Why do bacteria make us sick?
We look at diseases from our own perspective, trying to figure out how to protect ourselves and how to kill germs. But do germs have intentions?
They say understanding the enemy is necessary to defeat it, so we start looking at diseases from the perspective of harmful germs. How do germs cause infection?
Purpose of Germs?
- What benefit do germs get from making us sick in strange ways?
- What do they gain from causing stomach upsets or rashes on our bodies?
- Why do they attack us in the first place?
- If germs kill their host, they will perish as well, so why do they do it?
- What is the purpose of this vicious cycle?
Spreading Mechanisms
Like any other species, germs want to increase their numbers, and it's not as simple as we have perceived them to be. They have been playing this game for billions of years and have survived till today.
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Understanding how germs enter the body is crucial to preventing infections.
The more people a patient infects, the more successful the germs are. This means keeping the patient sick for a longer time without killing them and transferring the disease to as many individuals as possible is their victory.
They have found various ways to move from humans to humans and between other animals. The "symptoms" of our diseases are actually clever tactics of these germs.
Five ways how germs enter the body and how they spread.
- The least effortful way is patience. This strategy is adopted by germs that wait for another host after their current one dies.
Salmonella bacteria behave this way. If meat is not cooked properly, they reach the consumer. They also spread through fish in sushi, popular in Japan.
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- Some germs don't wait that much; they take a shortcut through their host's saliva. Cholera is an example. They might end up in mosquitoes, flies, or other carriers through the host's saliva.
Diseases like malaria, plague, and typhoid spread through these carriers.
- Some germs take matters into their own hands by bringing changes in their host's anatomy. Ticks are one such example, and through their saliva, they can spread diseases like Lyme disease.
They can be transmitted by various insects like mosquitoes, fleas, and tsetse flies. Syphilis, rubella, and AIDS spread through such means, passing from mother to child.
- Some germs are even more cunning; they evade our immune system's control by changing their molecular pieces. They are the anti-genes recognized by our body's antibodies. Influenza is an example, which is why the flu vaccine needs to be updated regularly.
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Malaria and sleeping sickness employ similar tactics, while the most clever AIDS germs can generate new antigens even inside a patient, rendering the immune system useless against them.
- Our other response, the cheapest one, is genetic, and it is natural selection. Some people genetically defend against certain diseases. In an epidemic, those with genetic defenses are more likely to survive.
As a result, in the long history of human populations continually facing germs, the populations with these genetic defenses have adapted better to the local pathogens.
Examples of genetic defense include the sickle-cell gene in African blacks for malaria and the tetracycline gene in Ashkenazi Jews for typhoid. The race between germs and their hosts continues.
HISTORY
Some diseases are called epidemic diseases; they only spread where there is a dense population. They spread easily in big cities, and their history is not ancient.
Cholera was around 1600 BC, Mumps around 400 BC, Leprosy around 200 BC, Polio as early as 1840, and AIDS since 1959.
Deadliest Diseases: From Animals to Humans
The deadliest diseases in history are those that reached humans through animals. Examples of these are the plague and smallpox, which came from livestock to humans. Measles, which originated from cattle; the flu, which came from ducks and pigs; pertussis, which came from dogs; malaria, which came from chickens; and yellow fever and AIDS, which came from monkeys.
Reason?
The bacteria that reside in cows are not deadly for them, but when they come to humans, they cause fatal mistakes. Although killing the host's skin was not beneficial for the bacteria's proliferation.
Deadly epidemics wiped out vast and dense populations. Cemeteries were filled. Then we either learned to live with them, eradicated them, found ways to control them, gained genetic defense, or they changed, and their conquests continue.
Today, the best way to avoid getting sick from germs is by understanding how germs enter the body and practicing proper hygiene. Using the best hand soap for killing germs and the best mouthwash for germs can help in preventing infections.
Remember, knowledge about germs and their spread is crucial in our fight against diseases. These seemingly insignificant germs have had a profound impact on shaping the course of human history.
Are all germs harmful?
Not necessarily, but being aware of how germs cause infection and how they are spread can help us take appropriate precautions to stay healthy.
FOUR Simple ways to stop germs spread:
- Washing hands frequently.
- Covering mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing.
- Avoiding close contact with sick individuals.
- Cleaning and disinfecting surfaces regularly.
By understanding germs and implementing preventive measures, we can better protect ourselves and our communities from infectious diseases. Stay informed and take care!
