Pack 12 - Immune Dysfunction

Question 1

Autoimmune disease

Answer 1

An illness that causes the immune system to produce antibodies that attack normal body tissues

Question 2

Immunodeficiency disease

Answer 2

Where the immune system’s ability to fight infectious disease and cancer is compromised or entirely absent

Question 3

Allergies

Answer 3

A condition involving an abnormal immune reaction to a normally harmless substance

Question 4

Autoimmune diseases process:

Answer 4

The white blood cells and the chemicals they produce attack and destroy healthy body tissues

Question 5

Multiple sclerosis causes:

Answer 5

Multiple sclerosis occurs when the immune system destroys the myelin sheath of nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord

Question 6

Multiple sclerosis symptoms:

Answer 6

• Trouble walking
• Tiredness / fatigue
• Muscle weakness

Question 7

Multiple sclerosis treatment:

Answer 7

• Corticosteroid drugs to prevent inflammation
• Plasma exchange
• Immunosuppressant drugs

Question 8

Crohn’s disease causes:

Answer 8

• An abnormal response to an infection or genetic predisposition may cause Crohn’s disease.
• Crohn’s disease occurs when the immune system destroys cells of the digestive system, especially the small intestine and colon

Question 9

Crohn’s disease symptoms:

Answer 9

• Diarrhoea
• Fever
• Fatigue

Question 10

Crohn’s disease treatment:

Answer 10

• Immunosuppressants – decrease activity of immune system
• Liquid diets
• Surgery

Question 11

Rheumatoid arthritis cause:

Answer 11

Rheumatoid arthritis occurs when the immune system destroys the synovium - the lining of the membranes that surround your joints

Question 12

Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms:

Answer 12

• Joint pain, swelling and stiffness
• Tiredness / lack of energy
• High temperature / sweating

Question 13

Rheumatoid arthritis treatment:

Answer 13

• Medication anti inflammatory drugs – to stop inflammation
• Physical therapy
• Surgery

Question 14

Immunodeficiency diseases process:

Answer 14

Arise when the immune system is underactive and this lowers the body’s ability to fight infections

Question 15

Primary immunodeficiency diseases

Answer 15

Caused by inherited or genetic defects in the cells and tissues of the immune system

Question 16

Secondary immunodeficiency diseases

Answer 16

The result of disease or other environmental factors
weakening the immune system

Question 17

Severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) causes:

Answer 17

• A mutated / faulty gene
• Leads to a lack of T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes

Question 18

SCID symptoms:

Answer 18

• Increased infections
• Poor growth
• No weight gain

Question 19

SCID treatment

Answer 19

• Antibiotics, antiviral and antifungal medicines to treat infections
• Immunoglobulin (antibody) injections
• Blood transfusions to give extra lymphocytes

Question 20

AIDS causes:

Answer 20

• HIV destroys t HELPER CELLS
• B CELLS AND t KILLER CELLS CANNOT BE ACTIVATED

Question 21

AIDS symptoms:

Answer 21

• Increased infections
• Rapid weight loss
• Extreme tiredness

Question 22

AIDS treatment:

Answer 22

• Antiretroviral drugs – reduce production of more virus
• Reverse transcriptase inhibitors – prevent the viral RNA from making DNA for integration into host genome
• Protease inhibitors – inhibit proteases that catalyse the cutting of larger proteins into smaller polypeptides for use in the construction of new viruses

Question 23

Immunodeficiency due to chemotherapy causes:

Answer 23

Chemotherapy medicines damage bone marrow so less white blood cells made e.g. phagocytes

Question 24

Immunodeficiency due to chemotherapy symtpoms

Answer 24

Increased infections

Question 25

Immunodeficiency due to chemotherapy treatment:

Answer 25

- Antibiotics, antiviral and antifungal medicines – treat infections - Colony – stimulating factors (CFSs) or white blood cell growth factors – help body make more white blood cells - Immunoglobulin (antibody) injections

Question 26

Immunodeficiency due to organ transplantation causes:

Answer 26

Immunosuppressant drugs which are taken to prevent organ rejection

Question 27

Immunosuppressant drugs which are taken to prevent organ rejection symptoms:

Answer 27

Increased infections

Question 28

Immunodeficiency due to organ transplantation treatment:

Answer 28

- Antibiotics – treat infections - Immunoglobulin (antibody) injections - Colony – stimulating factors (CSFs) or white blood cell growth factors – help body make more white blood cells

Question 29

Allergen

Answer 29

A harmless substance

Question 30

Anaphalaxysis

Answer 30

A severe, potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that can develop rapidly

Question 31

Mast cell

Answer 31

Responsible for immediate allergic reactions and they cause allergic symptoms by releasing chemicals such as histamine

Question 32

Dermatitis

Answer 32

A skin condition that occurs after exposure to an allergen and leads to a red and itchy skin

Question 33

Allergy-induce asthm,a

Answer 33

A condition in which the airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus

Question 34

How is an allergic reaction caused?

Answer 34

- When allergens are inhaled, the immune system recognises them as foreign and B lymphocytes differentiate into plasma cells which produce IgE antibodies - Immunoglobulin E (IgE) is a type of antibody which is produced by B cells in response to an allergen - The first time the person encounters the allergen a large amount of IgE antibody is produced. - The IgE antibodies bind to and coat mast cells in tissues - During a second exposure to the same allergen the allergen binds to the antibodies on mast cells and stimulate mast cells to release histamine – which causes an allergic reaction - This causes an inflammatory response

Question 35

Asthma

Answer 35

A condition in which the airways narrow and swell and produce extra mucus

Question 36

How is asthma triggered?

Answer 36

By airborne substances, such as pollen, mould spores, cockroach waste or particles of skin and dried saliva shed by pets

Question 37

Dermatitis causes:

Answer 37

Touching an allergen, consuming something you are allergic to, or coming into contact with an airborne allergen, such as pollen

Question 38

Anaphylaxis causes what?

Answer 38

An itchy rash, throat or tongue swelling, shortness of breath, vomiting, light-headedness, and low blood pressure

Question 39

Allergy-induced asthma causes:

Answer 39

Triggered by allergens in air, such as pollen, mould spores, cockroach waste or particles of skin and dried saliva shed by pets

Question 40

Allergy-induced asthma symptoms:

Answer 40

- Coughing - Wheezing - Shortness of breath

Question 41

Allergy-induced asthma treatments:

Answer 41

Steroids (anti-inflammatory drugs) inhaled into lungs using an inhaler / asthma pump – reduce inflammation

Question 42

Dermatitis causes:

Answer 42

- Contact with an allergen, such as perfume, tulips, latex (from rubber) - This leads to an allergic reaction

Question 43

Dermatitis symptoms:

Answer 43

Itchy, red sore skin

Question 44

Dermatitis treatment:

Answer 44

- Hydrocortisone (steroid) cream to reduce inflammation and itching - Antihistamine drugs to reduce inflammation

Question 45

Anaphylaxsis causes:

Answer 45

- Insect stings – particularly wasp and bee stings - Peanuts and tree nuts - Other types of foods – such as milk and seafood

Question 46

Anaphylaxis symptoms:

Answer 46

Itchy skin or a raised, red skin rash swollen eyes, lips, hands and feet feeling lightheaded or faint

Question 47

Anaphalxysis treatment:

Answer 47

An anaphylaxis injection - this should be injected into their outer thigh muscle and held in place from 5-10 seconds. Instructions for how to use these auto-injectors can be found on the side of each device