URSING CARE OF A CHILD WITH AN
IMMUNE DISORDER
IMMUNE SYSTEM
• Consists of a complex network of cells interacting to
protect the body against invasion by foreign
substances
• The immune system functions to protect the body
from invasion by foreign substances by several
mechanisms
IMMUNE SYSTEM
• Lymphatic System
• Filters plasma, bacteria, or other foreign material before returning it to the blood
stream
• Spleen 2
• Filters blood for foreign cells
• Thymus
• Produces T-lymphocytes
• Tonsils
• Traps bacteria
• Bone Marrow
• Produces B-lymphocytes
body surfaces such as the
skin, cilia, and mucous
membranes
act as physical protective
barriers
PHAGOCYTOSIS
Macrophages(mature white
blood cells) engulf, ingest,
and neutralize the
pathogen
inflammatory response creates
vascular and cellular changes that
help to rid the body of
dead tissue and the inactivated
antigens
IMMUNE RESPONSE
• The body’s action plan devised to combat invading organisms or
substances by leukocyte and antibody activity
• Antigen 4
• is any foreign substance capable of stimulating an immune response
• Immunity
• the ability to destroy like antigens
• Immunogen
• an antigen is one that can be readily destroyed by an immune
response and immunity results
IMMUNE RESPONSE
• Allergen
• mediating substances that are released that cause tissue injury and
allergic symptoms
• They may be ingested (foods such as eggs or wheat), inhaled (pollen,
dust, or mold spores), injected (drugs), or absorbed across the skin or
mucous membranes (poison ivy)
IMMUNE SYSTEM ORGANS AND
CELLS
• B-Lymphocytes
• Originating in the bone marrow
• Develop into plasma cells and memory cells when exposed to
antigens
• Plasma cells
• Secrete large quantities of immunoglobulins or antibodies, which
bind to and destroy specific antigens (humoral immunity)
• Memory cells
• Responsible for retaining the formula or ability to produce
specific immunoglobulins
• Immunoglobulins are classified as IgG, IgA, IgM, IgD, and IgE
IMMUNE SYSTEM ORGANS AND
CELLS
• T lymphocytes
• Account for 70% to 80% of blood lymphocytes and are responsible
for cell-mediated immunity
• Produced by the bone marrow but mature under the influence of the
thymus gland
• They react specifically to viruses, fungi, and parasites but have an
effect on all antigens
IMMUNE SYSTEM ORGANS AND
CELLS
• T lymphocytes Types:
• Cytotoxic (killer) T cells are T lymphocytes that have the specific
feature of binding to the surface of antigens and directly destroying
the cell membrane and therefore the cell (phagocytes)
• Helper T cells(CD4 cells), stimulate B lymphocytes to divide and
mature into plasma cells and begin secreting immunoglobulins
• Suppressor T cells, are T cells that reduce the production of
immunoglobulins against a specific antigen and prevent their
overproduction
TYPES OF IMMUNITY
• Humoral immunity
• refers to immunity created by antibody production or B-lymphocyte
involvement
• Cell-mediated immunity
• is the type of immune response caused by T-lymphocyte activity.
TYPES OF IMMUNITY
• Humoral immunity
• refers to immunity created by antibody production or B-lymphocyte
involvement
• begins when helper T cells recognize an antigen and cause activation
of B lymphocytes
• The specific B lymphocytes differentiate into plasma cells and begin
creation of specific immunoglobulins that mark the antigen for
destruction
TYPES OF IMMUNITY
• Cell-mediated immunity
• is the type of immune response caused by T-lymphocyte activity.
• Cytotoxic T cells attack and directly destroy invading antigens
through the release of chemical compounds on the antigen
membrane, injection of a toxin directly into the antigen, or secretion
of lymphokines
TYPES OF IMMUNITY
• Autoimmunity
• results from an inability to distinguish self from nonself, causing the
immune system to carry out immune responses against normal cells
and tissue
IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISORDER
• Primary (Congenital) Immunodeficiency
• Born without an essential immune substance or function or with
inadequate amount of immune substances
• B-Lymphocyte Deficiencies
1. Hypogammaglobulinemia
- Defect in the maturation of B-lymphocytes that results in an abnormally
low levels of immunoglobulins
- Effect: frequent bacterial respiratory, digestive and throat infections
- Treatment: IV immune globulins monthly; bone marrow transplantation
2. Common Variable Immunoglobulin Deficiencies
- Deficiency of IgA in surface secretions
- Infections of surfaces exposed to the external environment and normally
protected by mucus become common.
- Treatment: IV immune globulin
IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISORDER
• Primary (Congenital) Immunodeficiency
• T-lymphocyte deficiency
IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISORDER
• Secondary (acquired) Immunodeficiency
IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISORDER
• Secondary (acquired) Immunodeficiency
IMMUNODEFICIENCY DISORDER
• Secondary (acquired) Immunodeficiency
Type
Involved Cell
Mechanism
Effect
I Anaphylaxis
IgE
IgE attached to surface of mast cell triggers release
of intracellular anaphylaxis granules from mast cells
on contact with antigens
Allergies, asthma, atopic
dermatitis,
II Cytotoxic
IgG or IgM
Antigen–antibody reaction leading to complement
reaction is activated
Hemolytic anemia,
transfusion
antigen destruction; ,
erythroblastosis fetalis
III Immune
IgG or IgE
Antigen–antibody complexes
precipitate; complement is disease activated,
leading to inflammatory
response
Rheumatoid arthritis,
systemic lupus
erythematosus
IV Delayed
T lymphocyte
T cells combine with antigen to induce
inflammatory reactions by direct
cell involvement or release of
lymphokines
Contact dermatitis,
transplant graft reaction