Brady Collins
Actively acquired specific immunity, also known as adaptive immunity, is a type of immunity that occurs when the body's immune system is exposed to a pathogen and produces antibodies to fight it. This can happen through natural infection or artificial means such as vaccination. Active immunity is long-lasting and sometimes life-long, as the body's immune system learns to recognize and remember the pathogen, allowing for a swift immune response if the pathogen is encountered again. In contrast, passive immunity is short-lived and occurs when an individual receives antibodies from an external source, such as a mother passing antibodies to her child during pregnancy and breastfeeding. While passive immunity provides immediate protection, it does not lead to the formation of long-lasting memory cells. Examples of actively acquired specific immunity include recovery from measles and chickenpox, where the body produces its own antibodies to fight the infection, as well as immunization with live or killed vaccines, which stimulate the immune system to produce its own antibodies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Active immunity is when a person's immune system produces antibodies and activates other immune cells to a specific pathogen. |
| How it works | Exposure to a disease organism triggers the immune system to produce antibodies to that disease. |
| Types | Active immunity can be acquired through natural immunity or vaccine-induced immunity. |
| Natural immunity | Acquired through exposure to the disease organism through infection with the actual disease. |
| Vaccine-induced immunity | Acquired through the introduction of a killed or weakened form of the disease organism through vaccination. |
| Passive immunity | When a person is given someone else's antibodies. |
| Examples | Recovery from measles or chickenpox; immunization with live or killed vaccines. |
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What You'll Learn
Recovery from measles
Measles is a preventable disease caused by a virus. There is no specific antiviral treatment for measles, and the virus has to run its course. However, certain treatments can help ease the symptoms, lower the risk of complications, and prevent death. The first symptoms of measles usually include a cough, runny nose, fever, and red eyes. Small red spots with blue-white centres, called Koplik's spots, may also appear inside the mouth before the rash starts. The measles rash typically breaks out 3–5 days after symptoms start and fades after about a week. It usually starts as flat red spots on the forehead and then spreads to the rest of the face, neck, torso, arms, legs, and feet. The fever and rash slowly disappear after a few days.
People with measles can spread the disease as early as 5 days before the rash starts and up to 4 days after. Those with weak immune systems due to conditions like HIV or cancer, or certain medications, can spread the virus longer, until they recover. Measles is highly contagious, and the virus can be transmitted through droplets from an infected person's nose and mouth when they breathe, cough, or sneeze. It can also be contracted by touching surfaces contaminated with these droplets.
The best way to prevent measles is through vaccination. The measles vaccine is safe and effective and can be given to babies as young as 6 months old if they are travelling internationally. The first vaccine is typically administered when children are 12 to 15 months old, with a second dose given between 4 and 6 years of age. About 95% of people achieve immunity after the first vaccine, and the rest develop it with the second dose. Immunity from the measles vaccine is usually lifelong.
In addition to vaccination, vitamin A supplementation may be recommended for children with measles, especially those with low vitamin A levels, as it can help reduce the severity of the illness. However, it is important to consult a healthcare professional before providing vitamin A supplements to children.
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Recovery from chickenpox
Active immunity is when exposure to a disease organism triggers the immune system to produce antibodies to that disease. This can be acquired through natural immunity or vaccine-induced immunity. Natural immunity is acquired from exposure to the disease organism through infection with the actual disease. Vaccine-induced immunity is acquired through the introduction of a killed or weakened form of the disease organism through vaccination.
Chickenpox is a viral infection that causes an itchy, blister-like rash. It is caused by the varicella-zoster virus and is highly contagious. While it is uncommon in adults, it is still possible to contract it. Before the vaccine was introduced in 1995, almost everyone got chickenpox as a toddler or young child. Now, the rate of chickenpox has declined by nearly 90%.
Chickenpox is usually benign and goes away on its own in about a week or two. During this time, the blisters will crust over and peel off. To aid recovery, it is recommended to keep the affected area cool and moisturized, trim fingernails to avoid scratching, and take antihistamines to reduce itching. Lifestyle factors such as diet and exposure to wind can also impact the recovery process.
For those with weak immune systems, chickenpox can last from 2 to 3 weeks before fully healing. Proper care is necessary to minimize scarring and prevent dangerous complications. Isolation is recommended to prevent the spread of the infection.
Vaccination is the best way to boost acquired immunity and protect against chickenpox. The chickenpox vaccine was introduced in 1995, and today, most children receive it as part of their routine immunization schedule. Once vaccinated, individuals are protected from contracting chickenpox from others.
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Immunization with live or killed vaccines
Active immunity is when our immune system is responsible for protecting us from a pathogen. It develops in response to an infection or vaccination, exposing our immune system to a germ or pathogen. Active immunity is long-lasting and sometimes life-long.
