Immunity

Question 1

Define immunity

Answer 1

The normal physiologic response to microorganisms and proteins as well as conditions associated with an inadequate or excessive immune response.

Question 2

Scope of Concept - Immunity

Answer 2

Ranges from hypo- or suppressed immune response to hyper- or exaggerated immune response
- Normal immune system or a hypo immune system (suppressed or immunocompromise)

Question 3

Types of Immune Response

Answer 3

• Innate Immunity: born with it; tell new parents don’t go to a place with a lot of new people because they do not have immunities to them
• Active Acquired Immunity: vaccinations, getting sick and building antibodies
• Passive Acquired Immunity: breastfeeding, maternal blood; every time the mom nurses, the baby is taking in immunities they would not normally have if they were not breastfeeding

Question 4

Consequences of Suppressed Immune Response

Answer 4

Infection:
- Bacterial
- Fungal
- Viral

Cancer: chemo attacks cancer cells and blood cells

Question 5

Symptoms and Clinical Findings of Suppressed Immune Functioning

Answer 5

Symptoms:
- Report of frequent infections
- Report of poor wound healing
- Fatigue
- Malaise: overall just ugh feeling
- Weight loss
- Feeling like they are sick all the time

Clinical findings:
- May appear poorly nourished or have wasting syndrome
- May have chronic wounds: non-healing wounds present
- May have enlarged lymph nodes
- Presence of opportunistic infection: odd infections humans never get

Question 6

Consequences of Exaggerated Immune Response

Answer 6

• Acute Hypersensitivity Reaction: localed effect, systemic effect
• Chronic body-wide system disease: Destruction of body tissue, abnormal organ growth, change in organ function
• After traumatic event, immune system goes wack

Question 6

Consequences of Exaggerated Immune Response

Answer 6

• Acute Hypersensitivity Reaction: localed effect, systemic effect
• Chronic body-wide system disease: Destruction of body tissue, abnormal organ growth, change in organ function
• After traumatic event, immune system goes wack

Question 7

Symptoms and Clinical Findings of Exaggerated Immune Functioning

Answer 7

Symptoms:
- Allergic symptoms: exaggerated immune response to whatever they are allergic to
- Pain
- Fatigue
- Fever

Clinical findings:
- Allergic response
- Mild allergic response
- Severe allergic response
- Autoimmune disorders
- Can range from vague findings to findings associated with organ failure

Question 8

Diagnostic Testing

Answer 8

Primary Testing:
- Red blood cell count and white blood cell count with differential
- Fluorescent antinuclear antibody (ANA)
- C-reactive protein (CRP)
- Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR)

• Allergy testing
• Genetic testing
• Rheumatoid factors (RFs)
• Western blot test
• Organ function tests

Question 9

Primary Prevention

Answer 9

• Immunizations
• Avoiding high-risk behaviors
• Adequate nutrition
• Exercise
• Infection control measures

Question 10

Normal Physiological Process of Immune Response

Answer 10

• Major histocompatibility complex proteins
• Organs comprising the immune system
• Origin of cells in an immune response
• B and T lymphocytes
• Antibody production
• Phagocytes
• Complement system
• Lymphocyte function in an immune response
• Dendritic cell function in an immune response

Question 11

Examples

Answer 11

• Hodgkin’s and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma
• HIV disease
• Anaphylaxis
• Allergic rhinitis
• Systemic lupus erythematosus
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus
• Multiple sclerosis