Germs are microorganisms, or living things, that can cause disease. They are so small that they can only be seen through a microscope. Germs can be found everywhere, including in the air, soil, water, on plants, animals, and on surfaces and objects that we touch. There are four main types of germs: bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa. Some germs are harmless and even helpful, while others can be harmful and cause illness.
Germs can spread in different ways, including through touching a person who has the germs, breathing air after a person with the germs coughs or sneezes, and touching surfaces or objects that have germs on them. Washing hands well and often is the best way to prevent germs from leading to infections and sickness. Doctors can figure out what germs are causing an illness by looking at samples of blood, urine, and other fluids under a microscope or sending these samples to a laboratory for more tests.
