HOW GERMS ENTER THE BODY?

HOW GERMS ENTER THE BODY Despite?

An excellent coat of armor in the form of the skin and defensive mechanisms at body openings, germs do find opportunities for getting into the body. Nose, Throat, and Lungs Many bacteria and viruses gain admission through the nose and throat. 

Microorganisms generally flourish in moisture; and spitting, coughing, and sneezing keep them circulating. A sneeze, as motion pictures show, consists of tiny droplets expelled several feet and carrying with them large numbers of microorganisms. Such diseases as the common cold, pneumonia, tuberculosis, whooping cough, scarlet fever, diphtheria, influenza, and meningitis are spread this way.

They are circulated not only by the out rightly sick but by people who are just "coming down" with a disease and by still others who harbor or "carry" germs without themselves becoming sick.

It is not etiquette alone that demands that you cover nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing. Germs in your nose and throat relish the free ride and opportunity to spread and multiply. Never place in your mouth pencils or any other objects handled by people. 

And as much as possible, avoid crowds during the "sniffle" season and during epidemics. One of the most serious diseases spread by germ inhalation is tuberculosis-and more people have tuberculosis than you may suspect.

The disease does not always reveal itself with outward signs; a healthy-looking individual may have it. Any cough that persists more than six weeks calls for a chest x-ray; and, in fact, everybody should have periodic chest films to exclude tuberculosis. o. Sore throats, colds, and coughs should be treated with rest and plenty of fluids until cured. Prompt care of colds is important as a means of preventing serious complications. 

Colds offer bacteria, especially streptococci and pneumococci, an opportunity to multiply. Physicians have long urged avoidance of excessive physical activity or other stress during a cold or other viral infection because, somehow, stress seems to further complications. In polio-infected patients, for ex- ample, strenuous exercise has seemed to contribute to paralysis. 

Now recent research suggests some reason for the harmful effect of stress. In animal studies, investigators have been able to show that brain and central nervous system viral infections, including polio, are enhanced when animals are given doses of epinephrine (adrenaline) and serotonin.