Categories of Infectious agents:
Bacteria
Viruses
Fungi
Protozoa
Helminths
- One-celled organisms
- Not all bacteria are harmful
- Some bacteria live in your body and are actually good for you
A few diseases caused by bacteria include:
- Strep throat
- Tuberculosis
- Urinary Tract Infection
Much smaller than cells, capsules containing genetic material. They invade -hijack body cells eventually destroying host cells A few diseases caused by viruses include:
- AIDS
- Common cold
- Ebola hemorrhagic fever
- Genital herpes
- Influenza
- Measles
- Smallpox
Please note, antibiotics have no effect on viruses.
There are good and bad fungi Examples of good edible fungi are mushrooms, mold forming in some cheeses and yeast. A few diseases caused by Fungi:
- Candida
- Thrush
- Skin problems such as athlete’s foot
- Ringworm
Are single cell organisms that use other living things for food. Many protozoa live in your intestinal tract. Protozoa often spend part of their life cycle outside of humans or other hosts Live in food, soil, water or insects Invade your body through the food you eat, water you drink or insect bites A few diseases caused by Protozoa:
- Malaria
- Toxoplasmosis
- Malaria (transmitted by mosquitoes)
Among larger parasites Derived from the Greek word for “worm” If this parasite-or its egg- enters your body, it takes up residence in your intestinal track, lungs Liver, skin or brain where it lives off the nutrients in your body A few diseases caused by Helminths:
Hand washing is one of the easiest and most effective ways to protect you from germs and many infections.