Bacteria can cause many diseases. They surround us everywhere: at home, at work, on the street, in public transport. To successfully defend yourself, you must recognize the enemy "in person". Know where the pathogens can be. This underlies any effective defensive strategy.
Average level of danger
Your favorite table in the cafe is a true paradise for bacteria. The reason is simple: waiters can wipe it with a dirty rag. If you just took a seat at the table, ask the waitresses at least not to place the cutlery until the table is cleaned.
Peanuts on the bar. In some bars, especially abroad, common nuts are offered to all customers indoors. They are better not to eat! You can not be sure that the guy or girl who sits next to you at the bar and snacks peanuts from one cup, washed their hands after the toilet. Of course, the risk of contracting diarrhea in this case is not great. But it's better to be safe now than to regret later. Especially if you take after meals to reduce acidity. Gastric acid destroys bacteria. And if you reduce the concentration of acid, the pathogens appear more likely to infect you.
Disease-causing bacteria are often found in the aquarium. Therefore, even minor hand injuries are sufficient grounds to refuse to clean the aquarium. After all, you can pick up a painful infection. However, if the cleaning of the aquarium can not be postponed or the filter has to be repaired, wear rubber waterproof gloves.
Disease bacteria can be found in your dog's saliva. Unfortunately, it's true: some dogs eat their feces. Therefore, it will be better if you decide not to kiss the dogs directly in the face anymore. This rule applies to your own dog! This simple warning will help to avoid the risk of infection with fecal bacteria that often cause diarrhea (Escherichia coli, Salmonella or Pasteurella Multocida). Be sure to wash your hands if you have touched objects that the dog held in your mouth.
High level of danger
A button for draining water, door handles and washbasins in public toilets are favorite habitats of pathogenic bacteria. They often inhabit fecal bacteria, including E. coli and Salmonella. The risk of diarrhea is increased if the bacteria enter the mouth within a few minutes (for example, in a cafe or a snack bar). To reduce the risk of infection, close the tap after washing hands with toilet paper. With her help, open the door.
Kitchen sponge. The kitchen sink is an ideal habitat for pathogens. There is always a lot of moisture and food leftovers. When using a sponge for washing dishes and kitchen furniture, dirt and bacteria are carried throughout the room. Therefore, every evening, disinfect the sponge in hot water with a detergent. Better yet, replace it as often as possible.
Public telephone number. You have to pay for a phone call, but a cold or flu is transmitted for free. The handset and frequently used keys are home to viruses and bacteria. If you need to use a public telephone, wipe the handset and keys with disposable disinfecting napkins. And keep the microphone as far as possible from the mouth.
Increased risk level
Sneezing and coughing are a common cause of the spread of the influenza virus in society. However, you can spend hours in a room with a sick friend or girlfriend, and yet not get infected. But with a handshake or any other tactile contact, the risk of catching the flu increases many times. Even an hour after touch, you can feel the first symptoms of the disease. And next day to go to bed. So how can you prevent the spread of the disease? Try, if possible, avoid direct contact with the infected. Do not hesitate to use gauze bandages. And as often as possible, wash your hands.
Shared shower. It's not often to use a common shower, but occasionally it happens. For example, in a hotel during leisure or business trips. When visiting the pool or sauna. During sports events. Attention! On the wet surface is often inhabited by pathogens dermatophytes - various fungal diseases. It's easy to get infected, but it's not easy to be cured at all. Therefore, in any journey, be sure to take rubber slippers and wear them when visiting the shower or steam room. You can use special protective preventive measures.
A kitchen cutting board is a favorite habitat for pathogens. Any board, whether plastic or wood, should be disinfected after each use. In microcracks remain the remains of food, which are the nutrient medium for salmonella or bacteria of E. coli. The most thoroughly disinfected after cutting meat. To reduce the risk of infection, cut the meat and vegetables on separate boards. After each use, treat them with boiling water. The most hygienic kitchen cutting boards from special glass.
Walking on nature with children is often accompanied by communication with local inhabitants. Take care that children do not touch the amphibians! Remember that frogs that live in dirty ponds with standing water are covered with pathogens. Having touched frogs, children can easily bring into the mouth an infection with food - and diarrhea is ensured. Please note that the child does not go hungry during the hike. And after returning home, he washed his hands thoroughly with bactericidal soap.
Where else can you find a pathogenic bacterium? Often, food lovers get infected with mountain trekkers. Especially beginners. When we visit the mountains, it seems to us that the water of the mountain streams is crystal clear. Meanwhile, in these waters live the simplest organisms giardiami. After drinking a sip of water, they can settle in the small intestine, causing nausea and severe diarrhea. The main rule: it does not matter how clean water seems in a river, lake or stream - drinking water should be boiled!
How do different infections affect the body?
The most common infection is through the wounds. If the skin is damaged, do not wash the wound with soap and water. Staphylococcus aureus is the only thing that awaits! Their number doubles every 20 minutes. The organism is protected by attacking staphylococcus with the help of cytokines located in white blood cells. Inflammation usually lasts a few days. But some strains of bacteria cause furuncles, abscesses, fever, low blood pressure.
The common cold is the most common cause of colds. It is very easy to catch the disease. For example, your friend has a runny nose. She automatically wiped her nose. On its hands through the nasal mucosa get pathogenic microbes, which can show activity for several hours. It's enough for her to shake your hand, or hug her in a friendly way, so that the infection gets to you body. To get rid of the virus, the body's immune system produces more mucus. It starts with a cold. The body produces histamine and cytokines, which destroy pathogens. At the same time, the disease can last a week or more. Fortunately, after each infection the body develops immunity. It becomes more resistant to disease.
A very unpleasant and even dangerous disease is diarrhea. Its cause is pathogenic microorganisms. How can they get infected? For example, your colleague at work went to the bathroom. She was in a great hurry and did not wash her hands, leaving the bacteria of Shigella, Salmonella or Escherichia coli. You went to the toilet, washed your hands, but when you exited, they touched the door handle and picked up dangerous bacteria. During lunch, the infection penetrates the body. For example, on one square millimeter of skin can be about 100 thousand microorganisms Shigella. Of course, most bacteria die from saliva, and then from gastric juice. However, some microbes can survive and attack the intestines, causing diarrhea. To defeat bacteria, the body takes about 2 days.
Knowing where to find pathogenic bacteria, you will save yourself and your loved ones from dangerous diseases.