This the final post in our short series about microbes, and with particular reference to viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and helminths. We now understand where they come from, and more importantly how they get inside us. Now it’s time to understand how microbes make us sick, as the first step to getting well again.
How Microbes Make Us Sick, But Not All of Us
The National Center for Biological Information (NCBI) believes infection does not necessarily lead to disease, after microbes enter our body. Disease typically only affects a small percentage of infected people. And when it does, it’s a sign certain body cells suffered damage and symptoms may follow.
Our immune system immediately gets to work to destroy the invading microbes. Troops of white blood cells, antibodies, and other mechanisms spring into action. But they may cause some collateral damage in the process. However, when microbes like SARS-Cov-2 virus make us sick with fever, rashes, headaches and other symptoms, at least we know our body is fighting back.
How the Microbe Pathogens Counter Attack
The microbes are under threat when our immune system creates a fever, because they cannot replicate at that higher temperature. Our bodies may also send in troops of antibodies able destroy the microbes outright. However, the micro-organisms may have already multiplied in large numbers, and start killing cells and tissues outright.
Microbes can make us sick, in fact very ill indeed. We don’t have the medicines to destroy the virus causing COVID-19 yet. Our doctors can only treat the symptoms while the ‘germ warfare’ rages on inside us. Our immune system will keep upgrading its defenses as long as we have breath.
People are dying from COVID-19 in almost every city of the world. As we write on August 21, 2020, the global death toll is 797,105 people. We understand that’s ‘only’ an average 3.5% of cases. Let’s try our best to ensure the next one is not someone whom we love.
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Preview Image: Bacteria Infecting Tissues
