually cannot live
outside a living cell. Viruses cause infections like flu, chicken
pox, measles, mumps, polio and many other diseases.
- Fungi
(pronounced as fun-guy) – Fungi are organisms that grow
on damp, molded environment for e.g. When a bread is left outside
for several days, the white substance that grows on it is the
fungus. Fungi cause infections of the nails and that itchy rash
in the thighs, armpits and other skin folds.
- Protozoa
– They are larger organisms and include the intestinal
worms, the organisms causing malaria.
How
do we protect ourselves from germs?
First
and foremost, eating healthy and nutritious food helps you to
make your body stronger. Proper exercise and adequate sunshine
makes you feel better. And a stronger body has better power (white
blood cells and antibodies) to fight the germs.
Another
thing to remember is to keep clean. Washing hands with soap and
water keeps most of he germs away from you.
And
not to forget, your regular visit to your friendly neighbourhood
doctor to receive your shots. These shots are the machine guns
to fight the germs when they attack your body.
"So,
now its time to become wise
Change your dirty habits & revise
To fight the germs is my advice !!"