A microbe is a tiny living thing that is too small for us to see. Bacteria and viruses are microbes and can only be seen when magnified under a microscope.
Bacteria are all around us, in the air, in the water and even inside the human body. A single one is known as a bacterium. Most of the bacteria around us are harmless but a few will cause diseases if they enter the human body. Your body can fight bacteria by making antibodies, or the doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
Viruses are much smaller than bacteria and they also cause diseases. Viruses cannot be killed by antibiotics, but vaccination may protect against many of the diseases caused by viruses.
© 2005 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
