Are you always sick? Let's learn about these pathogens that make us sick!

Whether you just have a cold or a stomach ache, we often say, "There must be some germs." What exactly are these 'germs'? Simply put, any microorganism that enters our bodies and causes disease is called a pathogen, or in English, a `pathogen.' Although we can't see them, there are plenty of them all around us. So, today we're going to talk about these pathogens, how they work, and how to stay healthy from them.

Who are these pathogens?

When we think of pathogens, most people think of viruses and bacteria. But there are actually many different types of pathogens. Our world is full of these microorganisms. Scientists say that there are more viruses on Earth than there are stars in the entire universe. But don't worry, only a very small number of these microorganisms harm our health . Some even help us.

These are the main types of pathogens that cause us diseases.

How do these pathogens make us sick?

There are subtle differences in the way these pathogens enter our bodies and work. Let's look at two main ways.

1. Facultative pathogens: Think about it, these types of people can live and reproduce inside your body, and they can also live in the outside environment, like on a doorknob, on a table, etc. So it's a little difficult to avoid them.

2. Obligate pathogens: These must have a host with a living cell like you to infect them. They cannot survive and infect themselves in the environment. All viruses belong to this group.

Also, some pathogens need an intermediary to pass from one host to another. For example, the dengue virus enters our bodies through a mosquito. Here, the mosquito is the intermediary.

That is, when a pathogen enters the body, they damage our cells and produce toxins. Sometimes our own immune system goes to fight this pathogen, damaging our own healthy cells as well.

How are pathogens transmitted?

This is something we all know, but don't think about much. Pathogens are spread through our own daily habits.

• Through hands: When you sneeze or cough, you put your hand to your mouth. Then you open the door with that same hand, touch a wire on the bus, or shake someone else's hand. Then the pathogens on your hands can easily be transferred to other places and to other people.
• Through food: When you prepare or eat food with dirty hands, pathogens can enter your body. Also, if you eat raw vegetables and fruits that are not washed properly, or if you eat undercooked meat and fish, pathogens can enter your body.
• Through animals: If you don't wash your hands properly after handling a pet, you can pass on parasites and bacteria to us. Animals like rats and cockroaches also spread many diseases.
• Through water: Drinking dirty, untreated water can transmit diseases like cholera and typhoid, as well as pathogens that cause severe diarrheal conditions like giardiasis and cryptosporidium.

Cases requiring special attention

Imagine that you are going to clean an old house, a warehouse, or a place like a "wee-bin" that has been closed for a while. There may be rats in such places. Their dead bodies and urine may be mixed with dust. Inhaling this dust can lead to infection with a dangerous virus like hantavirus . Therefore , before entering such a place, it is very important to open the doors and windows well for at least 30 minutes to get air .

So how do you protect yourself from these people?

This is the most important part. There are some simple, yet very effective things we can do to protect ourselves from pathogens.

• Wash your hands often: This is the first and most important thing . Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds before preparing food, before eating, after using the toilet, after changing a baby's nappy, after handling an animal, and as soon as you return home from the outdoors.
• Use hand sanitizer: When soap and water are not available, you can use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol . Those with a lower alcohol content may not kill germs as well.
• Food safety: Wash vegetables and fruits thoroughly. Cook meat, fish, and eggs thoroughly. Keep cooked and raw foods separate.
• Drink clean water: Always drink boiled or purified water. Especially when hiking or in the forest, if you drink water from a stream, be sure to sanitize it before drinking.
• When coughing or sneezing: Cover your mouth and nose with your elbow or a tissue. If using a tissue, throw it in the trash immediately.
• If you are sick: Stay home as much as possible. This will help prevent you from spreading your illness to others.

Are all microbes bad? No, there are some that help us!

There's no need to be afraid of a microbe. We only call it a 'pathogen' if it causes disease. There are many harmless microbial friends who help us.

• Good bacteria: There are trillions of helpful bacteria in your gut. They help us digest the food we eat, make some vitamins, and protect us from bad bacteria. These good bacteria are found in things like skim milk and yogurt.
• Helpful fungi: Yeast, which is used to make bread, is a fungus. The mushrooms we eat are also fungi. Similarly, the antibiotic penicillin, which changed the world, is made from the fungus Penicillium notatum.
• Helper viruses: This may sound a bit strange. Scientists are now using viruses to treat some diseases. It's called gene therapy . What they do is they remove the disease-causing part of the virus and replace it with good genetic information (DNA) that is needed to cure the disease. Then the virus enters our cells and delivers that good gene to our cells. It's like a delivery service that carries medicine. This is being used in research to treat diseases like cancer and heart disease.

So, pathogens are a part of our lives. If you are aware of them and follow good health habits, it is not that difficult to stay healthy and avoid them. If you are getting frequent infections or have any doubts about any symptoms, be sure to consult your doctor .

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