What threatens us?
that elements of blood protect your body from disease;
that movement and physical exercise help maintain health and fitness;
that for restoring health, rest and healthy food are important.
explain what bacteria and viruses are and what diseases they cause;
explain how to prevent diseases and how to treat them;
describe the significance of positive and negative microorganisms.
Microorganisms
What is disease? Simply put, it is a condition when the body is not healthy, i.e. it does not function properly.There may be many reasons for this, but one of the most common is the effect of harmful microorganismsmicroorganisms called pathogens. Our body can fight them. However, sometimes, for example due to an unhealthy lifestyle, we can not cope with them. Then we are sick.
What are microbes? They are very diverse organisms of small size, usually built from one cell. They can only be seen under a microscope, therefore they are also called microorganisms. We include among them bacteriabacteria and virusesviruses. Bacteria are found all around us: in the earth, in the water, and even in the air. They are often useful – many of them live in the bodies of animals (including us!), facilitating the digestion of foods and the production of vitamins. Some may, however, cause diseases, e.g. angina, otherwise known as pharyngitis. Others, living in the ground, break down dead parts of plants and animals.
Other pathogens are viruses. Many of them are dangerous to us. Viruses have a simple structure, which is why they are subject to frequent and rapid changes. Therefore, combating them is very difficult – sometimes it turns out that effective medicines in one year, by the next year do not work anymore.
We also include some fungi as microorganisms. They cause diseases called fungal infections. Most often these are skin diseases, but some fungi can also affect the lungs.
Some diseases can be caused by various microorganisms. For example, pneumonia may be the result of infection with a certain type of bacteria or viruses. The correct diagnosis of the causes of the disease is very important, because the treatment depends on whether we have to fight bacteria or viruses. Only bacterial diseases are treated with antibioticsantibiotics! In the face of viruses, these drugs are completely ineffective and lead to unnecessary weakening of the body.
Childhood diseases
There are diseases that most of us go through at a young age, we call them childhood diseases. They are usually caused by viruses and have one thing in common: after a single illness, the body is immune to them for life! Despite this, children are vaccinated for some of these diseases because after vaccinationvaccination the symptomssymptoms are milder. Children's diseases are troublesome but not dangerous for people at an early age, it can be worse if they happen to an adult.
Name of the disease | symptomssymptoms | Comments |
measles | fever, fatigue, coughing and a rash in the form of blistering clusters | In weakened and undernourished children, it can lead to pneumonia and heart inflammation. |
Chickenpox | rash in the form of single, itching pimples and fever | There are complicationscomplications, eg. dizziness. |
mumps | painful swelling of the salivary glands and fever | Meningitis may occur. |
rubella | slight fever and a small rash | It is not dangerous for children, but when the virus gets into the body of a pregnant woman, there may be complications in the fetus. |
The symptom of which of the following diseases is a rash?
- flu
- pneumonia
- rubella
- Chickenpox
Summary
Many diseases are caused by harmful microorganisms (eg bacteria and viruses).
Diseases caused by bacteria are treated with antibiotics.
Some bacteria are useful for us and the environment.
Diseases transmitted at a young age are called childhood diseases.
Keywords
disease, bacteria, virus
Glossary
antybiotyk – lek, którym leczy się infekcje wywołane przez bakterie; nieskuteczny w przypadku chorób wirusowych
bakteria – najmniejszy żywy organizm jednokomórkowy; niektóre z bakterii mogą powodować choroby
drobnoustrój – mikroorganizm – organizm widoczny jedynie pod mikroskopem, najczęściej jednokomórkowy; niektóre z nich mogą być pożyteczne, a inne – chorobotwórcze
objawy – oznaki, po których można rozpoznać rodzaj choroby, np. kaszel, katar gorączka, ból itp.
powikłania – choroby lub dolegliwości, które powstają na skutek innych chorób lub na przykład operacji
szczepienie – podanie preparatu, dzięki któremu organizm staje się niewrażliwy na daną chorobę
wirus – zbudowany z białek czynnik chorobotwórczy; wirusy nie są organizmami żywymi, ale mogą się namnażać w ciele roślin i zwierząt