people who are severely burned often die from infection. given what you know about disease transmission, explain why this is common?
2007-11-07 12:46:27 · 1 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Biology
The skin is one of the most important barriers to infection in the human body. The immune system is also very powerful, but not perfect, so the best defense is keeping a microbe from getting into the body in the first place. Severe burns destroy the skin, opening a path for microbes to enter the body.
Stressful conditions can also suppress the immune system, and severe burns would definitely cause a LOT of stress (I'm talking about physiological stress, not just worrying).
Combining severe trauma to cells and tissue with a newly opened pathway into the body is practically an invitation for infection.
2007-11-08 05:40:37 · answer #1 · answered by andymanec 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