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Written by Team Liki24 
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Immunity is the ability of the body to protect itself from various infections and malignant tumors, and if we speak in official language - the ability to maintain its biological identity.The main task of the immune system is to recognize “own” and “foreign” and, accordingly, rid the body of dangerous foreign molecules / substances / pathogens, as well as its own pathologically altered cells.
Everything that in one way or another differs from the normal cells of the body, the immune system perceives as antigens and unfolds 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 did not work - the child would die immediately after birth at the first contact with viruses and bacteria. There are millions of microorganisms around us that can cause illness or death. To prevent this from happening, the human body has evolved a “layered defense” that can prevent most infections - but only if it is working properly.
How does the immune system work? Contrary to popular belief, immunity is not just about antibodies. The immune system protects the body with the help of:
- physical barriers (skin, mucous membranes of the respiratory and genitourinary system, gastrointestinal tract);
- special “antiseptic substances” (antimicrobial peptides defensins, lactic acid and fatty acids in the secretion of sweat and sebaceous glands that inhibit bacterial growth, lysozyme, lactoferrin);
- “defense cells” (intraepithelial lymphocytes, antigen-presenting Langerhans cells, mast cells, phagocytic lymphocytes);
- antibodies.
And immunity itself comes in innate and acquired. To begin to act, innate immunity does not need prior contact with a microbe or immunologic memory - it works from the first seconds of a child's life. It's provided by different cell types:
- neutrophils, monocytes, macrophages - absorb antigens and destroy them;
- polymorphonuclear leukocytes and mononuclears (cells with a single nucleus) - trigger the inflammatory process by releasing special substances (inflammatory mediators);
- natural killer cells - they are effective against viruses and tumors.
With acquired immunity the case is a little more complicated. First, the body must “get acquainted” with the infection, then develop antibodies (they work strictly against certain microbes), destroy the infection and most importantly - remember it for the next meetings.
Acquired immunity can be persistent and even lifelong (for example, chicken pox, as a rule, get sick only once), but, unfortunately, for most common viral infections it quickly “ends”. This is why adults and children can get sick from year to year with rhinitis, pharyngitis and other acute respiratory infections.
Why can immunity decrease?
Sometimes it happens that the immune system does not work well from the birth of the child - in this case, doctors diagnose “primary immunodeficiency”. This is not always a verdict - the dysfunction of certain parts of the immune system may lead to slightly more frequent infections than in healthy children. But there are also extremely severe primary immunodeficiencies, such as Bruton's aglobulinemia, Di Giorgi and Wiskott-Aldrich syndromes; without proper treatment, they can quickly lead to death.
Much more common, however, 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;
- surgeries;
- poor, unbalanced diet, malnutrition, abuse of extreme diets, starvation;
- constant stress, psycho-emotional tension;
- sleep disorders;
- bad habits;
- anemia;
- sedentary lifestyle or, on the contrary, excessive physical exertion with chronic overwork and even physical exhaustion;
- advanced age;
- use of certain medications (glucocorticoid hormones, methotrexate, antineoplastic drugs, other immunosuppressants);
- diseases of the digestive tract.
However, by no means always frequent illnesses are associated with impaired immune system function. For example, in 50% of children with recurrent infections (up to 12 times a year), examination does not reveal any abnormalities, and endless ARVI are associated with external factors - school, kindergarten or frequently ill siblings.
In 30%, doctors confirm atopy - that is, 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 mucus flowing in large quantities begins to cause a strong cough).
Only 20% of children have frequent infections due to severe chronic diseases (e.g., cystic fibrosis), medications, malformations, or immunodeficiencies.
A rather unusual cause of a child's frequent “illnesses” is Munchausen 's syndrome in their mother (father) or caregiver. In this case, all symptoms are usually recorded from the words of an adult, and in the hospital the little patient immediately gets better. Munchausen's syndrome is rare, but it is important to remember it - especially if a child who is absolutely healthy according to the results of the examination is endlessly “sick”.
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 anomalies, bad habits.
How to quickly restore immunity after an illness or antibiotics?
Far from always the immune system requires strengthening, restoration or support. Even if the child constantly “grabs” ARVI, but in the period between diseases he 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 quite successfully copes with them.
In adults, the case is different. With new microbes their immune system has long been familiarized in childhood, so frequent acute respiratory viral infections, of course, should be alarmed. In this situation, the first thing to think about is not how to restore immunity, but why it has weakened. This should be done by a doctor (family doctor or therapist).
But there is another situation - healthy up to now a person after a serious illness or surgery suddenly begins to get sick often. Why does this happen?
With a prolonged illness, the body exhausts its resources - and the immune system, including. 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 the weak immune system.
It often happens that viruses first enter the body, weaken its immunity and “pass the baton” to bacteria. A typical example is bacterial pneumonia, arising against the background of severe viral infection.
There are also viruses that selectively attack the immune system:
- Epstein-Barr virus;
- cytomegalovirus;
- Human 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 influenza, covitis and other infections). Diseases increase oxidative processes, which causes free radicals to accumulate in the blood and increases oxidative stress. It has a devastating effect on the cells of the whole body and especially on the immune system.
