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Defence mechanisms against pathogenic diseases. And other stuff. Pathogens. Pathogens are bacteria and viruses that cause disease. Infection is a daily event. Sickness however is not because not all infections cause disease.
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Defence mechanisms against pathogenic diseases. And other stuff.
Pathogens • Pathogens are bacteria and viruses that cause disease. • Infection is a daily event. Sickness however is not because not all infections cause disease. • The human body is constantly exposed to pathogens from the very moment of birth. • You probably contact many potential pathogens every day.
The immune system is our primary defense against microorganisms that cause disease, and consists of Non-Specific and Specific Defenses against infections.
Non-Specific Defenses. • Non-Specific Defenses guard against pathogens in general. Harmful or not. • These defenses are the first line of protection (after the skin) against pathogens in the body. • White Blood cells are a non-specific defense.
Specific Defenses. • Specific defenses are put into action when the Non-Specific Defenses fail. • These Defenses are attempts by the body to fend of particular pathogens, usually harmful ones. • They are the second line of defense. Well duh!
Circulatory System. • White Blood cells (lymphocytes) in the circulatory System help the body fight off pathogens, when an infection occurs your body makes more white blood cells to fight the infection. • There are two types of lymphocytes, B and T. B produces anti-bodies while T attacks pathogens directly.
The Lymphatic System. • The lymphatic system is the taxi of the immune system, it carries the white blood cells around to all parts of the body. • Lymph is the fluid that flows through the lymphatic system. It carries the white blood cells. • Lymph nodes are situated along the lymphatic system and their job is to produce phagocytes which engulf bacteria and poisonous substances.
Different ways of acquiring Immunity. • Active: When the body is actively producing its own anti-bodies due to vaccination or infection. The body will continue to make the anti-bodies after the infection is gone. • Passive: When the body receives anti-bodies from the mothers placenta or when injected, the anti-bodies gradually disappear.
New Zealands Immunisation program. • The NZ immunisation program is free for everyone. • Most of the immunisations are just dead or weakened cultures of the disease. • Sometimes this isn’t enough for some diseases so actual anti-bodies for the disease are injected into the body. (passive immunity) • The injected anti-bodies don’t last very long and are gradually broken down and destroyed.
Tetanus. • Tetanus is a bacteria which enters the body through a wound. • Symptoms are Contraction of muscles (which hurts), especially the jaw and neck muscles. • Tetanus injections hurt. Lots.
Treating Tetanus. • Sometimes Tetanus develops too quickly and the body fails to create enough anti-bodies, sooooooooooo, anti-bodies are injected into the body instead (passive immunity). • But other times the body creates its own anti-bodies to fight the disease. • The dead and infected tissue must be removed. • Antibiotics are part of the treatment.
Your lovely presenters: • Michelle, Anna, Sarah and Soraya.
Incase you missed that it was, • Michle, Ana, Saraoh and Sorya.