Bacterial Infections
Bacteria are living things that have only one cell. Under a microscope, they look like balls, rods or spirals. They are so small that a line of 1,000 could fit across a pencil eraser. Most bacteria won’t hurt you. Less than 1% of bacteria makes people sick. Many bacteria are helpful. Some bacteria help to digest food, destroy disease-causing cells and give the body needed vitamins. Bacteria are also used in making healthy foods like yogurt and cheese.
But infectious bacteria can make you ill. They reproduce quickly in your body. Many give off chemicals called toxins, which can damage tissue and make you sick. Examples of bacteria that cause infections include Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and E. coli.
A bacterial infection is the detrimental colonization of a host organism by a foreign species. In a bacterial infection, the infecting organism seeks to utilize the host’s resources to multiply (usually at the expense of the host). The infecting organism, or pathogen, interferes with the normal functioning of the host and 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.
Antibiotics are the usual treatment. When you take antibiotics, follow the directions carefully. Each time you take antibiotics, you increase the chances that bacteria in your body will learn to resist them.
Read more about antibiotics…
Health Tips
Eat Healthy. "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." There's more truth to this saying than we once thought. You are what you eat. What you eat and drink and what you don't eat and drink can definitely make a difference to your health. Eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day, less saturated fat and junk food can help improve your health and may reduce the risk of cancer and other chronic diseases. Have a balanced diet, and watch how much you eat. Read more Health Tips »
