Acquired active immunity the child receives. General information about immunity. Vaccines, serums, gamma globulins
Immunity -it is the body’s immunity to infectious agents and foreign substances. Such agents are most often microbes and the toxins they emit, toxins. Immunity to infectious diseases manifests itself in several forms. Distinguish between natural and artificial immunity.
Natural Immunity arises naturally without conscious human intervention. It can be congenital and acquired.
Congenital speciesimmunity is due to the innate properties of a person or a given species of animal that is inherited. So, it is known that a person does not suffer from the plague of cattle and cholera chickens, but they do not suffer from typhoid or typhus.
Acquired Immunity arises in case of an infectious disease. After some diseases it persists for a long time, sometimes for the rest of its life (smallpox, typhoid fever, etc.), and after others it lasts briefly (flu).
Artificial Immunity is created by administering vaccines or serums to prevent infectious diseases. It is always acquired.
Immunity can be active and passive.
Active Immunity is produced in the body in an active way as a result of the transmission of an infectious disease or after vaccine administration.
Passive immunity occurs after the introduction of serum containing specific antibodies into the body, or by transferring antibodies from mother to fetus through the placenta. It is known that children in the first months of life have passive immunity to measles, scarlet fever, diphtheria if the mother is immune to these diseases.
The duration of active immunity can be from six months to 5 years, and after some diseases (smallpox, typhoid fever) immunity can last for a lifetime. Passive immunity lasts for 2-3 weeks after the administration of serum, and when antibodies are obtained through the placenta, up to several months.
Immunity is provided by protective mechanisms that prevent the penetration of pathogenic agents into the body, and if they penetrate, they cause their death. Such mechanisms include the protective properties of the skin, mucous membranes, the bactericidal effect of saliva, tears, gastric and intestinal juices, the body's lymphoid system.
Vaccines (from the Latin. Vaccinus - cow) - these are preparations derived from microbes, viruses and their metabolic products and are used for active immunization of people and animals with preventive and therapeutic purposes.
The beginning of the immunization was laid by the English doctor E. Jenner, who in 1796 vaccinated vaccinia to the child, after which he developed immunity to smallpox.
A great contribution to the development of vaccination was made by French scientist Louis Pasteur, who developed methods for reducing the virulence of microbes and created vaccines against rabies and anthrax. Russian scientist N.F. Gamaley established the possibility of creating chemical vaccines, as well as vaccines from dead germs.
Modern medicine has vaccines against many dangerous infectious diseases (plague, cholera, tuberculosis, diphtheria, anthrax, tularemia, tetanus, smallpox, polio, influenza, encephalitis, mumps, etc.)
Vaccines are divided into live, killed, toxoids and chemicals. For the preparation of live vaccines, strains of pathogenic microbes with weakened virulence are used, i.e. deprived of the ability to cause the disease, but retained the properties to multiply in the body of the vaccinated and cause a benign vaccine process (BCG - vaccine against tuberculosis, anti-Brucellosis vaccine, against viral hepatitis A, etc.). Live vaccines provide strong immunity.
Killed vaccines are obtained by heating bacteria and viruses, other physical effects (ultraviolet or ionizing radiation), by treating with chemicals (phenol, alcohol solutions, formalin). Killed vaccines are most often administered subcutaneously or intramuscularly (against intestinal infections, whooping cough, therapeutic vaccine against brucellosis).
Chemical vaccines are prepared by extracting from the microbial bodies of the main antigens with immunogenic properties (polyvaccine)
Vaccines can be administered in different ways: intramuscularly (measles), subcutaneously (typhoid fever, paratyphoid fever, dysentery, cholera, plague, etc.), dermal (smallpox, tularemia, tuberculosis, anthrax), into the nose (flu) or through the mouth ( polio).
Routine vaccination is carried out in a specific sequence. Thus, newborns receive a vaccine against tuberculosis (BCG), then children are vaccinated against diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough, and later against measles and polio. Routine vaccination of the population allowed to eradicate such infectious diseases as smallpox, plague, and tularemia. The incidence of other infectious diseases is reduced by tens and hundreds of times.
Immune sera are blood products of animals or humans that contain antibodies. Used for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of various diseases. After the introduction of immune serum, passive immunity occurs, which persists for up to 3-4 weeks. The introduction of immune serum is carried out according to the method of A.M. Frequently, which allows the body to desensitize: first, 0.1 ml is subcutaneously injected, after 30 minutes - 0.2 ml, and after 1-2 minutes the rest of the serum is injected intramuscularly.
