Why do we catch diseases?

FLstudent06 · Oct 14, 2005

I don't think there is any one easy answer to that. But one reason is that viruses constantly mutate into new versions that we haven't developed antibodies for. That is why the flu shot changes every year.

SmilingBluEyes · Oct 14, 2005

And at any one time, our immune system can be battling more than one noxious disease or event. It has a lot to do with stress, as well. IT's way more complicated than we can explain on one thread. You learn a lot of this in classes like Microbiology and epidemiology, etc.

ZootRN · Oct 14, 2005

realnurse said:

We all know that our immune system is very strong so, why do we still get diseases?

Why does our body still get infected with viruses? What is the reason?

If you think, your immune system is not doing enough, think of a piece of meat, exposed to the environment at temperature of 37C. That's basically what's human body is. I am always amazed by the way immune system works. There are bacteria at every orifice, who would eat you up very quickly otherwise.

MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN · Oct 14, 2005

SO many things affect our immune system. Everything we put in our mouth, the air we breathe, etc.

I wish they would come up with something to get rid of viruses. That would be wonderful!

RC1 · Oct 15, 2005

Some viruses and bacteria are particularly guileful in infiltrating our bodies and circumventing the body. Anthrax, for example, travels the lymph nodes in our macrophages of all things. The herpes virus has evolved alongside the human immune system such that it produces a protien called major histocompatibility inhibitor molecule which actually inhibits the ability of the immune system to recognize the cells that have been breached in effect, camoflaging them from the immune system. Many bacteria have special coatings that inhibit phagocytosis which dramatically increases their pathogenicity. Other bacteria produce vegetative spores which are nearly impoosible to completely eradicate. This increases their pathogenicity. Then there's the mutation factor already decsribed which frequently results in new strains of more virulent and pathogenic organisms i.e.drug resistant bacteria and H5N1. Furthermore, not all immuno/defense systems are equaly effective for numerous reasons.

MadisonsMomRN, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2005

Some viruses and bacteria are particularly guileful in infiltrating our bodies and circumventing the body. Anthrax, for example, travels the lymph nodes in our macrophages of all things. The herpes virus has evolved alongside the human immune system such that it produces a protien called major histocompatibility inhibitor molecule which actually inhibits the ability of the immune system to recognize the cells that have been breached in effect, camoflaging them from the immune system. Many bacteria have special coatings that inhibit phagocytosis which dramatically increases their pathogenicity. Other bacteria produce vegetative spores which are nearly impoosible to completely eradicate. This increases their pathogenicity. Then there's the mutation factor already decsribed which frequently results in new strains of more virulent and pathogenic organisms i.e.drug resistant bacteria and H5N1. Furthermore, not all immuno/defense systems are equaly effective for numerous reasons.

Great Response! Those little bugs are smart arent they. They can outsmart our body and they are just getting stronger:uhoh21:

realnurse · Oct 15, 2005

Some viruses and bacteria are particularly guileful in infiltrating our bodies and circumventing the body. Anthrax, for example, travels the lymph nodes in our macrophages of all things. The herpes virus has evolved alongside the human immune system such that it produces a protien called major histocompatibility inhibitor molecule which actually inhibits the ability of the immune system to recognize the cells that have been breached in effect, camoflaging them from the immune system. Many bacteria have special coatings that inhibit phagocytosis which dramatically increases their pathogenicity. Other bacteria produce vegetative spores which are nearly impoosible to completely eradicate. This increases their pathogenicity. Then there's the mutation factor already decsribed which frequently results in new strains of more virulent and pathogenic organisms i.e.drug resistant bacteria and H5N1. Furthermore, not all immuno/defense systems are equaly effective for numerous reasons.

thanks alot for your good respond but can u please give me the evidance for this , what i mean is from which book or journal or web site , please if possiple wite full resourcess , thanks again

NewOrderPsychoFan · Oct 15, 2005

thanks alot for your good respond but can u please give me the evidance for this , what i mean is from which book or journal or web site , please if possiple wite full resourcess , thanks again

I believe the poster gave you a very good response, and if this is for a paper, then maybe you could do a google search on immune response, or immunity, ect. Good luck!

scampi710 · Oct 15, 2005

rc1....your response is quite informative. the other thing we did not learn in all of our education is the "nature" of viruses. the virus and bacteria (pathogenic) are on this planet to control the human population. since we humans have discovered paths to fight them, the little buggers mutate, become resistant, and will go on forever. (and meantime, humans will continue to overpopulate the planet).

RC1 · Oct 15, 2005

The other thing we did not learn in all of our education is the "nature" of viruses. The virus and bacteria (pathogenic) are on this planet to control the human population.

I think they exist for no other reason than to make as many copies of their DNA and/or RNA as possible.

Since we humans have discovered paths to fight them, the little buggers mutate, become resistant, and will go on forever.

It's a war without end but it's also a war against mother nature. I think mother nature will win ultimately. H5N1 just hit Europe I saw today incidentally.

what i mean is from which book or journal or web site please if possiple wite full resourcess

Sorry, I don't have the exact sources anymore. The anthrax information was from "Scientific American" back in 2002 around March maybe. I don't remember which journal contained the Herpes info. It was a professional journal from 1996-1997. I think it was a journal of virology or a regular medical journal. Google search: "glycocalyx, bacteria" and/or "capsule, bacteria" and/or "vegetative spores, bacteria" for the coating I mentioned. Search MRSA for drug resistant bacteria. H5N1 is all over the news today. Google "H5N1" of "bird flu" or "Avian influenza".

snowfreeze, BSN, RN · Oct 15, 2005

Studying the pathogenicity of virus' is the key to our finding immunity to most pathogens with vaccines. A strong virus will mutate faster than our body can keep up with as far as developing resistance. Survival of the fittest is the race here on earth.