Germ Warfare: Battle the Bad Guys That Cause Disease

Sometimes the exact causes of disease are unknown. But most common diseases that you have heard of, such as the flu, mumps, or bronchitis, spring from infections that are caused by one of several types of germs.

Infection is often the first stage of disease, when germs invade the body and the body tries to defend against them. Disease occurs when the germs succeed in damaging cells, which is when common symptoms of an illness appear.

Some types of germs include:

 

• Bacteria: These single-celled organisms divide and reproduce easily in the body. Some types of bacteria are helpful (such as those in the digestive tract that process food) but others can damage healthy cells and make you sick.
• Viruses: Viruses are tiny capsules of DNA that need to latch on to host cells (your cells) in order to reproduce and spread. This process destroys the host cells and makes you sick.
• Fungi: Some fungi are beneficial, but others are not. Fungi are to blame for athlete’s foot and diaper rash, and they also cause a mouth and throat infection called thrush.

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