The human body is endowed with the ability to get rid of objects alien to him and harmful to health through the immune system.
Alien agents are very contagious, they can cause all sorts of infectious diseases (hereinafter, the abbreviation IZ will be used).
An infection is transmitted (literally: “contagion”) by penetrating into our human system viruses known to us, or bacteria, or all kinds of fungi. Protection measures against IZ - individual immune protection, vaccinations, hygiene, quarantine during epidemics.
And now let's find out what immunity occurs after an infectious disease .
What is immune protection?
Contagious diseases affect both children and adults. At any age, a person can pick up the "baby" sore, if he passed it in childhood. Travelers or people who have moved to other countries are at risk of being infected by “local” infections due to the lack of immunity inherent in them.
Scientists have developed a vaccine against a large number of contagious diseases. in order to enhance immunoprotection against the causative agent (s) OF. Children are strongly advised to be vaccinated in order to avoid the terrible consequences for their lives from the transferred IZ.
Since birth, a person has a natural passive immunity. It protects against most infections, including infection with diseases inherent in animals, and is genetically assigned to humans.
Congenital immunity is maintained until the child reaches the age of 1-12 months , while the baby is applied to the breast, then weakens in relation to infections that are harmful to humans. Human immunity to infection from a sick animal remains for life if they are not the carriers of “human” strains.
After receiving the appropriate vaccine, a person develops an artificial active immune immunity to a certain type of infection. After receiving the appropriate vaccine, a person develops an artificial, active immune immunity. to a certain type of infection. If someone is vaccinated and “manages” to become infected, he will easily endure acute illnesses, without complications, and will recover faster than a patient who has not been vaccinated.
If a person has some disease, after the transmission of an infectious disease, immunity arises, which is referred to as naturally active or acquired.
Explanation of the name:
- natural - protection has been formed in natural conditions without previous vaccination;
- active – the immune system remembered the antigen, the protection is in the "standby mode" and will work as soon as the alien object enters the body again;
- acquired – a person acquires immunity on their own, without the help of vaccinations or serums.
Mechanism of action: B-lymphocytes “memorize” the antigen code (a foreign agent that caused an IZ), and when it re-enters the body, the production of antibodies immediately begins. The incubation period is eliminated and the person avoids reinfection, since the NK cells responsible for protection kill the causative agent immediately.
When people become infected with an infection (without being vaccinated by it), serum is administered to them during treatment and a person appears during the course of the disease. temporary immunity - artificial passive.
Why temporary? Recovered people cannot become infected again only during the period that artificially injected antibodies will live.
The organism had neither the ability nor the time to “remember” the antigen, naturally, the cells responsible for identifying the foreign agent did not have time to form, therefore there is no immunity.
Types and Validity
Immunity acquired after the flu, unstable - only 1-2 years After an illness, acquired immunoprotection by the resistant is not from all infectious pathogens. For example, flu is an acute viral infection that can repeatedly return, especially during epidemics . It is dangerous in its kind, that is: a person has acquired immunity after transferring a type A viral infectious disease, after a month infection with influenza occurs, only type B virus (types [strains] are indicated by convention).
Of course, recovered people have acquired active protection for the season against type A and B influenza, but next time the pathogen of another class may “come”, for example, type AB or C (conditionally), because the virus is able to mutate, adapting to other conditions. Because of this ability of the flu, medical opinion has been divided on the rationality of vaccinations against it.
Diseases, after which a durable immunity is formed for life: rubella, mumps, hepatitis A, measles, polio, chicken pox.
Immune duration
As said above in people who have recovered from contagious diseases, the immune system produces a barrier against a specific pathogen: persistent, unstable, or lifelong. Below is a list of its duration.
- rubella - persistent, lifelong;
- whooping cough - unstable, you can get sick again;
- measles - until the end of life;
- mumps - resistant, isolated cases of recurrent disease;
- hepatitis B - long, unstable;
- hepatitis A is lifelong;
- influenza, including rotavirus - unstable, 12-36 months;
- diphtheria - durable;
- tetanus - immunoprotection does not develop;
- tuberculosis - unstable or not at all;
- polio - persistent, for life;
- typhoid fever is not strong enough;
- dysentery - short-term;
- encephalitis - persistent, long-term;
- rabies - not produced.
