Editor
IT’S logical for one to assume that whatever symptom their body presents is because of the infection coursing through the same body. Well, is that really the case? What if the body was actually the one causing this vicious attack?
Many of the symptoms that make a person suffer during an infection like fever, malaise, headache, joint pain, loss of appetite—result from the activities of the immune system trying to eliminate the infection from the body occurring in this order;
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ENTRANCE OF GERM
Immediately the germ gets into the system and starts infecting the body’s cells, this unwanted intrusion alerts the body’s immune system to come to our defence by releasing the first line of White Blood cells called Macrophages which searches for the germ and destroys it even before we notice this illness.
RECRUITMENT OF MORE WHITE BLOOD CELLS AND BRAIN COORDINATION
To ensure that there’s total eradication of the germ, signals are sent to stimulate the Brain (HYPOTHALAMUS) and trigger the release of more white blood cells leading to the following symptoms which has Benefits to the body.
FEVER:
The brain causes the muscle to contact frequently leading to rising in body heat, this helps slow down bacteria growth and activity.
EXCESSIVE SLEEP AND WEAKNESS:
This effect is stimulated by the brain, and it helps us conserve our energy as our immune system defends the body.
LOSS OF APPETITE:
We feel less hungry and the taste of our mouth changes making it difficult for us to have any meal, this allows the liver takes up most of the body’s vitamin and iron causing the Bacteria to starve because it has nothing to feed on which slows down its activity.
THIRST:
We start to feel thirsty cause the body is dehydrated. This dehydration helps reduce transmission of infection when we sneeze cough, vomit or pass watery stool (Diarrhea). However, it’s not advisable to stay dehydrated endeavour to drink water once you feel thirsty.
IRRITABILITY, SADNESS AND CONFUSION:
The chemicals released in the body to fight Infection interferes with the body’s happy hormone-like Endorphins, Dopamine, Serotonin and Glutamate and these alterations cause sad feelings, Irritability and Confusion.
With all of this said we can say without any reasonable doubt that it is the body’s immune response that causes more of the discomfort we feel when sick. Sometimes people still have conditions that alter their ability to respond to infections, like;
1. Immune Deficiency i.e., Genetics variations
2. Medication. i.e Chemotherapy
3. Infections: i.e Poorly managed HIV
Other causes of immune deficiencies are present at the birth of a newborn; medications that suppress the immune system, like steroids; unnecessary or overzealous immune responses, such as allergies; or immune responses to oneself, called Autoimmunity.
Autoimmunity: When the immune system treats normal bodily cues as threats making the body attack itself. .i.e Type 1 Diabetes, Lupus, Inflammatory Bowel disease.
IMMUNIZATION AND IMMUNITY
Immunity: Protection from an infectious disease. Immunization: A process by which a person becomes protected against a disease through a Vaccine.
This helps protect the body from deadly diseases. When you receive a vaccine, your immune system will recognize the substance as harmful and make antibodies to target and destroy that disease before you even notice it. This is referred to as the acquired immune response. When enough people in a community are vaccinated, it can provide protection to everyone against that infection i.e., Polio infection, this process is referred to as herd immunity.
To sum it up the immune system is incredibly complicated and utterly vital for our survival, and it’s responsible for most of the symptoms we experience when we fall sick. And if you find your symptoms worsening, kindly visit a Health care facility for further investigation.
Thank you for Reading
Dr Kelly