Do not underestimate the stress that a person faces during a serious illness or surgery. In response to it, the hormone cortisol is produced, and it has an immunosuppressive effect - depresses the immune system.
And of course, against the background of 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 destroy the infection, but they can affect the body in other ways:
- disrupting the intestinal microflora and the health of the gut. In the ileum are located organs of the immune system - Peyer's plaques, and in the large intestine live bacteria that produce useful vitamins B and K, which are “responsible” for normal immunity;
- inhibit the activity of neutrophils and macrophages - cellular immunity;
- reduce the production of cytokines - substances that “coordinate” the immune system;
- worsen the general health of the body due to side effects.
Since 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 medications.
How to strengthen the immunity of adults and children without medication
Quickly restore immunity after illness and / or antibiotics - a difficult task, and sometimes very difficult to accomplish. That is why it is better to strengthen it as soon as a person is sick, and even better - before.
Special attention should be paid to nutrition. Natural “helpers” include vegetables, fruits 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 increases the consumption of both carbohydrates and proteins, as well as fats.
Proper nutrition “for immunity” must necessarily include sources of:
- vitamin A - carrots, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, spinach;
- B vitamins - greens, tomatoes, peas, cabbage, buckwheat, oatmeal, wheat bread, nuts, mushrooms, rose hips, meat (beef), dairy products, fish, liver;
- vitamin C - citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruit), kiwi, broccoli, bell peppers, strawberries;
- vitamin D - most of it is synthesized in the skin under the influence of the sun, but in the fall and winter period will also be useful salmon, mackerel and eggs;
- 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, beets and dark chocolate;
- flavonoids - green tea, citrus fruits, cocoa, blueberries;
- Omega-3 fatty acids - fatty fish (salmon, mackerel, sardines), flaxseed, chia seeds, walnuts and fish oil;
- proteins 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 a serious illness or after it, the body needs to give time to recover and somewhat “moderate the ardor”. Not without reason doctors often say that rest is the best medicine, and this is true for the immune system.
However, this does not mean that you need to lie in bed. Light and moderate activity with a gradual increase in 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 to restore immunity
Popular folk remedies for restoring and strengthening immunity include:
- Garlic - it does contain the antimicrobial substance allicin, but the value of this vegetable is exaggerated. Still, 1-2 cloves of garlic added to food is unlikely to harm anyone;
- honey and propolis - excellent “immune” means, if a person is not allergic to them;
- sea buckthorn, rose hips, lemon - they are indispensable in the preparation of useful and tasty drinks;
- Echinacea - in folk medicine, a decoction of its herb is considered an effective remedy for strengthening immunity.
Useful supplements “for immunity”
If the doctor sees that the patient's body is weakened and exhausted, he can recommend useful supplements to quickly restore immunity:
- vitamins and minerals;
- adaptogens;
- probiotics.
Vitamins (A, B, C, D, E) and minerals (iron, zinc, and others) can be taken individually or as ready-made vitamin and mineral complexes “for immunity”. The best means in a particular clinical situation can only be selected by a doctor.
Adaptogens (ginseng, echinacea, eleutherococcus) should also be prescribed by a medical professional, as there are certain indications and contraindications to taking these drugs.
With regard to probiotics, the opinions of doctors are divided. In the past, they were always prescribed if a person took antibiotics - from the first for treatment. However, modern medicine states that probiotics should only be used when they are really necessary - for example, when antibiotic-associated diarrhea occurs. The use of probiotics for “immune enhancement” is not yet very widespread, but their positive effects on the immune system have been noted in some studies.
Please note: during and after illness, doctors recommend a high intake of food probiotics (kefir, yogurt, kimchi, miso, sauerkraut) and prebiotics (bananas, asparagus, oatmeal) - but only if they are well tolerated.
How to restore immunity to a child?
Children are less likely to suffer from chronic or systemic illnesses than adults, but their immune systems work non-stop due to exposure to new bacteria and viruses. But most often it is possible to restore and strengthen the immunity of the child and without medication. The main thing is not to forget about:
- 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 schoolchildren and 10-12 hours for babies);
- proper daily regimen, proper rest (studying is not the most important thing in life);
- psycho-emotional comfort;
- hardening - it should be started 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 are repeated one after another).
Please note: if necessary, a pediatrician can recommend children's vitamin and mineral complexes to restore immunity.
Disease prevention and strengthening the immune system
The stronger the immune system, the less often a person gets sick - and vice versa. That is why you need to take care of the health of the immune system constantly - and for this purpose it is not necessary to buy expensive immunostimulants and immunomodulators. Moreover, uncontrolled use of such drugs can be very harmful to the body. Useful “habits” for maintaining your immunity at a decent level are:
- proper nutrition;
- active lifestyle;
- hardening (it will not hurt adults);
- refusal of bad habits (a glass of red wine for dinner is allowed);
- timely rest and vacation;
- adequate 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 - to be vaccinated.
Vaccinations, of course, do not strengthen the body's own immunity, but they do stimulate the production of certain antibodies and in most cases protect against specific diseases.
We wish you excellent immunity and good health!
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