Tiny Invaders
En Español
See how your body guards against germs.
Has a cold ever gotten you down? That is no fun. Did your tummy ever feel twisted in knots? What a pain!
When you are sick, you do not feel right. Sometimes you cannot eat. You may feel as though you are burning up. People cannot go to school when sick. That can be fun at first. But it gets boring.
Luckily, your body works hard to keep you well. Read on to find out how.
A WORLD OF GERMS
The germs that make you sick are everywhere. Germs are tiny living things. You cannot see them. Yet they are here. They are sitting on your desk. They are in the air.
Germs get around more than ever. People travel all over. They send things around the world. Germs go along for the ride. Sick people carry germs. The germs hide in food or bags.
FEELING WARMER?
There is another reason germs get around more. Earth is heating up. More places are warm. So animals that seek warmth are moving there.
Mosquitoes are like that. These bugs are moving into new areas. Their bites can carry sickness. One such illness causes fever. Ticks like warmth too. Ticks sit on skin and suck blood. They can spread germs that way. Yuck!
UNDER YOUR SKIN
Skin stops some germs. It blocks some bacteria. Those are a type of germ. Some are good. They help the stomach break down food. Some are not so good. They cause sore throats.
Skin stops some of these tiny attackers. Yet germs can creep into cuts. Bacteria hide in food. They also hang out on dirty hands. So keep dirty hands away from cuts and your face.
FIGHTING BACK
To help fight sickness, wash your hands. Soap and water kill germs. Your immune system fights illness too. That is a team of cells inside you.
Some of those cells patrol your body. They are hungry, and they eat germs! Some stop the trouble germs make. Others make antibodies. They stick to germs. That helps your body find and kill germs.
Antibodies stick around after you get well. If the same germs ever show up again, your antibodies go to work.
GETTING YOUR SHOTS
Getting shots helps your immune system. Shots are filled with dead or weak germs. These germs do not make you sick. But they get your body to make antibodies.
Kids get sick more than adults do. Younger people have not faced as many germs. So kids have fewer antibodies.
Do not worry, though! Your body is working. It may be making antibodies right now. Your skin and immune system are on the job.
Article by Kirsten Weir. Top-of-page photo by © Visuals Unlimited/Corbis. "Tiny Invaders" appears on pages 16-23 of our Nov.-Dec. 2006 issue.
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