The data are average., since the acquired immune protection of an organism can vary greatly in different people in duration or stamina due to various factors.
The information is presented for the purpose of familiarization, only doctors can advise on immunoprotection.
Conclusion
Types and forms of immunity Briefly summarizing the above information about what kind of immunity arises after the transfer of an infectious disease, the answer will be as follows: recovered after an infectious disease, a person receives a natural, active, acquired immunity.
He might be long term (more than 10 years) either short term (from one month to several years), persistent or not resistant to re-infection . Due to the etymology of some pathogens of infectious diseases, immunity is not developed.
Congenital self-defense is strong enough. Its main task is to protect the body from many insidious ailments. However, pathogenic microorganisms are able to mutate, and stressful situations, avitaminosis, hormonal surges simplify their way into the organism of the individual. Immunity (immunity) after vaccination is produced in a relatively short period of time, reliably reflects the attack of pathogens of various infections.
Basic rules for vaccination
Immediately, we note that vaccination is carried out only after performing an immunological blood test for the presence (absence) of antibodies. On the basis of the findings, the individual characteristics of the organism, the physicians decide on the feasibility of grafting.
When deciding on vaccination, it is important to consider:
- First of all, only those vaccinations are made that will help produce the missing antibodies.
- Secondly, vaccination is carried out strictly for medical reasons.
- ThirdlyThe child should not be vaccinated if he is unwell or weak.
- Fourth, kids are not vaccinated in the presence of diathesis.
- Fifth, on the day of vaccination (before and especially after the procedure), the state of health of the person being vaccinated (vaccinated) should be closely monitored.
Flu protection
After flu vaccination, the period of self-defense is small, about a year. This is due to the annual variability of strains (varieties) of the virus. The development of a protective mechanism — specific antibodies — is sufficiently extended and depends on the type of vaccine. How long does the average last? 8 to 30 days. The ideal time for its holding is September-December. Vaccination is allowed during the epidemic. It is important to consider that before the development of immunity, it is necessary to carry out prevention with other pharmaceutical agents, for example, rimantadine (Rimantadine).
Children (especially often catching up colds) and tots to the age of three years are grafted in 2 stages. The interval between vaccinations should be 3-4 days of the week. Which vaccine has anti-flu properties? Excellent proven:
- Grippol Plus (Grippol Plus);
- Vaxigrip;
- Begrivac;
- Fluarix (Fluarix).
Please note that the child should not be vaccinated in case of intolerance to any of the components of the drug, exacerbation of chronic ailments, and the presence of a respiratory infection.
Measles protection
Measles can prevail in any age range. Among those who have not been vaccinated, children of 1-5 years are more likely to suffer. Until the age of one, children are much less susceptible to infection, since they have passive immunity, inherited from their mother. If measles is bypassed by mommy, then the little tot can catch it in the first months of its life.
Small children (up to 7 years old) are vaccinated against measles twice and the total time of its activity lasts approximately 5-5.5 years. The first time is at one-year-one and a half years old, and the second is shortly before the child starts attending school. Specific protection can be developed for 15 days.
For adults, the period of body resistance after vaccination is about 20 years. Doctors note that this does not mean that measles does not threaten 100%, but the chances of catching it are scanty.
Monovaccines can be used that include only a component against measles, for example, Ruvax (Rouvax). The most commonly used combination drugs are the Russian parotitis-measles vaccine or MMP II (USA), Priorix (UK), which includes measles + rubella + mumps.
Vaccination for the past 200 years is an integral part of the formation of immunity. The founder of the vaccine era is considered to be the English Dr. E. Jenner. Having a sharp wit and insight, he noticed that the milkmaids, who had been ill with cowpox, no longer got sick with black smallpox. Having no idea about the mechanism of immunity, he was able to create a vaccine that determined the future of mankind.
Jenner’s successor was Frenchman Louis Pasteur with his rabies vaccine. Modern immunology has a wide range of vaccines against many diseases. It is impossible to imagine what would become if vaccination was stopped. The generation of the 21st century is no longer afraid of measles and whooping cough, mumps, and polio. Vaccination provides the ability to create specific immunity without infection.
