(FAR) The Immune Response and Symptoms Lesson

The Immune Response and Symptoms Lesson 

Immune Response Image --Mouth swelling or itching of the lips or tongue. --Airways: wheezing or breathing difficulties --Digestive Tract: stomach cramps, vomiting diarrhea --Skin: hives, rash, or eczemaThe immune system (the body's defense system; a system of cells, proteins, tissues, and organs that protect against germs and microorganisms) protects the body from potentially harmful substances by recognizing and responding to antigens or invaders.  The invaders can be living or nonliving like chemicals, drugs or a foreign object. Food, itself, is different than a bacteria or virus. It cannot cause an immune response. However, a particle or item within the food can. There are certain circumstances that present issues when digesting food. They are as follows:

  • Genetics
  • Circumstances under which the food was first encountered
  • Microorganisms that live within the digestive tract
  • Other diseases present at the same time
  • Oral medication

 

The Immune Response to Food

  1. The first time a person eats a food allergen (substance that causes an allergic reaction), the individual will not respond negatively outwardly. However, something very different is going on inside. When the allergen is eaten, a IgE antibody (a protein that detects harmful substances)  is formed and attaches itself to cells found in the tissues in cells all over the body. So, now the body is primed for that allergen if it enters the body again.
  2. When the food allergen enters the body again, the allergen binds to IgE antibodies and sends out signals for the body to release large amounts of histamine (compounds that trigger immune responses). This causes irritation and swelling in certain areas of the body - an allergic reaction (body's natural response to an invader).

The reactions may be different for each individual. Some may manifest a mild form of hives and others may develop shortness of breath or anaphylaxis, which could cause death. As discussed earlier, anaphylactic shock is a severe allergic reaction characterized by a sharp drop in blood pressure and breathing difficulties. This can be common with severe food allergies or even a bee sting.

 

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