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DISEASES - Immune Systems

The document discusses the human immune system and how it protects against diseases. It describes the natural immune system, which detects pathogens and produces antibodies to fight infections. It also discusses the artificial immune system, where vaccines containing weakened pathogens are administered to induce immunity against diseases like measles, whooping cough, and diphtheria. Vaccines prepare the body to fight diseases without experiencing symptoms by introducing antibodies that can neutralize viruses and bacteria. The artificial immune system gives people protection against life-threatening illnesses when their natural defenses are weak.

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Molan Jena
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57 views3 pages

DISEASES - Immune Systems

The document discusses the human immune system and how it protects against diseases. It describes the natural immune system, which detects pathogens and produces antibodies to fight infections. It also discusses the artificial immune system, where vaccines containing weakened pathogens are administered to induce immunity against diseases like measles, whooping cough, and diphtheria. Vaccines prepare the body to fight diseases without experiencing symptoms by introducing antibodies that can neutralize viruses and bacteria. The artificial immune system gives people protection against life-threatening illnesses when their natural defenses are weak.

Uploaded by

Molan Jena
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DISEASES

IMMUNE SYSTEM
Every human body has an immune system, also called a defense system. The immune
system protects the body from infections or diseases. Infections are caused by pathogens
that enter the body and reproduce. Pathogens are micro-organisms that inter the body and
cause infections and diseases. A pathogen can also be called an agent.
The human immune system is very important because it protects people from life
threatening diseases, if the immune system is weak people can be affected by diseases. You
will learn about two types of immune systems namely the natural and the artificial immune
system.

Natural immune system


A human being has a biological structure, meaning that people have a life or are organic in
nature. For humans to live well they should be able to fight diseases. If they do not fight
diseases, they may eventually die. Humans have a natural system that protects their bodies
called the immune system. Its purpose is to defend the body against diseases, when a
foreign body called the pathogen enters the body. Examples of pathogens include viruses,
fungi, protozoa and bacteria. The body reacts by fighting the foreign material. The immune
system must detect different types of pathogens. The cells respond by eating and producing
chemicals called antibodies which kills and destroys the foreign body. When the same
pathogen comes next time, it will quickly be destroyed as the body is now aware of the
pathogen. The immune system helps the body to distinguish these pathogens from an
organism’s own health tissue.

Artificial immune system


If people have weak immune systems, they may suffer from life threatening diseases. The
medical field has gone on to design an artificial immune system that protects the human
body from diseases. The artificial immune system is addressed as (AIS) in abbreviations or in
short period the artificial immune system is also called the acquired immune systems.
Have weakened pathogens are injected into the body of a person. The body responds by
studying these pathogens and produces antibodies that destroys the pathogens, when a
stronger similar pathogen comes the next time, the body immediately detects it and quickly
destroys it, this process is called immunization. Vaccines are administered to acquire
artificial immunity.
Our bodies can be immunized against the following killer diseases:
• Measles
• Whooping cough
• Tetanus
• Diptheria
• Polio
• Tuberculosis
These are known as the child killer diseases

Vaccinations:
at birth/first contact BCG
6 weeks PENTAVALENT 1
PNEUMOCOCCAL
ROTAVIRIS 1
10 weeks PENTAVALENT 2
OPV 2
PNEUMOCOCCAL 2
ROTAVIRUS 2
14 weeks PENTAVALENT 2
OPV 2
PNEUMOCOCCAL 2

9 months MEASLES
18 months DTP AND OPV

BCG or Bacille Calmette-Guerin prevents tuberculosis and meningitis. It is used In many


countries where TB is widespread.
PNEUMOCOCCAL vaccine prevents Pneumonia.
PENTAVALENT vaccine prevents Diphtheria, Tetanus, and Pertussis.
OPV is oral polio vaccine that prevents the spread of the polio virus to the nervous system

In Zimbabwe all children under the age of five are required by the law to be fully
immunized. This is done at clinics, hospitals or different health centers. The parents of the
child are given a child health card with the schedule for immunizations. When a child is due
for immunization, she or he should be taken to the Health Center along with the card where
every immunization done is recorded.
Artificial immunity is induced in the body making a person immune to the specific diseases.
For example, in Harare people are given oral vaccines to protect them against cholera and
typhoid.
Vaccines are a weak form of the disease which the body is immunized against. They prepare
the body to fight the disease without exposing it to the disease symptoms. Vaccines prevent
diseases rather than treat them. The antibodies introduced by immunization neutralized
bacteria or virus. When the body gets an infection that it was vaccinated for, it becomes
easier to fight the disease.
The difference between natural and artificial immunity is that natural immunity is the body's
natural ability to fight diseases whilst artificial immunity, the body is given immunity
designed to fight specific diseases.

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