Vaccine concept
Vaccines are immune preparations of biological nature. Their introduction aims to create an artificial, active, specific immunity for the prevention of infections. Vaccination allows you to get immunity without getting sick. In some cases, with a reduced immune status, the disease process still starts, but at the same time the disease is mild.
In order for a vaccine to be approved for use, it must be:
- Safe - the most important and significant property of any vaccine. First of all, vaccines are carefully monitored for the production process and their use. The vaccine is recognized as safe only in the absence of serious complications after its administration to people;
- Protective - capable of long-term stimulation of the specific protective potential of the organism against a particular pathogen;
- Immunostimulating - aimed at activating the formation of neutralizing antibodies and the production of effector T-lymphocytes;
- Highly immunogenic, which consists in the induction of intense immunity with a long, often lifelong effect;
- Able to maintain the duration of immunological memory;
- Biologically stable during transportation;
- Stable and unchanging, living its shelf life;
- Low cost and reactogenicity;
- Simple and convenient in the introduction.
The vaccine, which includes all the items listed, is ideal and preferred for use.
Among the adverse events of vaccination are the following:
- Vaccine reactions - inadequately manifested short-term response of the body to the vaccine, which occurs immediately in the form of local reactions, such as redness of the skin and its swelling, common reactions - headache, temperature. This condition lasts up to 7 days;
- Post-vaccination complications are pathological processes that are not characteristic of the typical post-vaccination condition. Such effects after the vaccine occur are delayed. These include allergic reactions that appear on the introduction of the drug itself, suppurative processes for violations of the rules of asepsis, exacerbation of chronic diseases and the addition of a new infection.
Types of vaccines
There are many types of vaccines, which differ depending on the origin and mechanism of action. The main types of vaccines are:
- Live or attenuated are those whose biological activity is not suppressed, however, the ability to cause diseases is greatly reduced. Such vaccines are produced on the soil of weakened, but living, strains of microorganisms, in which virulence is reduced and immunogenic properties are preserved. Live vaccines include prophylactic measures against influenza and rubella, measles and mumps, polio, plague, tularemia and brucellosis, anthrax, and smallpox. Live vaccine is called BCG - Bacillus Calmette - Guerin, it is administered to all newborns. Immunity is created after the BCG vaccination, however, revaccination is necessary for its persistence and preservation;
- Killed or inactivated - those whose biological origin was suppressed. Such vaccines include many varieties — a corpuscular, chemical, conjugate vaccine, a split subvirionic, subunit, recombinant genetically engineered subunit vaccine;
- Corpuscular is obtained from whole viruses, in a different way whole-virion (anti-influenza and anti-herpes, against tick-borne encephalitis) or from bacteria - whole-cell (anti-sliver, cholera, against leptospirosis, against typhoid fever). Since this is a type of inactivated vaccine, its biological abilities for growth and reproduction are absent. Simply put, these vaccines are nothing more than whole bacteria or viruses that have been inactivated by chemical or physical influence while preserving protective antigens. Such vaccines are well associated, stable, highly reactive and safe. They can not cause diseases, but they can cause sensitization and provoke allergic reactions;
- Chemical - a kind of killed vaccines, whose substances isolated from bacterial biomass, have a certain chemical structure. The advantage of such vaccines is a reduction in the number of ballast particles, as well as a decrease in reactogenicity. An example of a chemical vaccine is anti-pneumococcal, meningococcal, typhoid and dysentery vaccines;
- Conjugated - is a combination of bacterial polysaccharides with immunogenic carrier proteins. Such vaccines include prophylactic against hemophilic infection, which is conjugated with tetanus toxoid, and prophylactic against pneumococcal infection, which is conjugated with diphtheria toxoid;
- Split subvirionic or split, which contains surface antigens with a set of internal antigens of influenza viruses. This structure retains a high immunogenicity. In addition, these vaccines are highly purified, which creates a low level of reactogenicity and its good tolerability. These include influenza vaccine, such as vaccinia and fluarix;
- Subunit or molecular is essentially certain specific molecules of bacterial or viral particles. The advantage of subunit vaccines is that they are isolated from isolated microbial cell antigens. Such vaccines are influenza type influenza, influvac and agrippola, as well as acellular pertussis vaccines;
- Anatoxin is a drug derived from toxins of bacteria, which was completely devoid of harmful properties and retained positive, such as antigenicity and immunogenicity. Anatoxins belong to the branch of molecular vaccines and stimulate the development of immunological memory, due to which intense and long-lasting immunity is formed, its duration can reach 5 years or more. Such drugs are safe, stable, maloreaktogennyh, they are well associated and come in liquid form. Examples are prophylactic toxoids against diphtheria and tetanus, botulism and gas gangrene, as well as staphylococcal infection;
- Recombinant genetically engineered subunit, obtained by genetic engineering using recombinant DNA technologies, which consist in the transfer of protective antigens from a harmful microorganism to a macroorganism. Such vaccines include prophylactic anti-HBV.
