Germs

Germs are everywhere. They may be small but they are the deadliest killers we humans have encountered. You need a microscope to see them and so it is very important to know the different kinds of germs.

Bacteria

These little germs are 0.5-1.5 micrometres in size. They live in dirty places, like sewers. Millions live in your gut, but do no harm. They practically eat anything, from bits of dead skin to blood. Unfortunately, they make chemicals called toxins which can stop human nerves from working so the victim can’t move. The toxins kill by stopping the victim breathing or disrupting their heartbeat. If they’re warm and well-fed, they multiply by splitting in half. They do these around every 20 minutes.

Viruses

These bad boys are a mere 17-300 nanometres. Viruses have no proper bodies to protect them from the cold or heat so they live in or cells. Viruses don’t eat or breathe, some scientist reckon they’re not even alive! The virus attaches itself to a cell and forces the cell to make copies of the virus. When the cell us worn out and dies the virus goes out and finds another cell. Viruses are often spread by tiny bits of spit we spray out of the mouth each time we cough or sneeze.

Protoza

Protoza look like blobs of colourless jelly,they look like human cells so it is a bit hard to stop them.Most are less than o.5 millimetres across. Often make themselves at home inside other creatures-in places like guts or blood where they can cause disease by making toxins. Different protoza make different diseases, like malaria.