Immunity × Disease

＞More about immunity＞Immunity × Disease

It can be said that there are no diseases that are not closely related to immunity.
This time, we have summarized the diseases centered on immunity.
・Allergy
・Autoimmune diseases
・Cancer

Allergy

Allergy is a type of acquired immunity. This is the situation when the immune response works against you.
Excessive immune response to normally harmless antigens can have a negative effect on the body.
When an "allergen" enters the body, an "IgE antibody" (a type of protein called immunoglobulin) is produced in the blood by the command of immune cells to eliminate it. IgE antibodies are attached to the “mast cells” on the skin and mucous membranes(eyes, nose, intestines etc.) to prepare for allergens that have entered the body. At the same time, mast cells release chemicals such as histamine and leukotrienes. This causes various allergic symptoms.

Food allergy

Food allergy is an excessive immune response to the "allergens" contained in a particular food, causing various symptoms in the body. Ingestion of food allergens includes not only oral intake but Aldo nasal inhalation, skin contact, and injection, and almost any food has the potential to cause an allergic reaction.
Food allergies can begin in infancy, but not many adults have food allergies because they can heal spontaneously as they get older. However, if you have food allergies in adulthood, it is said that the allergies will last a lifetime.

Currently, Japan has a law called the Food Sanitation Law. In Article 19, there are 7 items of "specific raw materials" that require labeling of foods (allergens) that are prone to allergies depending on the number of cases and severity, and 18 items of "those similar to specific raw materials" that are recommended for labeling are decided.

Hay fever

Hay fever is an immune response that occurs against pollen that entered the body. The cause is that pollen irritates the mucous membranes of the noise and eyes. Basically, it only develops at a fixed time of the year(the time when the pollen that causes it flies.). Some people are allergic to multiple antigens and suffer from symptoms all year round.
Example : Cedar, cypress, etc.

House dust allergy

House dust allergy is an immune response that occurs against house dust that has entered the body. We can develop it at any time, regardless of the season. Symptoms may occur throughout the year.
Example : dust, mites, etc.

Atopic dermatitis

Atopic dermatitis is a chronic disease in which itchy eczema repeatedly improves and worsens.
The cause is a decrease in the "barrier function" of the skin (the function of protecting the body from irritation and dryness). Decreases function makes it easier for external stimuli and antigens to enter the body. And they combine with immune cells, they cause allergic inflammation. Scratching the skin also reduces the barrier function.

Anaphylactic shock

Anaphylactic shock is a condition in which allergens enter the body, causing a systemic allergic reaction, lowering blood pressure and lowering consciousness.
Narrowing of the ways by swelling of the throat can cause respiratory distress and risk death. And also, anaphylactic shock can cause lowering blood pressure.
In other words, when anaphylactic shock occurs, prompt treatment is required.
Example: food, bee

People who have or may have had anaphylactic shock always have an injectable drug called Adrenaline self-injection. The actual injection is done by the patient or his/her family. Those who may give injections need to know how to use it.

How to use
1. Remove the syringe from the carrying case, point the orange needle cover down, hold firmly in the middle of it, and remove the blue safety cap.

2. Hold the syringe perpendicular to the front and outside of your thighs, press on the patient's body by the tip of the orange needle cover until you hear a click, and wait a few seconds.

3. After the injection, check if the orange needle cover is stretched, and if it is stretched, the injection is complete.

4 . Return the used syringe to the carrying case.

Autoimmune diseases

Autoimmune diseases are diseases that the immune system, which normally protects itself and attacks the virus that has invaded the body , becomes dysfunctional and attacks its own tissues and cells.

Rheumatoid arthritis

Rheumatoid arthritis is a disease that causes swelling and pain in the joints, destroying cartilage and bones, and deforming the joints.
It can attack not only joints but also eyes, skin and lungs.

Systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus is an autoimmune disease that causes fever, general malaise, and damage to joints, kin, and various organs.
It occurs red rash (erythema butterfly) on the cheeks, sun sensitivity, aphthous ulcer, hair loss, arthritis, etc. Organ disorders include cytopenia, pleurisy, pericarditis, nephritis, and neuropsychiatric disorders.

Graves' disease

Graves' disease is an autoimmune disease in which our body produces antibodies that stimulate the thyroid gland, causing hyper-secretion of the thyroid hormone (thyroxine).
It causes symptoms such as nervousness, palpitation, sweating, and finger tremors.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

The causative HIV is the "human immunodeficiency virus."
It infects T lymphocytes and macrophages and reduces their function. It may not be detected by the test until 8 weeks after the infection. Immediately after infection, the amount of virus increases. Influenza-like symptoms such as fever and rash appear, but they subside in a month or two. After that, the asymptomatic period of 10 years or more continues.Then, the onset stage begins. Once HIV enters the body, it is difficult to eradicate it.
Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a condition in which a person infected with HIV develops any of the 23 complications (such as candidiasis and cryptococcosis) due to weakened immunity. In short, HIV is the virus that causes AIDS. Since AIDS is an infectious disease caused by HIV, HIV infection is not equal to AIDS.
Also, HIV is no longer a fatal disease. It is considered a controllable chronic disease. If you detect HIV infection and receive medication before the onset of AIDS, you can prevent AIDS.

Cancer

It is a disease in which some kind of genetic abnormality occurs in cells and the growth of cells does not stop. Over the years that follow, it becomes an abnormal mass of cells, and the life-threatening one is called cancer (malignant tumor). Cancer can invade nearby cells or spread to other organs through blood vessels and lymph vessels.

Leukemia

Leukemia is a cancer of the blood. Some abnormality occurs in the blood cells in the process of making the blood cells in the blood in the bone marrow. Then, it becomes cancerous cells (leukemia cells) and increases in the bone marrow and blood. As a result, it becomes impossible to make normal blood.

Summary