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๐Ÿซ€ My body and food ๐Ÿฉบ Health

Illness

Illnesses are either infectious or non-infectious. The girl in the picture (right) has chickenpox, an infectious disease. Such diseases are caused by germs that invade the body. The second picture (left) shows a patient being treated for a non-infectious kidney disease.
Illnesses are either infectious or non-infectious. The girl in the picture (right) has chickenpox, an infectious disease. Such diseases are caused by germs that invade the body. The second picture (left) shows a patient being treated for a non-infectious kidney disease.

๐Ÿ“– In short

Illness is when the body is tired or isn't working well. Some illnesses are mild, like a cold, and some are serious and need long treatment. But the good news is that your body is strong and can fight many illnesses, and doctors know how to treat many of them.

๐Ÿคฉ Did you know?

  • A small pinch of soil can hold more than 100 million bacteria, most of them harmless.
  • More than 100 kinds of virus cause colds.
  • Scientists have found illnesses we know today in Egyptian mummies.
  • Not all germs are harmful: some live in our intestines and help us.

๐Ÿ”Ž Find out more

๐ŸŒŸ Illnesses that spread

Some illnesses are caused by tiny germs we can't see, like bacteria and viruses. They pass from person to person through sneezes, touch or dirty food, like colds and flu.

๐Ÿ” Illnesses that don't spread

Some illnesses aren't catching, like heart disease and diabetes. They can come from the way we eat and too little exercise, or be passed down in families.

๐Ÿ’ก How do we protect ourselves?

Wash your hands with soap and water, cover your mouth when you sneeze, eat healthy food, sleep well, play and move, and get the vaccines the doctor gives you.

๐ŸŽฏ When you're ill

Tell your parents if you feel unwell, rest, drink water, and don't take any medicine unless a grown-up gives it to you or the doctor says so.

๐Ÿ“ธ More pictures

Diseases can disable children and even kill them. With medicines like antibiotics, doctors can treat patients and even protect them from serious diseases, saving millions of lives every year.
Diseases can disable children and even kill them. With medicines like antibiotics, doctors can treat patients and even protect them from serious diseases, saving millions of lives every year.
How infectious diseases spread: most are contagious, which means they pass from person to person. The microscopic living things that cause disease are called pathogens, and they spread in three main ways: 1- people 2- animals, especially insects 3- non-living sources.
How infectious diseases spread: most are contagious, which means they pass from person to person. The microscopic living things that cause disease are called pathogens, and they spread in three main ways: 1- people 2- animals, especially insects 3- non-living sources.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful joint disorder and one of the most common chronic degenerative diseases. Such diseases gradually damage fibers or organs. The X-ray shows the hand of someone with rheumatoid arthritis.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a painful joint disorder and one of the most common chronic degenerative diseases. Such diseases gradually damage fibers or organs. The X-ray shows the hand of someone with rheumatoid arthritis.

๐Ÿงฉ Test yourself

1 How can you stop germs spreading?

2 What do you do if you feel ill?

3 A small pinch of soil can hold more than ?? million bacteria, most of them harmless.

4 Which picture shows โ€œIllnessโ€?

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