Immunity Shield for healthy life Dr. M.

.Balasubramanian, Consultant Pediatrician and Neonatologist at Keerti Hospitals, Bypass road shares with us on the Immunity. Upbringing a child in a healthy manner has become a greatest challenge for the parents these days. Many young children under the age of 8 years suffer with recurrent respiratory tract infections,
manifesting as sore throats, swollen tonsils and adenoids, sinusitis, cough, wheezing, difficult breathing at night, snoring and excessive mucous congestion. A parent feels helpless, confused and continually worried about the next infection that will surely come along. Strange as it might sound, some infections can actually be a blessing in disguise. The reason is that they enhance the childs natural immunity.

Immunity is the defense system of our body with which one is born. The purpose of our immune system
is to act as our bodys army, in defense against stream of possible infections and diseases caused by toxins, bacteria, virus and parasites. Immunity can be either active or passive. In active immunization we give a live attenuated bacteria or virus with decreased virulence. As this bacteria / virus are less virulent it may not result in disease state. Instead it will protect against that particular infection. On giving an active immunization as drops or injection our body reacts to that antigen (bacteria / virus) and acts against it and produces antibodies against this antigen and thus results in active immunity. The defense starts after 15-30 days. In passive immunization, instead of giving live or attenuated bacteria the antibodies i.e., immunoglobulin is given directly. Eg: If a child is bitten by a very rabid dog with severe extensive injuries, the child needs immunization - protection against the rabies virus. Its an extensive injury where the rabies virus in the saliva of the dog enters the body through wound. The virus takes its route through the neuron depending on the size of the wound the more neurons are affected and there are more entry routes for the virus. The progression of the infection is also faster. There should be active immunization to tackle this situation. But for the active immunization to take place it requires 15-30 days by that time the patient will succumb to the illness. Hence we give active immunization of anti rabies vaccine on one side and passive immunization- immunoglobulin in extensive injuries. In small injuries active immunization is enough. This immunoglobulin takes care of the initial days and they tackle and stop the progress of the virus. Then active immunity provided by the vaccine takes over this in due course and protects the child. Another example where active and passive immunization takes place is when a mother who is Hepatitis B positive gives birth to a child. The child is exposed to the Hepatitis B infection soon after the delivery. Now the child should be protected. So Hepatitis B vaccine is provided along with Hepatitis B immunoglobulin. Nutrition is very critical in developing our immunity. Nutrition authorities have long acknowledged the importance of macronutrients -- adequate intake of protein and calories in maintaining the body's defenses. It is a proven fact the breast feeding benefits the child life long. Parents nowadays are

creating more and more sterile environments for their children to grow up in. Children need to play in the outdoors. Those who spend more time playing outdoors and interacting with the other children had a significantly higher immunity.
Immunity is Gods gift to us. We need to concentrate on our life style and food habits that boost immunity which is the life shield. Josephine Anne Sheebha Aruldass