L.+Immune+System

= = =Application= == Meagan- An allergy that I was not familiar with until I started going to college was a latex allergy. I never would think of someone being allergic to latex! How would you be able to have birthday balloons at your birthday party? I see now that it is more common than I thought. Many schools are now latex free. I only know of one person who is allergic to latex and that is my teacher. She has told us about how she breaks out from latex and cann't be within so may feet of it. This makes me wonder if all hospitals are now going to latex free gloves. I will be dealing with latex in my future as an OTA because I may need to use them when treating a patient. This is just never something I thought anyone would be allergic to, but I guess I am allergic to cats so who would have thought that? ==

//Kalli - I have had some knowledge of the immune system due to family members and myself being sick in some way or another. However, I never knew exactly what was going on in each area of the body, let alone knew how all of the little processes worked together to fight the disease or antigen that was causing the sickness. Knowing how the immune system works will help me as an OTA by providing reasons for clients to be sick and cures to most of the diseases. As an OTA, I will most likely be dealing with many clients with allergies, immune system diseases, and medications. I will have to be alert for any allergies a client may have to any of my materials or devices, I will have to know what kind of medications the client is on and know what they do, and be alert for any diseases the client may possibly pass on to me or others in my area of work. It is always important to be aware of as much of your surrounding as possible!// Christine- As nurses it is our responsibility to give our patients their allergy shots. First, the patient is tested for allergies and then once we pinpoint the patient's allergies we can give them injections or medications to help them with their symptoms of their allergies. The patient is usually given their shot subcutaneously in the arm. How often the shot is given depends on the severity of the allergen and the type of allergen. Once the patient is given their shot they must sit in the waiting room for at least 30 minutes to make sure there is no adverse reactions to the injection. =Content Summary=

__Definition of Immune System__ from []
A complex system that is responsible for distinguishing us from everything foreign to us, and for protecting us against infections and foreign substances. The immune system works to seek and kill invaders. If a person is born with a severely defective immune system, death from infection by a virus bacterium, fungus or parasite may occur. In severe combined immunodeficiency, lack of an enzyme means that toxic waste builds up inside immune system cells, killing them and thus devastating the immune system. A lack of immune system cells is also the basis for DiGeorge syndrome: improper development of the thymus gland means that T cellproduction is diminished. Other immune disorders result from either an excessive immune response or an 'autoimmune attack'. Asthma, familial Mediterranean fever and Crohn disease (inflammatory bowel disease) all result from an over-reaction of the immune system, while autoimmune polyglandular syndrome and some facets of diabetesare due to the immune system attacking 'self' cells and molecules. A key part of the immune system's role is to differentiate between invaders and the body's own cells - when it fails to make this distinction, a reaction against 'self' cells and molecules causes autoimmune disease.

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__B Lymphocytes__ - come from bone marrow - produce antibodies that circulate in the blood and other body fluids - provide humoral immunity

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__T Lymphocytes__ - produced by the thymus - indistinguishable under a microscope but function differently - come into actualy physical contact with other cells in order to destroy them - provide cell-mediated immunity

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__Essential Questions__

 * Innate Immunity ||  || Adaptive Immunity ||
 * * non specific immunity
 * provided by epithelial membranes, stomach acidity, phagocytosis,complement proteins, & natural killer cells
 * attack invading microorganisms but not human cells
 * use neutrophils, mononuclear phagocyte system, & organ-specific phagocytes || both defenses of the immune system || * specific immunity
 * provided by the lymphocytes
 * specific molecular targets which can be both be foreign molecules as well as human cells
 * use B & T lymphocytes ||


 * Active Immunity ||  || Passive Immunity ||
 * * secondary immune response
 * Vaccinations
 * works by providing first exposure so when the body is exposed to it the second time it has a secondary response which is usually faster || both types of specific immunity || * immunity that produces antibodies by another person or animal
 * Immunizations
 * the affected person is injected with antiserum from the animal that has been previously exposed to the antigen ||

http://library.thinkquest.org/C004367/be7.shtml
 * cell-mediated immunity ||  || humoral immunity ||
 * * deals with cells that have been affected
 * managed by B-cells
 * antibody mediated system || both complex and can deal with almost any antigen || * deals with infectious agents in the blood and tissues
 * managed by T cells
 * involves cytotoxic T cells ||

With a local inflammation there first is a break in the epithelial barrier. Then the bacteria will be globbed up by macrophages or neutrophils. If there is more bacteria then macrophages or neutrophils there will be chemical signals sent to attract other leukoctyes. Neutrophils are the first to arrive on the scene killing bacteria through phagocytosis and by releasing chemicals. As the the neutrophils are killed in the battle the macrophages eat them up. As the macrophages eat up the dead neutrophils monocytes arrive eventually turning into macrophages. At the same time mast cells are releasing histamine and other chemicals. Local inflammation can be characterized by redness, warmth, pain, and swelling.