What Are Germs?
The term "germs"
refers to the microscopic bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa that can cause disease.
Washing hands well
and often is the best way to prevent germs from leading to infections and sickness.
What Problems Can Germs Cause?
When germs invade the body, they get ready to stay for a while. These germs draw
all their energy from the host. They may damage or destroy healthy cells. As they
use up your nutrients and energy, they may make proteins known as toxins,
which can help the germ in its mission to destroy.
Germs also activate the immune
system, the network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to protect
the body. Our immune system sends out white blood cells, antibodies, and other chemicals
to rid the body of the invading germs.
The germs, the toxins, and the immune system processes all can lead to the annoying
symptoms of a cold or flu-like infections, such as
sniffles, sneezing, coughing, and diarrhea.
They also can cause a high fever, increased heart rate, low blood pressure, an inflammatory
response in the body, and even life-threatening illness.
How Can I Protect Myself From Germs?
Most germs spread through the air in sneezes or coughs or through body fluids like
sweat, saliva (spit), semen, vaginal fluid, or blood. So limiting contact with them,
when possible, is the best protection against germs.
Remember to:
- Avoid being near people who are sick. If you are sick, stay home.
- Try not to touch your eyes, nose, and mouth.
- If you sneeze or cough, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue, and then throw
it out. If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your elbow, not
your hands.
Hand Washing
Making sure you wash your hands well and often is the best way to stop germs from
causing sickness. It's especially important to wash your hands:
- after coughing or blowing your nose
- after using the bathroom
- before preparing or eating food
- after touching pets or animals
- after gardening
- before and after visiting a sick relative or friend
There's a right way to wash your hands:
- Use water (cold or warm) and plenty of soap.
- Rub your hands together for at least 20 seconds (away from the water).
- Rinse your hands.
- Dry your hands well on a clean towel or air dry.
If soap and water aren't available, use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.
Rub hands together until the sanitizer dries. This should take about 20 seconds.
Food and Kitchen Safety
When working in the kitchen,
wash your hands before you eat or prepare food. Use proper food-handling techniques,
such as:
- using separate cutting boards, utensils, and towels for preparing uncooked meat
and poultry
- using warm, soapy water to clean utensils and countertops
Cleaning Surfaces
Cleaning household surfaces well is also important. Wipe down objects around the
house that get touched a lot, such as toys, doorknobs, light switches, sink fixtures,
and flushing handles on toilets.
Soap and water are fine for cleaning. It's generally safe to use any cleaning agent
that's sold in stores. But avoid using different cleaners or chemical sprays together
because the mix of chemicals can irritate skin and eyes.
You can use household bleach for disinfecting, but always follow the package instructions
when using bleach products.
Safe Sex
Teens who are sexually active should use condoms
to help prevent STDs because
viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoa can spread via oral, anal, or vaginal contact.
Vaccines
Another way to prevent infections from germs is to make sure you have the right
immunizations (or
vaccines), which prepare the body to fight illness. Vaccines contain either a dead
or a weakened germ (or parts of it) that causes a particular disease. When you get
a vaccine, your immune system acts as if there's a real infection. It makes antibodies
that recognize parts of that germ. So if that germ enters your body later, the antibodies
are in place and the body knows how to fight the infection so you won't get sick.
Date reviewed: April 2020