Posted: May 26, 2010 12:08 am
generalsemanticist wrote:
Please tell me your doctor is not responsible for your health. We are all responsible for our own health. Dr. Malik makes a valid point. Disease is a result of a number of factors, not merely the presence of a pathogen. We are exposed to them continuously so why are we not sick all the time?
Let's not conflate arguments. The assertion above, i.e. Bacteria or for the matter of fact any germ is not the cause of disease. It's the environment which plays the decisive role is wrong.
Yes, there are many bacteria, viruses and parasites that are non-pathogenic to us humans. Many microorganisms live with us symbiotically (for ex. those in our digestive tract). Some of those non-pathogenic microorganisms may become harmful and produce disease if the host is immunosuppressed (a status that may or may not depend on taking care of one's health). Or, these microorganisms may be harmful to certain humans born with genetic conditions.
But there are a myriad microorganisms that will infect, sicken and kill the host if no treatment is given to control the infection -- no matter how healthy the host may have been until then.