Escola Secundária Joaquim Alberto Chissano

BACTERIAL DISEASES

Names: Leadson Sérgio Jamisse, Number 20

Eugénio Cassimo Massude, Number 11

12th grade
Stream: 21B

Teacher's Name: Da Costa

Maputo

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 September 2021

Table of Contents
1. Introduction.........................................................................................................................................3

2. Bacterial Diseases................................................................................................................................4

2.1 What are bacterial diseases?..............................................................................................................4

2.2. What are the symptoms of bacterial diseases?.............................................................................5

2.3. What causes bacterial diseases?...................................................................................................5

2.4. How are bacterial diseases treated?..............................................................................................6

2.5. What are the possible complications of bacterial diseases?.........................................................6

2.6. How can bacterial infections be prevented?.................................................................................6

3. Conclusion...........................................................................................................................................7

4. Bibliography........................................................................................................................................8

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1. Introduction
Bacteria actually perform many vital functions for organisms and in the environment. However
there is also some that are responsible for diseases that attack all beings living including the
human being.

In this work we will talk about diseases caused by bacteria. We will explain what bacterial
diseases are, what are the symptoms, what causes these diseases, how they are treated and how
we can prevent ourselves.

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2. Bacterial Diseases

2.1 What are bacterial diseases?

Bacterial diseases include any type of illness caused by bacteria. Bacteria are a type of
microorganism, which are tiny forms of life that can only be seen with a microscope. Other types
of microorganisms include viruses, some fungi, and some parasites.

Millions of bacteria normally live on the skin, in the intestines, and on the genitalia. The vast
majority of bacteria do not cause disease, and many bacteria are actually helpful and even
necessary for good health. These bacteria are sometimes referred to as “good bacteria” or
“healthy bacteria.”

Harmful bacteria that cause bacterial infections and disease are called pathogenic bacteria.
Bacterial diseases occur when pathogenic bacteria get into the body and begin to reproduce and
crowd out healthy bacteria, or to grow in tissues that are normally sterile. Harmful bacteria may
also emit toxins that damage the body. Common pathogenic bacteria and the types of bacterial
diseases they cause include:

 Escherichia coli and Salmonella cause food poisoning.

 Helicobacter pylori cause gastritis

 Neisseria gonorrhoeae causes the sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea

 Neisseria meningitidis causes meningitiss.

 Staphylococcus aureuss causes a variety of infections in the body, including

boils, cellulitis

 Streptococcal bacteria cause a variety of infections in the body, including pneumonia

Bacterial diseases are contagious and can result in many serious or life-threatening
complications, such as blood poisoning (bacteremia), kidney failure, and toxic shock syndrome.

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2.2. What are the symptoms of bacterial diseases?

Symptoms of bacterial diseases vary depending on the type of bacterial infection, the area of the
body that is infected, and other factors, such as the patient’s age and health history.

There are some general signs of bacterial infection:

 Fever

 Feeling tired or fatigued

 Swollen lymph nodes

 Headache

 Nausea or vomiting

2.3. What causes bacterial diseases?

A bacterial infection occurs when bacteria enter the body, increase in number, and cause a
reaction in the body. Pathogenic bacteria can enter the body through a variety of means
including:

 Contamination of bites, cuts, rashes, abrasions and other breaks in the skin, gums and
tissues

 Eating  contaminated food

 Getting bitten by an infected insect

 Having sexual contact with an infected person

 Inhaling contaminated air-borne droplets into the nose and lungs

 Sharing needles for tattooing or drug use

 Through the eyes, ears or urethra

 Touching infected feces or body fluids, and not washing your hands before eating or
touching your mouth, eyes or nose.

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2.4. How are bacterial diseases treated?
Bacterial diseases are treated with antibiotics. Antibiotics work by killing the harmful bacteria or
by stopping them from reproducing and spreading. Different types of antibiotics are effective for
treating specific types of bacteria. Antibiotics may be given orally, intravenously, or by
intramuscular injection, depending on the type and severity of bacterial disease and other factors.

2.5. What are the possible complications of bacterial diseases?

It’s important to seek treatment because an untreated bacterial infection can lead to serious
problems. For example, an untreated infected cut can cause cellulitis and a life-threatening
condition called sepsis.
Sepsis (also known as 'septicaemia' or 'blood poisoning') is a serious blood infection that can lead
to shock, organ failure and death if it’s not treated quickly.
Sepsis is always a medical emergency. Seek immediate medical attention if you have any of the
following:.
 fever

 chills

 uncontrolled shaking

 rapid breathing and heart rate

 tiredness

 headaches

2.6. How can bacterial infections be prevented?

Bacterial infections can be highly contagious, so we need to take special care to avoid spreading
infections by washing hands, covering up when sneezing and coughing, and not sharing cups and
drink bottles.

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3. Conclusion

We have to be careful with everything we eat and touch, bacteria are everywhere. Washing
hands and the food we eat is important to prevent diseases. Now that we know the symptoms of
bacterial diseases, we can recognize when we feel bad.

In some cases, bacterial diseases can lead to serious, even life-threatening complications, so it is
important to visit a doctor when we experience symptoms of a bacterial disease.

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4. Bibliography

ROGERS, Kara. Bacterial diseases. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2018. Available in:

https://www.britannica.com/science/bacterial-diseases. Access in: September 13, 2021.

Bacterial diseases. Healthgrades, 2021. Available in:

https://www.healthgrades.com/right-care/infections-and-contagious-diseases/bacterial-diseases.
Access in: September 13, 2021.

Bacterial Infections 101. OnHealth, 2020. Available in:

https://www.onhealth.com/content/1/bacterial_infections. Access in: September 15, 2021.