Bacteria

Bacteria are living single-celled organisms that can be found everywhere on the planet. No matter what you do you can not escape them. The good thing is most of them are harmless, and some of them even necessary for good health. However, there are some that can cause illness.

On the human body most bacteria can be found on the skin and in the digestive tract. On the skin the bacteria are mostly harmless. In the digestive tract they are vital. Bacteria play an important role in breaking down foods which assists in digestion and absorption. If the digestive tract bacteria are diminished in number the individual can suffer digestive problems. However, too much digestive bacteria can also cause illness.

Don't freak out, but there are over ten times more bacteria on the human body then there are cells in the body. And there is nothing you can do about it. No matter how much you wash, they will be there.

Unlike viruses which can not survive on non-living objects for very long, bacteria can. So, they are very easily transfered from person to person, either by coughing or blowing on someone, or by touching something they touched even several hours before you. In addition, they don't need other cells to multiply. Luckily, our immune systems are very good at destroying foreign bacteria. However, when the immune system fails illness can occur.

Some of the diseases that bacteria can cause are:

• Syphilis
• Whooping cough
• Tetanus
• Scarlet fever
• Cholera
• Bubonic plague
• Strep throat
• Diphtheria
• Typhoid fever
• Meningitis
• Leprosy
• Salmonella
• E-coli
• Tuberculosis (TB)

The best way to fight a bacterial infection is through antibiotics, e.g. penicillin. However, bacteria has the ability to change/evolve. So, they have become stronger over the years. Antibiotics that used to be effective e.g. 20 years ago, no longer have the same affect. Bacteria that lack cure are now referred to as super bugs. The main reasons this has occurred is because doctors were over prescribing it, instead of letting the person fight the illness on there own. And, many people do not finish their prescriptions. This results in the stronger bacteria not being killed off, but instead reproducing and growing stronger, and being passed on to others.