When harmful microbes, or germs, enter the body, they multiply and cause disease. This is called infection. Your body's defenses usually do a killer job of squelching harmful microbes. But sometimes germs multiply faster than the body can handle and you get sick.
People come in contact with germs in many ways, including:
- Contaminated blood: Harmful microbes can enter your body through your bloodstream.
- Infected food or water: Dangerous microbes can enter through your mouth if you drink untreated water or swallow food that's uncooked or unwashed.
- Disease-carrying creatures: Harmful microbes can enter your body through close contact with infected creatures.
- Germy air: Dangerous microbes can spread through the air and enter your nose and mouth when you breathe
The infecting organism or pathogen interferes with the normal functioning of the host. This can lead to chronic wounds, gangrene, loss of an infected limb, and even death. The host's response to infection is inflammation. Colloquially, a pathogen is usually considered a microscopic organism though the definition is broader, including feces, parasites, fungi, viruses, prions, and viroids. A symbiosis between parasite and host, whereby the relationship is beneficial for the former but detrimental to the latter, is characterized as parasitism. The branch of medicine that focuses on infections and pathogens is infectious disease. Your body's first line of defense against against germs includes skin, mucous membranes in your nose and throat, tears, the tiny hairs in your nose, bleeding, peeing, and sweating. These protectors either block harmful microbes from entering your body, or wash them away.
If the germs get beyond the forst line of defense then there is second line of defense known as the immune system. If germs enter the blood streams they will be attacked by cells called macrophages also known as white blood cells. These cells will gobble and dissolve any foreign microbes. Our bodies also produce antibodies that go after specific diseases. For example, if you have already had chicken pox, then your body's chicken pox antibodies will make sure that you do not catch that disease again. If your doctor gives you a vaccine for a particular disease, it helps your body create antibodies for that disease. Sometimes when you get sick, it's because you have some kind of infection. If your body is having a little trouble fighting the infection by itself, your doctor may prescribe medicine like antibiotics to help, so just sit back, get some rest, and let your body do the work.
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One will be amazed that there many common causes of infection that we need to deal in our daily lives. Hence it is important to understand and deal with it before it get down. Human and animal bodies will respond adversely the moment some foreign organisms colonized and attack their bodies. There is actually a war taking place when there is infection and it is between the host organisms and the foreign invading organisms. When the host organisms lose the battle, infection happens. The invading organisms come in the form of virus or bacteria.
The common causes of infection are as follows. The most common infection is the staph infection is a condition where the body is attacked by a bacteria called staphylococcus aureus. The symptom is characterized by puss filled packets or abscesses in the infected area. The Symptoms include pain and swelling for the infected person. In order to prevent this kind of infection, one requires proper hygiene. Urinary tract infection is another kind of infection of the urinary tract. If this infection is not treated early, this could lead to the bladder infection and even worse, a kidney infection. This may at the worse case lead to kidney malfunction in the long run. This disease is more common in females than in males due to difference in body structure. It can however be prevented by knowing the causes of this infection. Drinking plenty of water is a big help to this kind of infection.
Infectious arthritis is joint pain, soreness, stiffness and swelling caused by an infection by bacteria, viruses or fungi. Arthritis is a condition in which the joints of the body become swollen, tender and inflamed .Infection is one of the risk factors for arthritis.
Inner ear infection which is also known as labyrinthitis. It is an infection of the inner ear known as labyrinth. This infection is mostly caused by other viral infections such as flu and cold. Sometimes, it is also caused by the accumulated water that enters the inner ear. This infection requires immediate attention from a professional. Kidney infection is a progressive state of urinary tract infection. This is the third stage of untreated UTI. The second stage is bladder infection. Then other kind of infection is the Candida which is a fungal infection.
There are several ways to minimize infections like Avoid the following:
- Crowds, public places, and people who may be ill, including ill family members or visitors to your home
- Changing diapers as human waste contains bacteria that can cause infections)
- Gardening or lawn work without gloves as plants and soil contain bacteria; therefore, getting a cut or scratch can lead to infections.
- Cleaning pets or litter boxes because animal waste contains bacteria that can cause infections.
- Take-out and deli foods, raw or partially cooked foods, or unwashed fruits and vegetables. Foods that are partially cooked or have been sitting at room temperature can develop bacteria.
Antibiotics are used to treat an infection once it occurs, and are sometimes given to prevent infections. In addition, there are other types of drugs available that can help your immune system recover more quickly to reduce the chance of infections.
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