Question

What did I know about basic alterations in immunity before today?

2.  What body processes are affected by altered immune function? How does immunity impact those processes?

3.  What are the potential etiologies for altered immune function? How do alterations in immune function develop?

4.  Who is most at risk for developing altered immunity? How can these alterations be prevented?

5.  What are the human differences that affect the etiology, risk, or course of altered immunity?

6.  What clinical manifestations are expected in the course of altered immunity?

7.  What special diagnostic tests are useful in determining the diagnosis and course of illness due to altered immune function?

8.  What are the goals of care for individuals with altered immunity?

9.  How does the concept of altered immunity build on what I have learned in the previous chapter and in the previous courses?

10.  How can I use what I have learned?

Answer 1

Immunity : It is the capacity of an organisam to fight against an external antigen invading the body. Antigen can be bacteria, virus or any other living organisams or non living substances like chemicals, pollens etc. Immunity is present in the body since birth and continues to function through out life. It is responsible for protecting an individual from infection and other diseases.

Types of immunity

Innate immunity

• Also called as native immunity, forms the first line of defence.
• Possed by virtue of gennetic composition
• Exhibit non specific type of responses
• Components of this system are present even before the onset of infection
• Elicit an immediate response

Adaptive immunity

• Also called acquired immunity
• Resistance aquired during life time
• Antigen specific response
• Not sudden in onset
• Characterstic feature: Exhibit Memory

1. Alteration in immunity : When the body is not able to identify self from non self and elicit a response against its own cell is called Altered immunity. Antibodies are produced against its own cells.

2. Normal immune reactions are affected by altered immune response. Different cells of the body are involved in the immune reactions white blood cells are important among them.

Functions of different white blood cells

• Neutrophil : Destroy the pathogen by phagocytosis
• Eosinophil ; Involved in the allergic reactions
• Basophil: Release chemical called histamine important for immune response
• Monocyte: Form macrophages ( macrophage act as antigen presenting cells and also perform phagocytosis)
• Lymphocyte: Responsible for producing antibody against antigen

In patients with altered immune system there is  primary defect in lyphocytic responses , this results in triggering the inflamatory response against self, and excess antibody production  which may latter lead to autoimmune disorders.

Complications

• Hypersensitivity reaction : Body exhibit an undesirable extensive over reaction against an antigen resulting in its own damage. These antigen may or may not elicit a response in normal individual. It is divided into 4 types

Types		Mechanism	Clinical manifestation
Type I	Anaphylactic reaction	involves secretion of IgE antibodies	Anaphylaxis , asthma
Type II :	Cytotoxic reaction	IgG or IgM	Hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia
Type III	Immune complex reaction	IgG	Serum sickness , nephritis
Type IV	Cell mediated reaction	Sensitized ltmphocyte	Graft rejection, contact dermatitis

• Autoimmune disorder
• Immune deficiency disorder
• Organ transplant rejection

3.Etiology

• Exact etiology unknown
• Heriditary : Certain auntoimmune disorder runs in the family
• Mutation in genes responsible to carry out immune reaction
• Can be found related to certain syndrome
• Loss of self tolerance

4.

• Old age individuals are more prone than younger individuals
• Females are more prone to auto immune disorder than males , Female sex hormone may contribute to tendancy of developing altered immunity
• Blood tests and skin test can be used to keep antibodies in check

5. Human differences

• Unhealthy or western Diet
• Exposure to certain drugs and chemicals
• Exposure to unfavorable radiations
• Repeated exposure to unhealthy environment can exhaggerate the immune response as antibodies have the memory feature.

6. clinical manifestation

• Fatigue
• Signs of infection like redness, swelling, rise in temperature
• Headache
• Dizziness
• Parasthesia
• Utricaria
• Wheezing and coughing
• Trachycardia
• Nausea,
• vomiting and diarrhea

7.Diagnostic tests

Usually requires a combination of tests

• Antinuclear antibody test (ANA)
• Blood test to determine level of IgE antibody
• Skin test

8.Preventive measures

• Recognise the allergen responsible for eliciting the hypersensitivity reaction
• Minimal or no interaction with the allergen
• Controlled diet
• Control physical condition like stress
• Make the environment dust free, use of facial mask outdoors
• Immunotherapy
• Hyposesitation

9. This has helped to improve my learning on immune system and altered immune response.

10. The new learned information helps to improve my view about altered immune response which can be used in cooreration with my clical parctise and in life when required. Can advice individulas with altered immune condition to lead a more quality life keeping away from the triggering factors.