Chapter 49, Problem 1O

Summary Introduction

To discuss:

The importance of immunity as it relates to the various immunizing drugs and their use in patients of all the ages.

Concept introduction:

The immunology is a branch of science that studies and deals with the immune system of the body. The immune system helps to protect against the invading pathogens as well as to eliminate whatever that are regarded as foreign to the body.

Explanation of Solution

Though the body has the ability to adapt to various antigens and proteins of different pathogens, allergen, and venom, it needs time to respond and produce new antibodies against it. During the time of antibody adaptation, the invading foreign things take over the host system and can cause devastating damage. Hence, the immunizing drugs come into play to take the role of the antibodies and effectively eliminate the foreign allergens. The immunizing drugs come in different variations such as active immunization, antiserum, immunoglobulin, passive immunization, and the booster dose.

Active immunization: The active immunization is also known to be vaccines that are available as attenuated, live, or killed.

Booster dose: The booster dose is given to reactivate the immune memory when the antibodies have not encountered the antigens for a long time.

Passive immunization: The passive immunization has specific antibodies that are produced against the specific antigens. Immunoglobulin, antiserum, antivenin, and antitoxin are all the types of passive immunization.

Conclusion

The active immunization is given to infants to protect them from MMR, polio, HBV, influenza, and tuberculosis. The passive and booster dose are given to all ages and people with allergies are given recombinant immunization drugs.