How can you teach children to fight germs?
If your kids love playing in the dirt, getting dirty and being with their friends even when not feeling well, and do not know what to do to understand the risks that may involve, here are some recommendations for you to tell them why is important to maintain health and fight germs that can make them sick.
We live surrounded by germs. Both animals, like plants and objects all around us is full of germs. Even our own bodies contain germs that are often needed to maintain good health. But not all germs are healthy, some are responsible for illnesses ranging from some that may be mild, known as the cold, to others that may be severe and even fatal.
But what are the germs?, Are they all the same?, Can we see with the naked eye? Germs are living organisms of different types, which can only be seen using a microscope (are tiny) and can cause us sick. Maybe that’s why you find it so difficult for children to understand that something they do not see can hurt them. But yes, there are four different types of germs: viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites or protozoa.
Viruses are microorganisms that live, grow and reproduce in the body of humans or animals and can survive for a short time out of a living being. For example, can remain on the surface of a table or a toilet seat or infected body fluids, but if they can not infect another host (person or animal), they die quickly. After entering the body, the virus can multiply rapidly and cause disease. Are responsible for some minor, such as colds or colds, and other more serious, such as smallpox or AIDS.
Bacteria, in turn, are organisms consisting of a single cell (that are said to be unicellular) that obtain nutrients from the surrounding environment, which may be your body, your child or that of another living being. While some bacteria are good for the body, as for example, help the digestive system work properly, others can cause problems, like cavities, urinary tract infections or sore throat.
The fungi, however, are multicellular organisms (ie, are composed of multiple cells) are similar to plants that obtain nutrients from plants, food and animals in damp, warm environments. Generally, they present no threat to a healthy person, but sometimes they can cause infections. Two of the most common are: athlete’s foot and yeast infections such as diaper rash.
Finally, the parasites are unicellular organisms that reproduce in wet environments. They can cause infections such as intestinal infections and other diseases. It is often spread through contaminated water.
The only way to avoid transmission of diseases through germs is to stay away from them. The germs are spread through bodily fluids of people who already have them, or who is already infected. For example, when someone has a cold sneezes or coughs. Therefore it is important to remind your children to be covered (capped) the nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing, if possible with a tissue (then dispose of it) or inside the elbow to avoid infecting others .
Also, sometimes the germs stay on surfaces (some viruses and bacteria can live from 20 minutes to 2 hours or longer on surfaces like cafeteria tables and desks) and when someone touches them and then puts his hand the mouth or nose (ie, touch the face), can enter your body and make the person sick. So it is so important to wash hands thoroughly.
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