Comparison of all types of vaccines
Table 1
| Signs of | Live vaccine | Inactivated or killed vaccine | Anatoxin | Recombinant | |
| Corpuscular | Chemical, conjugated, split, subunit | ||||
| Degree of immunogenicity | High | Low | Low in chemical, others high | High | High |
| Safety grade | Low | High | High | High | High |
| Degree of reactogenicity | High | High | Low | Low | Low |
| Degree of stability | Low | High | High | High | High |
| Degree of associability | Low | Low | High | High | Low |
| Degree of standardization | Low | Low | High | High | High |
Formation of post-vaccination immunity
The answer to the question “What kind of immunity is produced when a vaccine is given?” Is post-vaccination immunity - a specific type of immune defense that creates immunity to a specific infectious agent. The main features of post-vaccination immunity are:
- Providing the body with the ability to produce specific specific antibodies;
- Education at 3 weeks after vaccination;
- The lack of the possibility of transmission by inheritance;
- Long shelf life due to immunological memory;
- Reduced compared with post-infectious immunity.
In the development of immunity after vaccination, there are 3 phases:
- Latent or hidden, which lasts for several days and is not accompanied by visible changes in the immune status;
- Growth - the duration of the period from several days to 4 weeks with an increase in the immune response in relation to a specific pathogen;
- Reduced immunity.
At its core, immunity after vaccination is an imitation of the natural infection process, but without risk to the patient. The basis of the formation of immunity, its duration and intensity are the properties of the antigen. Bacterial vaccines contain T-dependent and T-independent antigens, and viral vaccines contain only T-dependent.
In order for a post-vaccination immune response to be complete, the following conditions must be met:
- The vaccine used should be immunogenic, its dosage and physico-chemical structure should be standardized, the duration of contact between the immune system and the vaccine should be long. If it is impossible to have a long-term contact, it is necessary to create a depot or enter a multiple number of times at a certain time interval, conduct revaccinations, that is, re-administer the vaccine when the immune response is depleted after a previous vaccination;
- High individual immune reactivity of the body, a healthy lifestyle with the introduction of vaccines with no stress, fatigue, vitamin deficiency and no related diseases.
Contraindications to vaccination are:
- Heat;
- An active inflammatory process or exacerbation of a chronic infection;
- Immunodeficiency conditions are contraindicated for the administration of live vaccines. Their use is possible only with normal immune status, and the introduction of inactivated vaccines and toxoids is not limited;
- Pregnancy;
- Hemoblastosis of various etiologies;
- Information about allergic reactions during previous vaccinations.
Expanded Worldwide Immunization Program
To create an effective immune status, vaccination should be carried out according to the vaccination schedule - this is a regulatory document, a kind of instruction, issued as an order of the Ministry of Health, which provides a list of currently available epidemiologically justified vaccines and regulates the time and number of their injections.
In 1974, an expanded immunization program, the EPI, was developed by the World Health Organization. This system allows you to organize activities for the formation of an artificial active immune response in people around the world with the help of vaccination to prevent and reduce the spread of infections. FIR has a rich history. In its development, it has several stages:
- RPI-1, which lasted from 1974 to 1990, began an active struggle against polio, measles, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and tuberculosis;
- The work of RPI-2s 1990 to 2000 was aimed at eradicating polio, congenital rubella, neonatal tetanus, “local” cases of diphtheria and measles, as well as reducing the incidence of mumps, whooping cough and measles. Among other things, active immunization has been initiated against many other infections, such as hemophilic, meningococcal, yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis;
- RPI-3 is a real program, the period planned up to 2025. Its plans include protecting the world's population from 30 of the most dangerous infections, reducing the number of injections by increasing the number of associated drugs, eliminating measles, rubella, mumps, diphtheria, hemophilic infection .
