Immune system and child
The immune system protects your child's body from outside invaders. These include germs such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi, and toxins chemicals made by microbes. The immune system is made up of different organs, cells, and proteins that work together.
There are 2 main parts of the immune system:
The innate immune system: You are born with this.
The adaptive immune system: You develop this when your body is exposed to microbes or chemicals released by microbes.
The innate immune system:
This is your child's rapid response system. It is the first to respond when it finds an invader. It is made up of the skin, the eye's cornea, and the mucous members that line the respiratory, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary tracts. These all create physical barriers to help protect your child's body. They protect against harmful germs, parasites, or cells.
The innate immune system is inherited. It is active from the moment your child is born. When this system recognizes an invader, it goes into action right away. The cells of this immune system surround and cover the invader. The invader is killed inside the immune system cells.
The innate immune system provides an early first line of defense against invading pathogens. The cells involved are neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells, which all interact with the adaptive immune system. These cells develop and mature during fetal life, but at different times, and the function of all components of innate immunity is weak in newborns compared with later life.
Mature neutrophils are present at the end of the first trimester and steeply increase in number, stimulated by a granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor, shortly before birth. Their number then returns to a stable level within days, but they show weak bactericidal functions, poor responses to inflammatory stimuli, reduced adhesion to endothelial cells, and diminished chemotaxis.
In preterm and newborn infants, classical monocytes and macrophages are also immature. They have reduced TLR4 expression with impaired innate signaling pathways, resulting in diminished cytokine responses compared with adults. Consequently, there is poor tissue repair, impaired phagocytosis of potential pathogens, and poor secretion of bioactive molecules.
The acquired immune system:
The acquired immune system, with the innate system, makes cells to protect your body from a specific invader. These antibodies stay in your child's body. It can take several days for antibodies to form. After the first exposure, the immune system will recognize the invader and defend against it. The acquired immune system changes during your child's life. Immunizations train your child's immune system to make antibodies to protect him or her from harmful diseases.
The cells of both of the immune system are made in different organs of the body, including:
Adenoids: Two glands located at the back of the nasal passage.
Bone marrow: The soft, spongy tissue found in bone cavities.
Lymph nodes: Small organs shaped like beans, which are located all over the body and connect via the lymphatic vessels.
Lymph vessels: A network of channels all over the body that carries lymphocytes to the lymphoid organs and bloodstream.
Peter's patches: Lymphoid tissue in the small intestine.
Spleen: A fist-sized organ located in the belly cavity.
Thymus: Two lobes that join in front of the windpipe behind the breastbone.
Tonsils: Two oval masses in the back of the throat.
Boosting the baby's immune system:
"Breastfeeding is probably one of the best ways to help support a baby's immune system when it's developing". Getting babies the recommended vaccines at the scheduled times also helps to protect them from the different infections they are at risk for at the age.
Kids and colds:
Proper hand-washing is important to prevent the spread of colds and the flu virus and other types of infections. When kids can't wash their hands, they should use a hand sanitizer to kills germs. Over time as the immune system recognizes certain viruses, it will get better at preventing infection, especially if the person has a balanced diet and a good lifestyle. Taking vitamins won't hurt either but they don't replace a well-balanced diet.
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