Prevention of Infectious Diseases

Specific Prevention of Infectious Diseases: Specific prevention is provided by the immune system when it produces some specific molecules called antibodies to fight against specific invading microbes or their products, called antigens. Antibodies are proteins made by the white blood cells, called lymphocytes, in response to any foreign substances, called antigens, in order to detect them, bind with them and destroy them. Antigens are of many types. For each type of antigen, the body produces a corresponding antibody to bind with it and destroy it. The antigen - antibody binding is highly specific. An antibody binds with an antigen to destroy it in the following ways:

Specific antibodies bind with the antigens on the microbes making them more likely to be engulfed and destroyed by phagocytes (WBC).

Antibodies combine with the antigens toxic chemical to make them harmless.

Antibodies bind with antigens to destroy them.

Some antibodies bind to the antigens on the microbes and make them stick together so they cannot multiply.

The immune system has a memory of the invading microbes. It recognizes them and fights them later if they invade again. When an infectious agent invades for the first time, the antibodies are produced slowly.

After destroying the antigens, they remain in the body. When there is a second infection, the circulating antibodies recognize the specific antigens and more antibodies are produced much faster this time. When we suffer from a mild form of a disease, our immune system forms antibodies against the invading antigens. At the second infection of that disease, the immune system responds faster to destroy the antigens as there are antibodies that already recognize them. As a result, we do not suffer from the severe form of the disease. For example, if we have had mild chickenpox once, we will not suffer from its severe form later.

This memory of our immune system help us to get immuned by the process of vaccination. Vaccines contain a microorganism or virus in a weekened,live or killed state, or proteins or toxins from the organism.In stimulating the body's adaptive immunity, they help prevent sickness from infectious diseases.

Sample Questions

(More Questions for each concept available in Login)

Question : 1

Which of the following can be controlled through vaccination?
A. Polio	B. Diphtheria	C. Tetanus	D. All of these
Right Option : D
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Question : 2

Specific prevention is provided by the immune system when it produces some specific molecules called _____________________.
A. Antibodies	B. Antigen	C. Both (a) and (b) are correct.	D. None of these.
Right Option : A
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Question : 3

Amebiasis can be prevented by:
A. Admistration off vaccines
B. Preventing contamination of food by flies
C. Giving oral rehydration
D. Giving a does of chloroquine
Right Option : B
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