Vaccination raises many questions. Every young mother faces the problem of whether it is necessary to vaccinate her child and put him at least unlikely, but at risk, especially in light of isolated cases of patients after vaccination, which are usually widely reported. Subject to doubt, it should be remembered that no non-specific protective measures can replace the vaccine. A full-fledged fortified diet, hardening, active physical life, traditional medicine, undoubtedly, strengthen the immune status, however, they cannot provide specific protection against a specific pathogen.
Although there are cases of patients after vaccination, due to the patient’s lack of immunity, improper vaccine administration or inadequate storage, the disease would be much easier in this case than if the person fell ill under normal circumstances. Proper and timely vaccination is the most effective way to protect against numerous infectious agents, known to modern medicine.
In addition, it should be noted that vaccination is much more cost effective. It is much easier to take care of your immunity in advance by spending minimal funds or getting a vaccine for free as part of the CHI program, rather than paying for the treatment of illness, spending money and your own nervous and moral strength. The modern direction of vaccination is the creation of improved quality vaccines, as well as the formation of new types of vaccines against infectious diseases and malignant neoplasms.
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Everyone has an idea of what is immunity. Where does immunity come from and how does the body's immune system function?
Immunity: what is it?
The word immunity comes from the Latin "immunitas" - "deliverance, liberation from something."
Immunity is a reaction or response of an organism to the penetration of disease-causing agents from outside: viruses and bacteria.
The goal of immunity is to destroy and “expel” foreign agents from the body. It must be said that without the help of medicine this is not always possible - that is why there are deadly diseases.
Immunity: origin
Where do the immune defense mechanisms come from?
1. Are inherited from the mother.
The mother passes the finished antibodies to the child while she is still in the womb - transplacentally. Then, in the first days after birth, breast milk - especially thick and nutritious colostrum - is literally saturated with ready-made antibodies that prepare the baby for a meeting with the surrounding non-sterile world, creating him “ready” immunity.
It is also believed that when a newborn is laid on the mother’s belly immediately after birth, it also receives antibodies from the mother through the skin, which greatly strengthens its immunity.
All the time while the baby is breastfeeding, he gets ready-made antibodies from mother's milk, which strengthen his immunity.
2. After an illness.
After an infectious disease is transferred, antibodies to the transferred disease are formed in the body - as long as the antibodies persist, the person is immune to the pathogens of the disease. Such post-infectious immunity persists for various periods of time, depending on the disease. For example, immunity to influenza lasts only a few weeks, and for measles or smallpox for a lifetime.
3. Formed after vaccination.
In order to artificially develop immunity, they inoculate - they inject into the body in a small number of pathogens of any diseases, sometimes - weakened live pathogenic bacteria.
The dose of the vaccine is calculated in such a way that the body will knowingly cope with the pathogen. Often, after vaccination, a visible reaction begins - fever, weakness, muscle aches. The body fights against the pathogens introduced into it, and it produces antibodies specifically for this disease - thus, immunity is artificially created.
Immunity after vaccination persists for various times. For example, after vaccination against influenza, immunity lasts up to 8 weeks, and after the introduction of the vaccine against tetanus or diphtheria - for several years.
4. Formed by the introduction of serum into the body.
In some cases, when the disease develops rapidly, serum is injected into the body - a drug that contains ready-made antibodies to combat this disease. These are cases of diphtheria, contact with patients with anthrax or a bite of a poisonous snake, etc. After the introduction of serum, there is a rapid formation of effective immunity. So, with the introduction of serum intravenously, after 2 hours, immunity is formed to a specific disease.
5. Healthy lifestyle.
Even a weak innate immunity or immunity, weakened by stress and illness, can be significantly strengthened by performing simple actions.
- It is very important to strengthen the immunity intake of vitamin-mineral complexes - they are recommended to take monthly courses several times a year.
- Physical activity at any time of the year - even regular exercise in the morning for 15-20 minutes increases the body's immune strength by an order of magnitude.
- Hardening - the simplest procedures, like pouring cold water on the legs, significantly strengthen the immune system.
- Harmful habits are harmful for immunity: smoking and alcohol abuse.
Immunity: species
Studies in the field of immunity can not be called complete - they are successfully continuing to this day. Only in 2011, scientists R. Steinman, J. Hoffman and B. Betler received the Nobel Prize in medicine for research in the field of innate immunity.
