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Wellness 
Fitness 
Nutriție 
Frumusețe 
Wellness 
Written by Malina Mancas 
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Immunity is the ability of the body to protect itself from various infections and malignancies, and in official language - the ability to maintain its biological identity.The main task of the immune system is to recognize "own" and "foreign" and, consequently, to rid the body of dangerous foreign pathogenic molecules/substances/agens as well as its own pathologically modified cells.
Anything that in one way or another differs from the body's normal cells, the immune system perceives as antigens and carries out a real fight against them. About how it happens, what immunity is and why it decreases in children and adults, whether it is necessary to restore it after an illness and how to do it correctly - read in our article.
Why is immunity so important?
If the immune system were not working - the baby would die immediately after birth at the first contact with viruses and bacteria. There are millions of micro-organisms around us that can cause illness or death. To prevent this, the human body has developed a 'multi-layered defense' that can prevent most infections - but only if it works properly.
How does the immune system work? Contrary to popular belief, immunity is not just about antibodies. The immune system protects the body by
- Physical barriers (skin, mucous membranes of the respiratory and genitourinary systems, gastrointestinal tract);
- special "antiseptic substances" (antimicrobial peptide defensins, lactic acid and fatty acids from sweat and sebaceous gland secretions that inhibit bacterial growth, lysozyme, lactoferrin)
- "defense cells" (intraepithelial lymphocytes, antigen-presenting Langerhans cells, mast cells, phagocytic lymphocytes);
- antibodies.
And immunity itself is innate and acquired. Innate immunity does not require prior contact with a microbe or immunologic memory to start working - it works from the first seconds of a child's life. It is powered by different cell types:
- neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages - absorb antigens and destroy them;
- polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mononuclear leukocytes (single-nucleated cells) - trigger the inflammatory process by releasing special substances (inflammatory mediators);
- natural killer cells - are effective against viruses and tumors.
In the case of acquired immunity the case is a bit more complicated. First, the body must first "get acquainted" with the infection, then develop antibodies (acting strictly against certain microbes), destroy the infection and, most importantly - remember it for the next encounters.
Acquired immunity can be persistent and even lifelong (e.g. chickenpox, as a rule, they only get sick once), but unfortunately for most common viral infections it "runs out" quickly. This is why adults and children can get sick from year to year with rhinitis, pharyngitis and other acute respiratory infections.
Why can immunity decline?
Sometimes it happens that the immune system doesn't work well since the baby is born - in this case, doctors diagnose 'primary immunodeficiency'. This is not always a verdict - the malfunctioning of certain parts of the immune system can lead to infections that are slightly more common than in healthy babies. But there are also extremely serious primary immunodeficiencies, such as Bruton's aglobulinemia, Di Giorgi and Wiskott-Aldrich syndromes, which can quickly lead to death without proper treatment.
However, much more common is secondary immunodeficiency - a malfunction of the immune system caused by certain factors. These can be:
- severe systemic diseases;
- previous viral or bacterial infections;
- recurrent infections;
- surgery;
- poor, unbalanced diet, malnutrition, abuse of extreme diets, starvation;
- constant stress, psycho-emotional tension;
- sleep disturbances;
- bad habits;
- anemia;
- sedentarism or, on the contrary, excessive physical exertion with chronic overwork and even physical exhaustion;
- old age;
- use of certain drugs (glucocorticoid hormones, methotrexate, antineoplastic drugs, other immunosuppressants);
- diseases of the digestive tract.
However, common diseases are not always associated with impaired immune system function. For example, in 50% of children with recurrent infections (up to 12 times a year), examination reveals no abnormalities, and endless ARVIs are associated with external factors - school, kindergarten or frequently ill siblings.
In 30%, doctors confirm atopy - i.e. an allergic diagnosis. For example, allergic rhinitis is often mistaken for a regular, recurrent runny nose, and sometimes for sinusitis, bronchitis and even pneumonia (if the large amounts of runny mucus start to cause a severe cough).
And only 20% of children have frequent infections due to serious chronic diseases (e.g. cystic fibrosis), medications, malformations or immunodeficiencies.
