.
In infants and young children, the immune system is immature
Therefore, up to the 3rd and even the 5th year of life, babies get much colder than adults - on average 6-8 times per 1 year.
WHAT IS IMMUNE SYSTEM?
In healthy adults, the immune system is a physiological doctor
In other words, it's our internal forces that heal spontaneously without the involvement of consciousness. They have many effective shields against germs - an appropriate anatomical structure of the airways, in particular the mucociliary mechanism of self-cleaning of the nose and throat.
White blood cells - leukocytes and immune response
If the pathogens invade the inside of the body, which unfortunately happens, its strongest weapon is immune cells - white blood cells (leukocytes) and their immune response. The strength of the immune response depends on the ability of the bone marrow and other organs of the hematopoietic system to produce - thymus, lymph nodes, tonsils - a sufficiently large number of highly specialized immune cells. If it succeeds, millions of microscopic killers of n germs constantly monitor the body - blood path, lymph vessels, and even crawling in inter-vascular spaces. These cells not only recognize the type of pathogen, but can also fight it effectively. Let us remind you that people deprive people of health: viruses, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and larger parasitic organisms, as well as numerous toxic organic and inorganic chemicals - from water, air and food.
The effectiveness of the immune response
The effectiveness of an immune response depends, firstly, on the ability to mobilize white blood cells (lymphocytes) to fight pathogens. Secondly, the abundance of the right types of these cells that fight germs. Each type of lymphocyte combats pathogens with other methods and tactics. An example is phagocytosis, during which a group of white blood cells first immobilizes a dangerous aggressor, eg a virus, while others "cut" it into pieces or "dissolve" using sophisticated enzyme agents. The largest of these cells - macrophages - simply swallow small microbes such as viruses and ... "digest" them! Other lymphocytes form special antibody antibodies of the type: IgG, IgM, IgE, etc. - which identify a specific type of pathogen and significantly accelerate the cellular infection control action. The above mechanisms are particularly effective in the throat around the tonsils - in the area called Waldeyer's throat ring. The resistance to colds depends largely on the activity of the large number of immune cells grouped there.
Safely in the womb
In the womb, that is from conception to birth - a small person is well nourished and protected against infectious infections. Hormones and nutrients are delivered through the placenta. Most importantly - the pathogens can not be traveled. placental barrier of maternal immune shield. This shield not only filters harmful metabolites, but also kills germs in the form of viruses and bacteria that travel to it from the mother through the blood. In addition, the placenta provides the infant with infant antibodies to help fight other microbes. Therefore, in good health of the mother and avoiding her unique infections - rubella or syphilis infections that penetrate through the placenta shield - the maturing fetus is protected even against the flu or catarrh of her mother.
Birthday - jump into an environment full of germs
The highly hermetic cover of the mother's body against germs is rapidly unsealed at the moment of birth.And this is not about the obvious dangers - such as contact with pathogenic microorganisms spread by the droplet path by sick adults and other children, or about pathogenic bacteria from the first foods. The health problem is that immediately after birth - the immune mechanisms of an infant are not yet fully developed. The result - they are less efficient than adults, as evidenced by the greater susceptibility of infants to infectious diseases in the first years of life.
REINFORCING IMMUNITY UP TO 3 YEARS OF LIFE
Several months of weakness after birth
However, do not fall into exaggerated anxiety - an infant is not completely vulnerable at the moment of birth. At the time of birth, it already has a certain number of immune cells (leukocytes) and antibodies to fight microbes. These IgG-class antibodies - also called G-immunoglobulins are very important health defenders involved in the so-called the response of the secondary immune system, thanks to which it manages to fight dangerous Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, streptococci, etc. (3). What's more, from the 11th week of fetal life of the fetus, and at the end of fetal life - the bone marrow begins to self-generate its own immune cells. As a result, the inherent immunity of the advanced fetus is not limited to the protection of the maternal placenta. and then a newborn baby. The significant defense capability of its immune system against germs is demonstrated by the production of so-called inflammatory reaction. This reaction is an important step counteracting the development of microbes in the body, because it mobilizes white blood cells at the site of infection. What's more, moderate inflammation shows the way to the target and helps leukocytes to reach the action and fight the aggressor. All immunity mechanisms in the first dozen or so months of life, however, are immature and unstable and do not guarantee 100% safety against cold and other infections. (2.1)
Do not be scared of a Qatar!
We already know that infants and young children get infections more often than adults. We also know why this is happening. Therefore, we should not panic when an infant or our small child under the age of 3 suffers from a cirrhosis infection even 6-8 times a year. Frequent infections in the period are training and at the same time training for the mature immune system of a small person. Thanks to them, the immune system learns to recognize them and create their unique automatic reaction.
Resistance up to 3-5 years old
During this period, the immune system of the child learns to respond to both friendly and unfriendly microbes and antigens. During this process, it creates antibodies that instantly recognize the pathogen and accelerate its eradication in the future. As is easy to guess, this mechanism of antibody formation has long been used in the production of many popular vaccines.
Diseases teach immunity ....
It can be said that in the period from 1 to 3-5 years of age, the child's resistance develops faster and better under the influence of contact with bacteria viruses and fungi, than a child hermetically cut off from any risk of infection from overprotective parents. Owing to the exposure to commonly occurring in the environment of germs of different virulence in the child's mouth, accelerated stimulation and specialization of young leukocytes and various antibodies against microbes are performed. They learn to respond positively to friendly bacteria, to attack infectious pathogens and not to react to allergens.
The skin strengthens. mucous membranes, bactericidal properties of gastric juice
In the period up to 3 years of age, important anatomical barriers of the body are improved, especially the mucous membranes of the nose, throat and intestines, which become more tight. Stomach juice composed, among others from bactericidal hydrochloric acid - it becomes more acidic and therefore more deadly for food microbes. An intestinal flora that is beneficial for digestion and kills microbes is developing.
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CONTENTS AND ACCESS TO ARTICLES OF THE SECTION:
Frequent cold virus infections
Mechanisms for the defense of the nose and throat
Individual resistance to cold viruses
The immune system of a young child
Self-amplification of immunity in infants and young children
Natural strengthening of immunity in infants and young children
Diet and immunity
Literature
1. Internet Publisher. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE IMMUNE ARRANGEMENT IN THE INFLIBER PERIOD; Author: Prof. dr hab. n. med.Krzysztof Zeman Department of Paediatrics, Preventive Cardiology and Immunology of Developmental Age, Medical University of Lodz
2. A child is born; Lenart Nilsson. Ed. PWN, 1995 s 103 and beyond
3 Wikipiedia - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IgG
5. Own elaboration published on the Internet
4. Pharmindex
5. Harper's biochemistry