Medicine has thoroughly studied the immune system and its types.
What does science know about the types of immunity today?
Species
It is characteristic of any kind of living organisms - under normal conditions a certain kind of bird, animal or man cannot get sick with a specific disease, since disease-causing agents do not take root in their bodies.
For example, anthrax pathogens develop at a temperature of about 38 ° C. The normal temperature of the chicken’s body is 42 ° C; therefore, in normal conditions the hens are not susceptible to anthrax. But if the chicken is placed in such conditions that its body temperature drops to 38 ° C and artificially introduces pathogens into its body, the bird can become infected with anthrax.
Also, under normal conditions, birds and animals do not suffer from dysentery, measles, cholera and smallpox; birds do not become infected with rabies, and humans do not become infected with swine fever and chicken cholera.
Congenital (natural) and adaptive (acquired)
Natural immunity purchased at birth. He can be strong or weakened - it depends on the mother: her health, nutrition and rest during pregnancy, living conditions and emotional state.
Adaptive immunity all life is formed: after the transfer of disease and as a result of vaccinations.
Active and passive
Active immunity formed when the body meets with the causative agent of the disease, carries the disease and independently produces antibodies to combat it.
In some diseases, a long-lasting “memory” of this disease is formed in the body, and at a new meeting, ready-made antibodies are already stored in the body to fight it. After suffering measles, rubella, mumps and some other diseases, active immunity is maintained for life.
Also active immunity is formed artificially - by vaccination (vaccinations).
Active immunity is formed by long periods of at least 2 weeks. In a weakened body, the process of formation of active immunity takes about 2 months. Therefore, the formation of active immunity is planned, mainly in childhood, because it persists in the body for a long time - several years, protecting it from a particular type of pathogens.
Much faster is the formation of passive immunity - from 2 hours to 1 day.
Passive immunity the person receives in finished form:
- the immunity that the child receives from the mother at birth and in the process of breastfeeding;
- immunity, which is formed artificially when serum is injected into the patient's body with ready-made antibodies to the disease, for example, by the bite of poisonous insects or the disease of botulism, gangrene, anthrax and other dangerous rapidly developing diseases.
Active immunity: post-infectious and vaccine-free
Postinfectious Immunity is formed after the illness and can last for up to 3 years, and sometimes for life (for example, after chicken pox).
Postvaccinal immunity is formed artificially by vaccination. It also lasts a long time - up to several years.
Sterile and non-sterile
Sterile called immunity, when after an illness the body is completely exempt from disease agents. It occurs after suffering smallpox, diphtheria, measles and rubella.
Non-sterile Immunity is formed after suffering chronic infections that remain almost permanently in the body: brucellosis, tuberculosis, syphilis, etc.
For example, after infection with tuberculosis, a Gon focus is often formed in the body — an accumulation of mycobacteria that persist inside the body, forming a non-sterile immunity that protects the wearer from re-infection with this disease.
Non-sterile immunity is often observed in viral infections like herpes, adenovirus, or typhus. As long as the pathogen persists in the body, non-sterile immunity exists. After complete (sterile) deliverance from disease agents, immunity to the disease disappears.
Constitutional and specific
Constitutional (non-specific, innate) immunity is a defense mechanism that works against any attempt at alien invasion.
For example, the skin must protect the body from the penetration of any foreign agents. In this case, non-specific immunity can "coexist" with certain types of microorganisms, if they are harmless or, conversely, are beneficial to the body. So, it is permissible to find microflora in the oral cavity and in the intestine, but the body will constantly resist any penetration into the systemic circulation.
Innate non-specific immunity does not have a “memory”, that is, it does not remember and does not distinguish between foreign bodies — it simply turns on during any invasion attempt.
Specific (acquired, adaptive) immunity - is activated when a specific disease-causing agent enters the body, that is, it starts working when the body becomes infected with a specific specific disease.
After the transfer of the disease or vaccination, antibodies to a specific disease are formed in the body. Subsequently, if an infection invades the body, it begins to produce clones of the antigen cell and gives a faster and stronger response to the disease. The memory of a certain disease can be stored in the body for a week, for many years, or for a lifetime.
Various types of immunity allow the body to cope with viruses and bacteria that inhabit the world around us.
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