Germs
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Germs (/'dʒɜːrmz/)
Germs are microscopic organisms that can cause disease. They are found virtually everywhere - in air, soil, and water. There are four major types of germs: bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.
Etymology
The term "germ" comes from the Latin word "germen", which means "sprout" or "bud". It was first used in English in the mid-19th century to refer to a microorganism that causes disease.
Types of Germs
- Bacteria (/'bækˈtɪəriə/): These are single-celled organisms that can live in a variety of environments, including extreme heat and cold. Some bacteria are beneficial to humans, while others can cause diseases such as strep throat or food poisoning.
- Viruses (/'vaɪrəsɛz/): Viruses are even smaller than bacteria and require a living host to multiply and survive. They cause diseases ranging from the common cold to more serious illnesses like HIV/AIDS.
- Fungi (/'fʌŋɡaɪ/): Fungi are multi-celled organisms that love warm, damp environments. They can cause skin conditions like athlete's foot or more serious infections, especially in people with weakened immune systems.
- Protozoa (/'proʊtəˈzoʊə/): Protozoa are single-celled organisms that thrive in moist environments and can cause diseases like malaria.
Related Terms
- Pathogen (/'pæθədʒən/): A pathogen is a bacterium, virus, or other microorganism that can cause disease.
- Infection (/ɪnˈfɛkʃən/): An infection occurs when germs enter the body, multiply, and cause illness.
- Disease (/dɪˈziːz/): A disease is a particular abnormal condition that negatively affects the structure or function of all or part of an organism.
- Immune System (/ɪˈmjuːn ˈsɪstəm/): The immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against attacks by "foreign" invaders.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Germs
- Wikipedia's article - Germs
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski