We frequently hear that germs are all around us just waiting to make us sick. But what are these things called germs that we can't even see?
There are four main categories of germs. Not all of them make us sick, and we actually have some of them in our bodies all the time. The four types of germs are: bacteria, viruses, fungi and protozoa.
1. Bacteria
Bacteria are all around us and inside our bodies, too. Some of them are good and a few even help keep our bodies healthy. Others can cause illness and infections. A bacterium is a tiny one-celled organisms that feeds on the environment around it. Antibiotics can be used to kill or limit bacterial infections.
Common illnesses caused by bacteria include:
2. Viruses
Viruses are organisms that are even smaller than bacteria and must live inside other living things to grow and multiply. Viruses are abundant in nature and can be transmitted in many different ways. In terms of viruses that can cause colds and flu, transmission often occurs from person to person via air or contact. Viruses can even exist on other surfaces (such as doorknobs and faucets) for a few hours. Antibiotics will not kill viral infections, however there are antiviral medications that can be given in some cases.
Common illnesses caused by viruses include:
3. Fungi
Fungi are multi-celled organisms that are larger than bacteria and viruses. They feed off of their environment and include things like mushrooms and mildew.
Some common infections caused by fungi include:
- Athlete's foot
- Ringworm
- Yeast infections (can be vaginal, diaper rash, thrush and others)
4. Protozoa
Protozoa are single-celled animals that feed and live on other organisms. Often found in water, protozoa like to live in places that are very moist. Malaria is perhaps the best-known protozoa. Other examples include amoeba or giardia, which can cause abdominal problems in humans.
