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Bacterial Infections in Childhood
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Bacteria (singular bacterium )
are any of a group of microscopic organisms that are prokaryotic ,
which means they lack a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles, which most
other cell types have.
Bacteria are unicellular (one-celled) and
may have spherical (coccus), rodlike
(bacillus), or curved (vibrio, spirillum,
or spirochete) bodies.
Different bacteria inhabit virtually all environments, including soil,
water, organic matter, and the bodies of eukaryotes (multicellular animals).
Some bacteria are known to be beneficial to humans and the higher animals,
for example in the production of buttermilk, yoghurt, cheeses, pickles,
and sauerkraut; in the breaking down of in the human gut; the breakdown of dead organisms and organic wastes,
and so on, while many others are harmful. In fact bacteria are the chief
cause of infectious diseases in humans.
On average, bacteria are about 1 micrometer (0.000039 inch) long and 0.5
micrometer in diameter. Bacteria are by far the most numerous lifeform
on this planet.
The most common bacterial infections in children are the
following:
The information in this page is presented in summarised form and has been taken
from the following source(s):
1.
The Encycloædia Britannica© Online: http://www.britannica.com/
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Introduction
