Immunology is the medical specialty responsible for the proper functioning of our body’s defense system and recognizing foreign substances to fight them.
Experts; He explains that the immune system is made up of a complex network of mechanisms that includes organs, cells, tissues and, when necessary, fast-acting biological processes. This branch is responsible for examining, among other things, a number of other issues such as immunodeficiencies, autoimmune diseases, allergies, investigating possible causes and solutions to the problem in question.
Clinical immunologists perform medical evaluations and procedures and diagnoses, particularly allergies such as asthma, allergic rhinitis, hives, dermatitis, and severe allergic reactions known as anaphylactic reactions.
Immunology Classification
To have a simpler view of these processes, a classification can be created from two perspectives:
- Quantitative: putative diseases or immunodeficiencies that make it easier to get infections. These may be congenital or acquired. The most well-known disease in this last group is the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.
- Qualitative: diseases caused by an abnormal immune response. This group is classified under two basic concepts: hypersensitivity and autoimmunity.
2.1 Hypersensitivity: They occur due to an excessive or uncontrolled reaction to external factors. The most representative example of this type is allergic diseases.
2.2 Autoimmunity: They arise in response to the body’s own components due to the failure of a control mechanism called “self tolerance”, which prevents immune responses against our own cells.
Various studies explain that immunologists offer a range of tests designed specifically to complement studies of respiratory allergic diseases. The said tests are as follows.
- Skin tests
- Spirometry
- methacholine test
- Exercise test
- Flow-volume curve
- walking test
- Oxygen saturation monitoring.
Researchers are responsible for providing care for children with altered Immune System, which is responsible for protecting the organism from infections and distinguishing its own from foreign. Clinical immunology is dedicated to the study of all these disorders of the immune system, which are classified into three broad categories:
Immune Deficiencies
The immune system cannot provide adequate protection to the body against various infectious agents, and recurrent infections and/or serious infections are seen in children. They can be primary (congenital) or secondary (acquired).
autoimmunity
The immune system is unaware and attacks the body itself, as in systemic lupus erythematosus and juvenile idiopathic arthritis.
Allergy
The immune system overreacts to substances such as pollen, weeds, foods, drugs, and others. In children, there are systemic reactions such as respiratory allergies (rhinitis and asthma), skin allergies (atopic dermatitis, urticaria, angioedema), food allergies and anaphylaxis.
Pediatric immunology is a specialty that works in coordination with other fields of medicine such as dermatology, bronchopulmonary, otolaryngology, gastroenterology, nephrology, infectious diseases, oncology and traumatology. Participates in the development of clinical guidelines.