Bacteria — What Are They and What Diseases Cause?

Bacteria are full-fledged living organisms that have a cellular structure. Unlike viruses, they often live in the human body very well. For example, the human intestinal microflora enables people to digest food quite efficiently. But some groups of bacterial cells have a very negative effect on the body and cause pathological deviations in homeostatic indicators. In this case, it is very important to treat such violations with antibiotics. The available list of antibiotics is distinguished here.

Due to the variety of bacteria effect on the human body, the following groups of such living creatures are distinguished:

• pathogenic bacteria that cause disease. Examples of such organisms are: gonococcus, treponema, salmonella;
• conditionally pathogenic are those microbes that live on the mucous membranes and are not dangerous for him under standard conditions of existence. In the event that a person’s immunity decreases, this group of bacteria can also become a provocateur for the occurrence of severe diseases. This group includes bacteria such as streptococcus, staphylococcus, and E. coli;
• non-pathogenic bacteria can benefit the human body.

In any case, the danger of bacteria lies in the secretion of a special group of poisons during their metabolism. At the same time, the human body suffers from damage to organs and tissues, as well as diseases such as tetanus and botulism. Also, bacteria can cause pneumonia.

Examples of diseases caused by bacteria and the routes of infection

Bacteria are the causative agents of such dangerous infectious diseases as:

• whooping cough;
• scarlet fever;
• tuberculosis;
• meningitis.

Whooping cough is characterized as an infectious disease of the respiratory tract with symptoms of paroxysmal spasmodic cough. Children especially suffer from whooping cough. Scarlet fever is an infectious disease caused by group A hemolytic streptococcus.

It is manifested by a small-point rash and fever, body intoxication. Tuberculosis is a world-wide infectious disease that affects humans or animals. It is caused by a pathogen such as Koch’s bacillus. Tuberculosis affects the lungs, but there are cases when this disease affects other organs and systems.

An especially dangerous disease is characterized by inflammation of the membranes of the brain and spinal cord. Within the framework of this deviation, leptomeningitis or the inflammatory process of the pia mater and arachnoid meninges are distinguished. In addition, pachymeningitis or inflammation of the dura mater is distinguished. All of the above diseases bring a colossal danger to the human body, but the degree of their spread and the mechanisms of their course depends on how well the body’s defenses. It is rather difficult to transfer bacterial diseases, and their treatment requires mandatory medical supervision. Quite often, such situations end in death without medical intervention.

In this regard, it is recommended to include the following measures in the treatment system for such diseases:

• use of antibiotics. It is thanks to such drugs that bacterial diseases have ceased to bring such a strong threat to human life and health. At the same time, it is necessary to understand that antibiotics are quite potent drugs and can not eliminate all pathogenic bacteria. The use of antibiotics should take place exclusively under the strict supervision of a physician. It is also advisable to understand that antibiotics are effective only in the fight against bacteria, but are powerless in the treatment of viral diseases and other infectious pathogens. Without an accurate diagnosis, antibiotic treatment can significantly worsen a person’s condition;
• keeping a healthy lifestyle and the rules of personal hygiene in everyday life.

Another aspect of the danger of bacterial infections is the fact that they spread very quickly from one organism to another. Despite the fact that bacteria do not multiply in the open air, bacteria take root well when they enter the body.

There are three relevant ways for bacteria to enter the human body:

• bacteria are spread by airborne droplets. Sometimes, even a minimal time of staying with a sick person or a simple conversation with him is enough. If a person coughs at this time, then the risk of infection increases several times.
• the second way bacteria spread is dust. Many forms of bacteria attach themselves to dust particles and remain dormant for a long time until they enter a living organism. Prevention of the dusty way of spreading bacterial diseases is based on compliance with the rules for sanitizing premises that are used by a person for housing or professional activity.
• the third, contact-household method implies the possibility of contracting an infection after direct contact with a patient or as a result of using the same things or household items. In order to avoid such health problems, you need to wash your hands more often, and do it carefully, be sure to use soap.

In order to prevent diseases caused by bacteria, it is necessary to remember about such a phenomenon as the incubation period of the disease. It is characterized as the time for the development of bacteria from the moment they enter the body until the first symptoms of the disease appear. The duration of this period depends on the organ or tissue in which the infection is multiplying, as well as on the development of the body’s defenses.