Infectious Diseases
What exactly are they and how can they be prevented?
What is an infectious Disease?
Infectious diseases are diseases caused by microorganisms, such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites. These diseases are transmitted from one person to another through casual contact, such as influenza; through bodily fluids, such as the HIV virus, or via contaminated air, food, or water.
What is the "Superbug" MRSA?
MRSA, short for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, is a bacteria that causes infections that can no longer be treated with common methicillin antibiotics and has become resistant. Its resistance against all methicillin and penicillin antibiotics makes it very difficult to treat causing 94,000 infections and killing 11,000 in the US every year. It is now common in hospitals and other healthcare areas by getting onto items that open wounds and end up infecting them. Bedbugs have also been carriers of the Bacteria. A genetic mutation has made the bacteria resistant to all forms of medication, making it a “Superbug,” which is any type of infectious disease that cannot be treated due to a mutation.
What is the difference between Bacteria, Viruses, and Parasites?
Bacteria
Bacterial infections occur when harmful forms of bacteria multiply inside the body. Your body is filled with millions of bacteria, and almost all of them benefit your overall health, however a few can severely harm your health and can cause deadly diseases. One of the main ways bacterial infections happen is through uncooked or unsanitary water like E Coli and Salmonella. Another way they are spread is through the air like Tuberculosis, and they also can be sexually transmitted like Syphilis. Bacteria and viruses are different because they are complete cells and no not need to invade another cell to survive. Also unlike parasites and viruses they have no cell membrane.
Viruses
Viruses are tiny germs that can reproduce only by invading a living cell. Viral infections occur when viruses enter cells in the body and begin reproducing, often causing illness. viruses can also not reproduce unless they get inside a living cell. Viruses are far smaller than bacteria. Unlike most bacteria, Viruses are not complete cells that can function on their own. They cannot convert carbohydrates to energy, the way that bacteria and other living cells do. Viruses depend on other organisms for energy.
Parasites
A parasite is any organism that depends on another organism and harms the organism in the process. Unlike the virus and bacteria whose goals are reproduction, the goal of the parasite is to drain the host of resources, but not fully kill him This is because if the host dies, than the parasite will as well. They also are usually much bigger than a virus or bacteria.
How are infectious diseases treated?
Antibiotics can be used to treat many infections however due to the diseases becoming immune to the antibiotics the use of antibiotics has become much less frequent and are only used when completely necessary. Now scientists and researchers are trying to find new ways and new drugs to treat the infectious diseases.
How can a person stay healthy enough to prevent infections and disease?
There are 27 diseases that can be prevented by vaccination. Washing your hands is one of the single most important ways of preventing the spread of disease and getting disease. Also, avoid being around people with diseases that can easily spread through touch, air, or feces. Eating healthy and exercising frequently is also just as important. Properly cooking food and boiling water to prevent bacteria is also a major way to prevent getting sick. Immunization projects have also killed off many infectious diseases such as polio and influenza in some countries.