With the spread of Omnicron, one of the variants of Covid-19, it is hard not to put every sniffle or tummy ache down to having the virus.

This is essentially because, even though most of us who have been able to be vaccinated, have done so, most countries are having thousands of cases per day still with many deaths still being reported from the virus.

Read more here about the virus 

Omicron infections are considered to be 91 percent less fatal than the Delta variant, with 51 percent less risk of hospitalisation. Read more here

But how do you tell the difference between a virus and bacteria?

Bacteria and viruses are everywhere. There are on the escalator hand rail as you go upstairs in the shopping mall, or on the petrol pump handle as you re-fuel your car.

They may not be visible with the human eye, but they are everywhere in enormous numbers.

Micro organisms live harmlessly on, and in our bodies, they out number human cells by ten to one.

They are known to play a vital role in human health.

Both bacteria and viruses are invisible to the naked eye and can cause a runny nose, fever or cough, so how can we tell the difference?

With bacteria rapidly developing resistance to antibiotics, it is increasingly important that we know the distinction, because viruses cannot be treated with antibiotics, nor bacteria with anti-virals.

Quick effective testing is important, so we can successfully treat the offending micro organism.

Read more here

COVID-19 is still teaching us the hard way. We have no treatment for a new virus until we have anti-viral drugs and vaccines that specifically target against the virus.

Viruses have gained the ability to move between cells. They may be descendants of previously free-living organisms that adapted a parasitic replication strategy.

Perhaps viruses existed before, and led to the evolution of cellular life.

Is a common cold a virus or bacteria?

The common cold is considered a viral infection of your nose and throat or your upper respiratory tract.

Most healthy adults can expect to have two or three colds each year.

Cold’s are usually harmless, although it might not feel that way. There are also many types of viruses that can cause a common cold.

Bacterial and viral infections have many things in common.

Both types of infections are caused by microbes – bacteria and viruses, respectively and can spread easily.

Harmful microbes account for less than 1% of bacteria,– read more here

How they spread

•  Through coughing and sneezing.

• By having contact with infected people, especially close contact.

• In touching contaminated surfaces, food, and water.

• By having contact with infected animals, including pets, livestock, and insects such as fleas and ticks.

The Microbes can also cause acute infections, which are usually short-lived.

But they can also cause chronic infections, which can last for many months or even a lifetime.

They could be “latent” infections, which may not cause symptoms at first, but can reactivate over a period of months and years.

Most importantly, bacterial and viral infections, can cause mild, moderate, and severe diseases. Read more here

Norovirus- the vomiting bug

Norovirus is another nasty virus that can spread quickly.

It is often known as the “winter vomiting bug!”

A sore tummy and chills, and headache are often felt for days.

You might have touched an infected object like a handrail, or it might have been left in your immediate air space after somebody sneezed.

I guess the main thing we can all do is to not “overthink” everything.

Doctor Google is the “go to” for many of us at the moment with our health systems being overloaded.

It is very important to be aware of good health routines like washing our hands and mask wearing during the Pandemic when we are out and about especially in crowded places.

We need to also be proactive if we feel unwell, or have a high temperature, and seek the right help.

Vaccines are important too as they are a substance that is introduced into the body to stimulate the body’s immune response. They are given to prevent an infectious disease from developing and the person becoming ill.

Read more about vaccination here

“It is health that is real wealth and not gold or silver”

©2022 gentlelifehacks.com|Author| KC