A fairly unusual cause of frequent 'illness' in a child is Munchausen 's syndrome in the mother (father) or caregiver. In this case, all the symptoms are usually recorded from an adult and the little patient gets well immediately in hospital. Munchausen's syndrome is rare, but it is important to remember about it - especially if a child who is absolutely healthy according to the examination results is "sick" over and over again
In adults, frequent infections can be associated with all of the above factors, but more often - with systemic or chronic diseases, anemia, taking medications, anatomical abnormalities, bad habits.
How to quickly restore immunity after illness or antibiotics?
Far from always the immune system needs strengthening, restoration or support. Even if the child constantly "grabs" ARVI, but in the period between illnesses is healthy, active and alert - you do not need to do anything. Simply in this way the body is familiarized with new antigens, and the immune system copes with them quite successfully.
In adults, the case is different. With new microbes their immune system has long been familiarized with in childhood, so frequent acute respiratory viral infections should certainly be alarming. In such a situation, the first thing to think about is not how to restore immunity, but why it has weakened. This should be managed by a doctor (GP or therapist).
But there is another situation - a hitherto healthy person after a serious illness or surgery suddenly starts to get sick often. Why does this happen?
With a prolonged illness, the body exhausts its resources - and the immune system, too. At first, it actively produces T and B lymphocytes, neutrophils, immunoglobulins (antibodies), but over time its capabilities are reduced. In medicine, there is even a concept of 'superinfection' - when cells infected with one pathogen are infected with another because of a weak immune system.
It is often the case that viruses enter the body first, weaken its immunity and "pass the baton" to bacteria. A typical example is bacterial pneumonia, which occurs after a severe viral infection.
There are also viruses that selectively attack the immune system:
- Epstein-Barr virus;
- cytomegalovirus;
- human T-lymphotropic T-lymphotropic virus;
- HIV.
Other pathogens do not affect the immune system directly but depress it indirectly - these are influenza and herpes viruses, most bacteria, some helminths (worms) and protozoa.
Tissue damage and prolonged inflammation also contribute to the depletion of the body's defenses (sometimes inflammatory markers persist in the blood for a long time - for example, after flu, colds and other infections). Disease increases oxidative processes, which causes free radicals to accumulate in the blood and increases oxidative stress. This has a destructive effect on the cells of the whole body and especially on the immune system.
Don't underestimate the stress a person faces during serious illness or surgery. In response to this, the hormone cortisol is produced, and it has an immunosuppressive effect - it depresses the immune system
And, of course, amid illness, immunity can weaken due to increased consumption of energy, nutrients, vitamins, as well as the influence of drugs - for example, antibiotics. This seems surprising because antibacterial drugs are designed to kill infection, but they can affect the body in other ways:
- Disrupting gut microflora and gut health. The ileum is home to the organs of the immune system - Peyer's plaques- and the large intestine is home to bacteria that produce the useful vitamins B and K, which are 'responsible' for normal immunity;
- inhibit the activity of neutrophils and macrophages - cell-mediated immunity;
- reduce the production of cytokines - substances that "coordinate" the immune system;
- worsen the overall health of the body due to side effects.
Because immunity after illness and its treatment can suffer for different reasons, it can also be restored in different ways - through diet, rest, physical activity or taking medication.
How to boost immunity in adults and children without drugs
Quickly restoring immunity after illness and/or antibiotics - a difficult and sometimes very difficult task to accomplish. That is why it is better to strengthen it as soon as a person falls ill, or even better - before that.
Special attention should be paid to nutrition. Natural "helpers" include vegetables, fruit and other products rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. In addition, it is necessary to remember about the balance of the diet, because during the period of illness the consumption of both carbohydrates and proteins and fats increases.
Proper nutrition "for immunity" should necessarily include sources of:
- vitamin A - carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach;
- B-vitamins - greens, tomatoes, peas, cabbage, kale, buckwheat, oatmeal, wheat bread, nuts, mushrooms, rosehips, meat (beef), dairy, fish, liver;
- vitamin C - citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruit), kiwi fruit, broccoli, broccoli, bell peppers, strawberries;
- vitamin D - most of it is synthesized in the skin under the influence of the sun, but salmon, mackerel and eggs are also useful in autumn and winter;
- vitamin E - vegetable oils, nuts (especially almonds) and seeds;
- iron - red meat, liver, buckwheat, apples, lentils;
- zinc - seafood (oysters, shrimp), pumpkin seeds, nuts;
- antioxidants - blueberries, red cabbage, pomegranate, spinach, beetroot and dark chocolate;
- flavonoids - green tea, citrus fruits, cocoa, blueberries;
- Omega-3 fatty acids - oily fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines), flaxseeds, chia seeds, nuts and fish oil;
- protein and beneficial amino acids - meat, poultry, fish, eggs, legumes, soy products (tofu, tempeh), nuts and seeds.
