How’s your immunity?

WELLNEWS        

Victor Romulo Gallardo Dumaguing M.D.

With the corona virus, also known as SARS-CoV-2, to distinguish it from the SARS-CoV-1 virus that caused the severe acute respiratory syndrome in 2003, continuing to wreck illness and deaths worldwide, everybody, yes even citizens of the so-called First World countries who have the luxury of having the preferred Covid vaccines, are worried about breakthrough infections amidst the widespread of the dreaded Delta variant. 

    Which makes everyone take stock of his/her immunity. Immunity is the sum of all defensive and protective mechanisms the human body can muster to ward off disease process and if infirmity sets in, the ability to neutralize and manage the onslaught and bring the person back to ideal health.

    Natural active immunity is obtained when a person gets sick; getting sick is a natural process in animal as well as plant kingdom. In humans, our immune system has the innate ability to mount a defensive force called antibodies to deal with the offending microbe whether this is a virus or a bacteria.

     The word “active” implies that the person himself/herself is responsible for the production of antibodies. Disease like mumps or parotitis, measles or rubeola and chicken pox or varicella are classic examples of illnesses that impart lifelong immunity meaning, we humans contract these diseases just once and will not have them again in our lifetime. There are patients who consult with a full-blown

    Signs and symptoms of measles and when told indeed it is, would vehemently stress they have had it when they were younger. A viral disease in young children called roseola infantum presents almost the same rashes and skin lesions as that of measles.

    Natural passive immunity is acquired by the fetus throughout the duration of pregnancy of the mother; also called gestation period- nine months for the layman, 38-42 weeks for the clinicians. Pregnancy is a natural thing among fertile humans; the word “passive” is from the point of view of the fetus or the baby growing inside the uterus or womb of the mother receiving antibodies passing thru the placenta- an exchange facilitated by set of blood vessels- 2 umbilical artery and one umbilical vein.

    Vaccination provides what is called artificial active immunity. Vaccination is the process of introducing- either injected (Salk polio vaccine) or thru the mouth (Sabin oral polio vaccine) something into the human body which our immune system recognizes as “non-self, foreign, stranger” and therefore considered as an enemy with the potential of causing harm thus triggering a massive defensive and protective response in the form of antibodies. The word “artificial” is designated to emphasize that vaccination is used to “mimic” a disease process, although not the full-blown disease. That explains why, a low-grade fever usually occurs a few hours after the immunization process, a sign that the body is already reacting to the vaccine

    Artificial passive immunity is exemplified by situations in which immunoglobilins or gamma globulins prepared in pharmaceutical laboratories are given to patients who have weak immune systems with the hope of helping these patients overcome the disease, usually overwhelming infections. Examples are patients with HIV, far-advanced tuberculosis, those on prolonged steroid therapy, in short immunocompromised patients.

    It cannot be overemphasized the basic role of a balanced diet as strong foundation of a rock-solid immunity with the presence of the macronutrients- energy-giving carbohydrates and fats, body-building proteins; and the micronutrients like vitamins and minerals and of course, unless contraindicated by certain illnesses (end-stage kidney disease, congestive heart failure), an adult should have 8-10 glasses of water per day. And don’t forget a good night sleep and a happy disposition!