ALLERGIES AND IMMUNOLOGY

By: Garrett DeVito & Patty Caro

IMMUNE SYSTEM

Main Components?-Leukocytes (white blood cells)    -seeks and destroys organisms that cause disease    -Phagocytes     -3 types: monocytes, dendritic cells, granulocytes -lymphocytes:    -T Cells: helper & killer cells    -B cells: plasma & memory cells -antibodies    -"Y" shaped proteins    -recognizes foreign invaders   

    IMMUNE SYSTEM

Antigens:    -foreign substance    -bacteria, virus, or toxin    -activates immune response Protein cells:    -triggers inflammation Immune cells:    -help destroy antigens 

BUILD UP YOUR IMMUNITY

-relaxation... -well balanced diet...    -fruits and vegetables -exercise... -plenty of rest... -6-8 glasses of water per day... 

...MAKES YOU IMMUNE SYSTEM STRONGER!  

ALLERGIC REACTION

THE BODY'S WAY OF RESPONDING TO AN "INVADER" The reaction begins when the body is exposed to a "foreign invader"  

Symptoms

-Swelling of the skin or face -Difficulty breathing -Redness and itching of the skin or eyes -Stomach pain and nausea -Runny or stuffy nose      

Treatment

For mild reactions:    -nonprescription allergy medications        -antihistamine (Benadryl) Skin Reactions/rashes:    -Cold wet cloths, or ice    -anti-inflammatory steriod cream Severe Reactions:    -go to emergency  for higher medical treatment    -Anaphylaxis= most severe allergic reaction (epinephrine or adrenaline as treatment) 

Experimental Treatment

-Studies are now showing that kids with severe peanut butter allergies can eat peanut butter after going through a new therapy. -The therapy consists of swallowing a minuscule of peanut butter daily with doctor supervision.  -Eventually their body can tolerate the peanuts, they lose their peanut allergy, and their immune system becomes stronger.

More Experimental Treatment...

-New immunotherapeutic drug (AIC) attaches immune-boosting molecules to the protein that causes allergic reaction     -reduces severe symptoms of reaction and need for other medications        -mostly used for ragweed allergy sufferers     -6 week treatment; patient is given 1 shot per week

Reduced Risks

-Studies show that allergies can help fight certain types  of cancer. -Allergic symptoms (coughing, sneezing, itching) can lower the  risks of developing cancer cells on the skin, mouth, throat, and  areas that can be affected by environmental factors.

Anaphylaxis (ACUTE REACTIONS)

Anaphylaxis is a very severe  type of allergic reaction that  occurs in humans as well as other mammals.  

 

Levels of Exposure

There are two levels of exposure in Anaphylaxis: The "SENSITIZING DOSE"  AND  The "SHOCKING DOSE"

 

SENSITIZING EXPOSURE

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT A PERSON GETS EXPOSED TO A CERTAIN "TOXIN."  THAT PERSON'S IMMUNE SYSTEM BECOMES SENSITIZED OR "ACQUAINTED" WITH THE ALLERGEN.  

SHOCK EXPOSURE

THIS IS THE SUBSEQUENT TIME THE PERSON IS EXPOSED TO THE SAME TOXIN. IN THIS CASE, THEY RECEIVE THE ACTUAL REACTION. THE REACTION INVOLVES THE WHOLE BODY AND IS USUALLY SEVERE.

ASTHMA

• Nearly 22 million people in the United States alone suffer from this disease.

 • About a third of that number is children.

 • So what is this chronic disease?

 • Let's find out...

The Chemistry of Asthma

1.It all starts off with a trigger. What's a trigger?

  A trigger can be anything that irritates the body in some way. When we sneeze or cough this is happenening to us. But an asthmatic suffers from triggers that don't normally bother the majority of people...

 

The Chemistry of Asthma

2. The next step is called the Arachidonic Acid Cascade. The trigger which was just mentioned sets off this very complicated chemical process. In

a nutshell, the end result of this process is a "lipid mediator" called

LEUKOTRIENE.

The Chemistry of Asthma

3. LEUKOTRIENE. It is important in the cycle of causing Asthma symptons. The Arachidonic Acid Cascade basically produces this chemical. This chemical is responsible for an inflammatory response. A very acute inflammatory response...

 

The Chemistry of Asthma

4. Since LEUKOTRIENE causes an inflammatory response, HISTAMINE is produced. We all know what HISTAMINE is since it is a major step in the inflammatory process.

 

The Chemistry of Asthma

5. After Histamine is produced, the inflammatory process begins. Now you may say, well everybody experiences inflammation. Yes and no. Everybody does experience this but not everyone experiences it to this degree. With Asthmatics, it occurs much more often and much more severely.

 

The Symptoms of Asthma

COUGHING  WHEEZING  CHEST TIGHTNESS  SHORTNESS OF BREATH

 

Symptoms of Asthma

Since histamine causes inflammatory responses, it is basically causing a response to something it shouldn't. Whenever something that shouldn't be happening is, then other things that shouldn't be happening do. This makes for bronchial tubes to close up in this adverse response to a "trigger."

 

Treatments for Asthma

There are basically two types of Asthma treatments: Controller Asthma Medicine and Quick Relief Asthma Medicine

Controller Asthma Medicine

These types of medinines and treatments can prevent the symptoms of asthma from occurring as long as they are taken daily or otherwise instructed. They include: Inhaled Corticosteroids (AEROBID) Leukotriene receptor antagonists (SINGULAIR AND ZyFLO) Long-acting beta2 antagonists (FORADIL)

  

 

Quick Relief Asthma Medicine

These types of medicines provide quick relief after symptons have occurred.  They are usually in the form of an inhalent which contains a type of steroid.  Older people may also use pills in this case. Some name brands are...