Physical activity and immunity
Physical activity is a great way to boost immunity in children and adults, but only if they are healthy. During or after a serious illness, the body needs to take time to recover and 'tone down the burn' somewhat. Not without reason, doctors often say that rest is the best medicine, and this is true for the immune system.
However, this doesn't mean you should stay in bed. Light and moderate activity with gradually increasing loads activates blood circulation and metabolic processes, restores vitality and normalizes the immune system. The main thing - do not overdo it and do not overload the body: as mentioned above, physical stress is bad for the immune system.
Folk remedies for restoring immunity
Folk remedies for restoring and strengthening immunity include:
- Garlic - does indeed contain the antimicrobial substance allicin, but the value of this vegetable is exaggerated. However, 1-2 cloves of garlic added to food is unlikely to harm anyone;
- honey and propolis - excellent 'immune' aids if a person is not allergic to them;
- sea buckthorn, sea buckthorn, lemon - are indispensable in making useful and tasty drinks;
- Echinacea - in folk medicine, a decoction of its herb is considered an effective remedy for strengthening immunity.
Useful 'immune-boosting' supplements
If the doctor sees that the patient's body is weak and exhausted, he may recommend useful supplements to quickly restore immunity:
- vitamins and minerals;
- adaptogens;
- probiotics.
Vitamins (A, B, C, C, D, E) and minerals (iron, zinc and others) can be taken either individually or as ready-made vitamin and mineral complexes "for immunity". The best remedies in a given clinical situation can only be selected by a doctor.
Adaptogens (ginseng, echinacea, eleutherococcus) should also be prescribed by a physician, as there are certain indications and contraindications for taking these medications.
As for probiotics, doctors' opinions are divided. In the past, they were always prescribed if a person was taking antibiotics - with premiums for treatment. However, modern medicine states that probiotics should only be used when they are really needed - for example, when antibiotic-associated diarrhea occurs. The use of probiotics to 'boost immunity' is still not widespread, but their positive effects on the immune system have been observed in some studies.
Note: During and after illness, doctors recommend consuming nutritious probiotics (kefir, yogurt, kimchi, miso, sauerkraut) and prebiotics (bananas, asparagus, oatmeal) - but only if they are well tolerated
How can I restore a child's immunity?
Children are less likely to become chronically or systemically ill than adults, but their immune system is working around the clock because of exposure to new bacteria and viruses. But it is often possible to restore and strengthen a child's immunity even without medication. The main thing is not to forget:
- a balanced diet rich in vitamins, minerals and antioxidants;
- adequate physical activity (moving games, sports) and frequent outdoor activities;
- adequate sleep (at least 9-10 hours for school children and 10-12 hours for babies);
- adequate daily routine, adequate rest (studying is not the most important thing in life);
- psycho-emotional comfort;
- hardening - this should start from birth;
- personal hygiene (e.g. frequent hand washing);
- avoiding contact with sick people/children (even the healthiest child's immune system will weaken if illnesses recur one after another).
Note: if necessary, your pediatrician may recommend vitamin and mineral complexes for children to restore immunity
Prevent disease and strengthen the immune system
The stronger the immune system, the less often a person gets sick - and vice versa. This is why you need to take care of your immune system's health at all times - and you don't need to buy expensive immunostimulants and immunomodulators to do this. In addition, uncontrolled use of these drugs can be very harmful to the body. Useful "habits" for keeping immunity at a decent level are:
- proper nutrition;
- an active lifestyle;
- strengthening (will not harm adults);
- refusing bad habits (a glass of red wine with dinner is allowed);
- timely rest and holidays;
- proper treatment of infectious and related diseases.
It is also important to reduce the number of viral infections that can adversely affect the state of the immune system. To do this, it is necessary to avoid contact with sick people, especially during infectious outbreaks/ epidemics, use personal protective equipment, do not forget about hygiene and - if necessary - vaccinate.
Vaccines, of course, do not strengthen the body's own immunity, but they stimulate the production of certain antibodies and, in most cases, protect against certain diseases.
We wish you excellent immunity and good health!
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