The Importance of Vaccination

A few weeks ago I had just gotten hired to work at a local hospital and as a part of the job requirements each employee must receive various vaccinations. This past Monday, 3/22/10, I had finally completed all of my pre-job requirements and as a part of the requirements I had to receive a shot, a TB shot. Not remembering my childhood vaccinations I had to call my mother and ask what are all the diseases or viruses I had been vaccinated for and she gave me a list. Having this encounter I began to think about all the required vaccinations and the soon to be required vaccinations such as the vaccination for HPV. Vaccination for HPV isn't required across the country yet but is in some areas. I spoke with my cousin Thursday 3/25/10 and she informed me on how her little sisters in junior high and high school are required to have the vaccine for HPV. A lot of people receive vaccinations for requirements such as work or school but do they really understand why they get them and how they work?

What are vaccinations?

The administering of an antigeic material (any foreign substance) to allow the development of an immune response.

How do vaccinations work?

A patient is injected with weak or very mild forms of the acutal virus. The injection is weak enough so that the patient wont actually get the virus but strong enough so that the body becomes familiar with it to develop immunity or protection agianst it.

Why are vaccinations important?

The word vaccination origanally comes from the Latin word vaca meaning cow because it was first developed for cowpox by two scientist who kept record of people infected and realized that once they were infected and if they survided they didn't get the virus agian. These two scientist Von Behring and Kitasato in 1890 came up with the idea of making a virus themselves by getting it from mild forms in patients who had already been exposed and then inject it into others as the mild form. They were successful. Vaccinations are important because they present the immune system with a mild form of the virus allowing the immune system to fight the mild form, develop protection and memory so that whenever exposed again the body would be able to handle it.

Common Vaccinations

Chickenpox (varicella)
Age 12–15 months
Diphtheria
Age 2 months
Haemophilus influenza type b infections (such as meningitis)
Age 2 months
Hepatitis A
Age 12–18 months
Hepatitis B
Birth
Human papillomavirus (for girls)
Age 11 years
Influenza
Age 6 months
Measles
Age 12–15 months
Meningococcal meningitis
Age 11–12 years
Age 2 years for children at high risk
Mumps
Age 12–15 months
Pertussis
Age 2 months
Pneumococcal infections
Age 2 months
Polio
Age 2 months
Rotavirus
Age 2 months
Rubella (German measles)
Age 12–15 months
Tetanus
Age 2 months

the Merck Manuals online Library http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec17/ch189/ch189b.html

Cystic Fibrosis Lung disease

Just recently on my spring break (3/10/10) I was setting and thinking about what I wanted to do my Immunology project on, trying to figure out what topic I wanted to write about. At that very moment of thinking I was also eating crackers and cheese! I choked on my evening snack and began to pound on my chest as if I were suffering form Cystic Fibrosis. When I thought of the action I was taking I became interested in the disease and I thought I had found my project topic. I began to write my paper about the disease but only to come so far and realize I didn't have as much information and interest to keep me writing. So instead of wasting that knowledge I decided to share it in my blog!!!



What is Cystic Fibrosis and what does it have to do with the immune system???

A progressive disease of the mucous glands that is chronic and genetically linked. The build up of the mucous causes breathing and digestive complications and harmfully affects the lungs and pancreas. The extremely thick mucous builds up within the lungs and intestines and doesn't properly allow the passage of food and air flow so patients often eat a lot but suffer from malnutrition, stunted growth, problems with breathing, and chronic respiratory infections.

Though there is not a cure for the disease many people are living to be 30 plus with Cystic Fibrosis when the expected age years ago was barely 4 years old. Treatment often consists of breathing techniques and ways to break up the mucous with devices such as the "chest vest". When these techniques fail to work steroids and antibiotics also help. Depending on the severity of the patients condition they may also have to seek options such as lung and heart transplants.

After studying about Cystic Fibrosis and changing my report topic to Immunoglobulin class productions and functions I began to wonder if or how IgA, (Immunoglobulin class A), could be related in such a disease as cystic fibrosis. It is an extreme mucous secreting disease in which bacteria are able to live in and IgA is the antibody class that protects the mucous lining against such bacteria and pathogens. To find out the direct relation I will have to study the two topics more in depth and come back with an answer!




google images
Medical problems in association with Cystic Fibrosis

• Sinusitis. Swollen sinuses that become blocked with mucus can become infected.
  


• Bronchiectasis. Here, the bronchial tubes that carry air to the lungs become stretched out and weak, forming pockets where mucus collects and provides a breeding ground for bacteria, which can cause repeated lung infections. Untreated, bronchiectasis can lead to serious illness, including respiratory failure.
  


• Pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas.
  


• Episodes of intestinal blockage, especially in newborns.
  


• Nasal polyps, which may require surgery.
  


• Clubbing; that is, widening and rounding of the tips of the fingers and toes that develops because the lungs are not moving enough oxygen into the bloodstream.
  


• Collapsed lung, also called pneumothorax.
  


• Rectal prolapse. As a result of frequent coughing or problems passing stools, rectal tissue can protrude through the anus.
  


• Liver disease due to inflammation or blocked bile ducts.
  


• Diabetes.
  


• Gallstones.
  


• Low bone density due to vitamin D deficiency.

http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART02973/Cystic-Fibrosis.html

Lupus Erythematosus Disease

WHY this Disease???
A few nights ago (3/10/10) I was speaking with my aunt about my blog and I asked her what would be a good topic to blog about. She is a RN at a well known hospital and deals with many different cases, one which she suggested I blog about was Lupus Disease.

-Lupus, a disease that is an autoimmune disorder that causes disease to the heart, lungs, joints, kidneys, and nervous system. There are other forms of Lupus such as Discoid lupus which is limited to the skin. This disease has no known causes but it is known to be linked to viruses, ultraviolet light, heredity, and drugs. Lupus erythematosus is a disease that is more often occurring in women than men and begins between the ages of 20 and 45. The disease causes chest pains, kidney failure, and coughing due to the intense inflammatory responses.

http://www.medicinenet.com/systemic_lupus/article.htm

Dictionary

-Autoimmune Disorder: An autoimmune disorder is a condition that occurs when the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys healthy body tissue. There are more than 80 different types of autoimmune disorders. MedlinePlus.com
-Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: A chronic, inflammatory autoimmune disorder. It may affect the skin, joints, kidneys, and other organs. MedlinePluse.com

Images by google