Can immunity from one disease give immunity to another?

Question

So that you need never have come into contact witha particular disease to have immunity to it.

You see, my friend holds that there is little point in being fastidious about hygiene since we need to develop a resistance to 'diseases'. So long as we don't overedo it - he maintains - a little bit of dirt is a good thing.

Can anyone who knows what they're talking about comment on this?

Answer 1

Your friend is right to a degree. Studies have been done which show that children now are more prone to allergies and it appears to be because of over fastidious mums. It does not hurt for a child to have dirty play and to crawl around being exposed to general germs. It builds up immunity generally which makes the body dtronger when it comes to a "nasty" germ. It does not actually give immunity against another disease, but the body's response to invaders has been practiced and swings into action faster and more efficently.

Answer 2

Your friend is right, up to a point. We need to be diligent about washing hands, hygiene, environment cleanliness, etc. But, plain old soap and water is sufficient in most cases. All these new antibacterial soaps are really causing more harm than they're worth. They are causing your low key bugs to have to become superbugs to be able to survive in our environment. Therefore, they are resistant to our first line of attack germicidals. You have to have some "germs" to stay healthy. In hospitals, the dirtiest places on earth, more stealth is needed. There, you are exposed to a multitude of illnesses, diseases and biohazards so, strong efforts toward eradicating pathogens is crucial. However, in our normal day to day environment we need to develop antibodies to have a strong immune system. The way we get antibodies is to have exposure to antigens (in small amounts). Antigens are the causative agents for illnesses. Same principal applies with allergy shots. You are given a minute dose with each injection of the offending allergen. This way you build up tolerance to whatever is making you sneeze, etc.
Yes, a little dirt is a good thing.

Answer 3

i think that what he's trying to say is that you could get immunity by being exposed to the agent that causes a certain disease. i believe your friend has a point and i also believe that actually putting into practice what your friend told you is a gamble. you could only be immune to a disease when your immune system has reacted to the disease causing agent and managed to put it under control. by the time that certain pathogen invades again your immune system will recognize it and attack it. and if your immune system, by any chance, did not recognize the agent, the pathogen will have time to incubate and grow within you. when there are too many of them you will then develop the disease.
i just kind of tried to answer your last question.

for your first question... no. you cannot be immune to disease no.2 even if you are immune to disease no.1. i hope you understood what i meant by that.

Answer 4

Well, there's a theory that being too clean destroys the friendly bacteria which live in your gut. This bacterial can't then gently stimulate your immune system so that harmless things such as dust set off an immune reaction (allergy) of course dust allergies lead to asthma and hayfever. Then you go out and buy products to 'top up your friendly bacteria' why? Just bin the disinfectant (if your perfectly healthy) and wash your surfaces with washing up liquid

Answer 5

Yes to a degree this is correct. But there are different types of immunity: innate (present from birth) and acquired (developed by exposure to environment, disease and immunisation).

From birth onwards we are exposed to countless foreign bodies/germs/bacteria (antigen) in our environment. Our body's response to this is to develop and mature the immune system by producing antibodies on exposure to this antigen thus offering future protection against that particular antigen.

Vaccination works in much the same way - an inactive portion of the disease is introduced to the body and on first exposure to the antigen the immune system produces antibodies to this particular strain.

Answer 6

I was brought up to believe that 'a little bit of dirt does no harm' and I still believe this up to a point. The world has changed a great deal with new viruses and air travel and distribution. We now no longer have 'local dirt' lol
It is best to safegaurd your immune system!

http://www,mangosteen101.co.uk

Answer 7

I think your friend is right. being exposed in small doces can build resistance to a certain degree but not always. Its good to be clean but don't let it get to the point that it begins to rule your life.Question...How do you know when you've come in contact with a disease?

Answer 8

little about 20%