While it is common knowlege that most human virus and bacteria are not wanted in the body, does the human immune system stay healthy and effective if not invaded by these "bugs". Sometimes in a more mechanical situation, a working machine must be put to use to remain effective. Whats up here?
2006-07-17 02:37:15 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Health ➔ Diseases & Conditions ➔ Infectious Diseases
If there are no pathogens invading, then what is "effective"? If you mean to ask "do immune defenses wane if there is no immune stimulation?" , then the answer is "yes, but only slightly and slowly." This is known from experiments where gut sterilization and protective environments enforced on those with previously healthy immune systems. What was observed was a slight decrease in cell mediated immunity but generally preserved humoral (antibody mediated) immunity.
The immune system creates a memory of the antigen responded to, so that cells responsible for responding to the specific antigen can be cloned for later expansion. This method of immunological memory accounts for the durable immunity induced by vaccines for antigens that may never be seen in a lifetime. You may be immune to smalllpox for over 50 years but never have encountered it except once, as a child, an the end of a needle wielded by a doctor.
PS- the reason that influenza shots are needed annually is not so much to reprime the immune response but to develop immunity to new strains. Flu shots are reformulated every year based on the new antigenic strains of flu prevalent in the hemisphere for the past year.
2006-07-17 02:55:01 · answer #1 · answered by hobo_chang_bao 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No. The human body develops immunity response, whether it be thorough immunization or exposure. It's actually been suggested that the overuse of antibacterial soaps and the sterilization of all surfaces within the home does not prepare our children's systems to fight every day bacteria, thus making them MORE prone to catch illnesses.
2006-07-17 16:04:52 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It may be teething. If not that, maybe just a growth spurt. I know it is exhausting to get up and down and never get a good night's sleep, but I'm sure she will settle back down into a good pattern. When my daughter was learning to walk, she barely slept for a month. All she wanted to do was practice all her new skills, and her molars started coming in around the same time so she was uncomfortable. Just keep perspective that it won't last forever. In the meantime, maybe you and your husband can take shifts so that you can get a little sleep.
2016-03-26 21:29:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
i have to agree with part of what you've said. it has to be put into work. but unlike a machine, the immune system needs to learn. each time it interacts with something, it tries to develop a way to deal with it. if there is nothing for the immune system to deal with then it's like it's not even there. i would guess after quite a few generations, with no "stimulus" that process of internal protection would die.
2006-07-17 02:50:39 · answer #4 · answered by Anthony Taurus 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
when your body comes in contact with a bug it doesnt like (one that makes you sick), it creates antibodies to fight off the bug. during this process, the body also makes memory antibodies...these are antibodies that are not always active in your blood, but that can be "turned on" when your body is re-exposed to a bug, so your body can mount a rapid response to the bug and fight it off. so in this case, once you are exposed to a certain bacteria or virus, your body has a memory of how to fight it (such as when you get chicken pox).
the concept of vaccines is based on this - you are given a vaccine which has an inactive strain of a virus (or a small dose of a live strain). your body recognizes the pathogen and makes antibodies against it. that way, if you are ever exposed to say tetanus, measles, or diptheria, that your body knows what to do.
it is amazing how well the body's antibodies "remember" the bugs that infect it, and can fight it off reatively quickly once exposed.
2006-07-17 15:40:43 · answer #5 · answered by stascia 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in a way, the more bugs, the better. I know a family with 4 children. They are neat freaks. they panic if the children get dirty, they are very rarely aloud to play outside for fear of germs. now, the funny thing is, they are always sick. your immune system get stronger with more action
2006-07-17 03:56:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Human immune system improves with challenges.
2006-07-17 02:47:05 · answer #7 · answered by J.SWAMY I ఇ జ స్వామి 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no.. normally we are challenged by different bacterias everyday and we still have to take our flu shots each year..
2006-07-17 02:50:09 · answer #8 · answered by deadmeat 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