Vaccines are a way to boost our acquired immunity. They expose us to a very small, safe amount of viruses or bacteria that have been weakened or killed. Our immune system then learns to recognise and attack the infection if we are exposed to it later. This is known as immunologic memory, where memory cells allow our immune system to respond quickly and specifically to a pathogen.
Live vaccines use a weakened form of the germ that causes a disease. They are very similar to the natural infection and create a strong and long-lasting immune response. The measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine, the varicella (chickenpox) vaccine, and the oral polio vaccine are examples of live vaccines.
Killed or inactivated vaccines use a protein or other small pieces taken from a virus or bacteria. They usually don't provide as strong an immune response as live vaccines, so several doses may be needed over time. The whooping cough (pertussis) vaccine, the influenza shot, and the 1955 polio vaccine are examples of killed vaccines.
Both live and killed vaccines are important tools in actively acquired specific immunity. They offer our immune systems a chance to ""train" for future encounters with pathogens, providing us with protection without the risks associated with natural infection.
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Vaccination and immunity
Vaccination is one of the best ways to protect oneself from serious diseases. It is an example of actively acquired specific immunity. Vaccines help people build immunity to diseases without getting the diseases themselves. There are two types of immunity: active and passive. Active immunity occurs when exposure to a disease organism triggers the immune system to produce antibodies to that disease. It is the most common type of immunity and can be acquired through natural immunity or vaccine-induced immunity.
Natural immunity is acquired from exposure to the disease organism through infection with the actual disease. On the other hand, vaccine-induced immunity is acquired through the introduction of a killed or weakened form of the disease organism through vaccination. In both cases, if an immune person comes into contact with the disease in the future, their immune system will recognize it and immediately produce the antibodies needed to fight it. Active immunity is long-lasting and sometimes even lifelong.
Vaccines contribute to active immunity by providing a controlled way to create an immune response. When a vaccine is introduced, the immune system treats it like any other exposure and works to stop it. In the process, immunologic memory develops. Vaccines are designed not to cause illness, so we gain the benefits of exposure without the risks associated with fighting off a natural infection. This allows our immune systems to "train" for a future encounter and provides a "shortcut" to protection.
Passive immunity, on the other hand, is when we are protected from a pathogen by immunity gained from someone else. It is short-lived as the antibodies are not continually replenished. Newborn babies acquire passive immunity from their mothers during pregnancy and through breast milk. Passive immunity can also be gained through antibody-containing blood products such as immune globulin, which may be given when immediate protection from a specific disease is needed.
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Natural immunity
When an individual is exposed to a pathogen, their immune system is triggered to produce antibodies to fight it. This process, known as active immunity, can be achieved through natural immunity or vaccine-induced immunity. In the case of natural immunity, the body's immune system is exposed to the disease organism through infection with the actual disease. The immune system then produces antibodies to fight off that specific disease.
Active immunity, including natural immunity, is long-lasting and sometimes life-long. Once the immune system has been exposed to a pathogen, it develops immunologic memory. This memory consists of B and T cells that can recognize and quickly respond to a specific pathogen if encountered again. This is why certain illnesses, such as chickenpox, are typically contracted only once in a lifetime.
While natural immunity provides long-term protection, it comes at the cost of experiencing the symptoms and potential risks associated with the natural infection. In contrast, artificial immunity through vaccination offers a shortcut to protection, as it exposes the immune system to a small, controlled amount of the pathogen without causing illness.
In summary, natural immunity is a form of active immunity that is acquired through natural exposure to a disease-causing pathogen. It results in the production of antibodies and the development of immunologic memory, providing long-lasting protection against specific diseases.
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Frequently asked questions
Actively acquired specific immunity, also known as active immunity, is when the body's immune system produces antibodies and activates other immune cells to fight specific pathogens.
When the body is exposed to a pathogen, the immune system creates memory cells that recognise and fight the pathogen. If the body encounters the same pathogen again, the memory cells are activated, stimulating the production of antibodies to protect the body.
Recovery from measles or chickenpox is an example of actively acquired specific immunity as the body produces its own antibodies after infection. Immunisation with live or killed vaccines is another example as the vaccine stimulates the immune system to produce its own antibodies.
Passive immunity occurs when a person is given someone else's antibodies to help prevent or fight certain infectious diseases. This type of immunity is short-lived but provides immediate protection. Actively acquired specific immunity, on the other hand, takes time to develop but is long-lasting.
Getting recommended vaccinations is the best way to boost actively acquired specific immunity. Vaccines expose the immune system to small amounts of pathogens, allowing it to learn and recognise them.
