T

HE

I

MMUNE

S

YSTEM

, A

LLERGIES

, A

STHMA

,

AND SOME OTHER COMPLICATED STUFF

…

by, Danielle, Natasha & Michelle

W HAT IS IT ?

 It protects us against billions of bacteria, viruses and parasites, toxins, and other substances that shouldn’t belong.

T HE C OMPLEMENT

W HAT IT DOES

S YSTEM

=        -made up of proteins -along with antigens which helps the body recognize any foreign substances.

THE JOBS a) Trigger inflammation b) Attract eater cells such as macrophages to the area c) Coat intruders so that eater cells are most likely to devour them d) Kill intruders

 P HAGOCYTES

What are they?

 -A group of immune cells that hunt down and eat bacteria, viruses, and dead or injured body cells.  There are three main types …

1.The Granulocytes

 The first to invade the infection and will attack anything in large numbers by eating the invaders until they die.

2.The Macrophages

 These cells play a key part in alerting the immune system of invaders. Slower to respond to invaders, but larger, live longer, and have far greater capacity than the granulocytes.

3.The Dendritic Cells

 -Capable of filtering body fluids to clear them of foreign organisms and particles.

L YMPHOCYTES  

What are they?

-White blood cells that originate in the bone marrow. The lymphatic system involves transportation and storage for lymphatic cells within the body. The lymphatic system feeds cells into the body and filters out dead cells and invading organisms such as bacteria. There are two main types of lymphatic cells.

T

CELLS

     Produced in the bone marrow When they grow up, they move to the thymus They activate the B cells and killer T cells When the helper T cell recognizes the antigen the T cell is activated Once activated the helper T cell divides and produces proteins that activate the B and T cells .

H OW IT W ORKS !

A little better?

T HE I MMUNE S YSTEM IN A COUPLE SENTENCES The immune system has many interdependent cell types that all work together to protect the body from bacterial, parasitic, fungal, viral infections and from the growth of tumor cells. These cell types can kill anything that is not supposed to belong in the body. Without the Immune System, we would always be sick.

A

LLERGIES

  What is an allergic reaction?

An abnormal reaction from the body when an allergen, or a foreign substance is detected.

 What are Allergens?



Anything can be an allergen, but it all depends on the person.

T

HE TRIGGERS OF AN ALLERGIC REACTION

: These are only a few examples. There are millions of triggers, but it depends on you.

Are you allergic to anything?

W

HAT HAPPENS IF YOU ARE EXPOSED

?

 When the body is exposed to a trigger, a complicated set of reactions happen   White blood cells produce an antibody specific to the Allegan.

The antibodies detect, and then destroy whatever is in the body that causes the reaction.

S

YMPTOMS

      Skin: itching, redness, swelling, blistering, rash, hives, weeping, and crusting Lungs: wheezing, tightness, cough, and shortness of breath Head: swelling of the face, lips, tongue, throat, and eyelids, and also headaches Nose: stuffy nose, runny nose, sneezing Eyes: redness, itchy, swollen, or watery Stomach: plain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or bloody diarrhea

 M

EDICAL

H

ELP

?

Because allergic reactions can worsen within minutes, medical care is always recommended for any symptoms

 Sudden, severe, or fast worsening symptoms      exposure to an allergen that in the past cause caused a bad reaction swelling of the tongue, lips, or throat a widespread rash occurs chest tightness, wheezing, or trouble breathing confusion, vomiting, nausea collapse or unconsciousness 

=

M

EDICATIONS

,

YOU KNOW THOSE THINGS YOU TAKE THAT MAKE YOU FEEL BETTER

…

     

For allergies, there are many different types of medications you can take, but the way a medication is determined is by the severity of the reaction.

For long term allergies Cetirizine(Zyrtec) Fexofenadine(Allegra) Loratadine(Claritin)

** These medications are found over the counter, and are meant to be taken for months at a time, mostly once a day.

M ORE OF THOSE MEDICINES     For severe allergy symptoms:

Epinephrine

   This is only given when extreme reactions Is injected and acts as a bronchodilator which dilated the breathing tubes Increases blood pressure by constricting the blood vessels

Antihistamines, such as diphenhydramine

 Normally given through an IV for rapid reversal of the actions from histamines.

 Oral versions are used for less severe reactions.

Corticosteroids

 Reduce swelling, along with many other symptoms    After the IV is given, this medication must be taken orally.

This medication should not be mistaken for illegal steroids A cream version is used for skin reactions

W

HAT IS

A

NAPHYLAXIS

?

 “Against protection”  A rapid developed and extremely serious reaction that affects a number of different areas of the body all at once.

           S

YMPTOMS OF

A

NAPHYLAXIS

:

Symptoms can appear from seconds, to even an hour after exposure occurs.

Flushing of the skin(warmth and redness) Hives Itchiness Rapid irregular pulse Swelling of the tongue and throat Runny nose Wheezing Difficulty breathing Vomiting Diarrhea

  T

HE

K

ITS

: Epi-Pen: An automatic syringe that allows the victim to receive a predetermined dose of medication when it is triggered off.

Ana-Kit: Contains a preloaded syringe and needle that have epinephrine in them. They are accompanied by antihistamines, alcohol swabs, and a tourniquet.

A STHMA  Asthma is a chronic lung disease that causes episodes of difficult breathing, or the inflammation of the airways and swelling .

T RIGGERS  -Various natural elements that we live with every day can be serious triggers for asthmatics.

    Sports or physical activity(anything that makes you start to breath heavy) Pollen Indoor Allergens Chemical

 S

YMPTOMS

of an asthma attack are deep coughing, slight rough coughing or wheezing, headaches, disturbance in sleep pattern (or waking up with a cough having an attack) and difficulty in talking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrUe_6V _PWY&feature=related This is a real live clip of a girl having an asthma attack

H OW DOES THIS ALL WORK ??

  Leukotrienes are fatty molecules located in the immune system that causes the tightening of muscles in the Bronchioles.

-Leukotrienes are naturally produced eicosanoid lipid mediators. Leukotrienes use both autocrine signalling and paracrine signalling to regulate the body's response. Leukotrienes are produced in the body from arachidonic acid by the enzyme 5-lipoxygenase. Their production usually accompanies the production of histamine .

W AIT , WHAT WAS THAT ?

    Eicosanoid lipid mediator- regulate cell types Autocrine signaling- a cell releases a chemical or hormonal signal to a close cell Paracrine signaling- a cell surrounding the autocrine that receive the signal - When the autocrine cells tell the body to swell and close airways the paracrine reacts to help them close .

A

RACHODONIC ACID

  A polyunsaturated fatty acid. this acid makes the autocrine cells and causes the muscles to tighten.

L

IPOXYGENASE

&

CYCLOOGENASE

 causes an asthmatic to have an attack.

Singulair and advair cause these symptoms to lessen.

W HAT WILL HELP ?