Children’s immune systems rely on interdependent cells and organs that protect the body from infection. Maternal acquired immunity is temporary, and routine vaccinations are necessary. Antibodies develop over time, and the immune system becomes stronger when it fights off infections on its own. Parents should monitor signs of persistent infection, and pregnant women should avoid alcohol and tobacco.
Children’s immune systems are complex and extraordinary. A normally healthy baby is born with some antibodies provided by the mother. This is called maternal acquired immunity, but it is considered temporary, passive immunity and is not a guarantee against all types of infection. Some exposure to foreign antigens is necessary for children’s immune systems to develop normally, and a routine vaccination schedule helps deliver those antibodies that cannot be passively acquired.
Children’s immune systems rely on interdependent cells and organs that protect the body from infection. Tonsils, adenoids, lymph nodes, bone marrow, white blood cells, and even the intestinal tract are all parts of the body that help protect children’s bodies from various types of infection. A normal baby can start developing immune responses to foreign antigens from birth, provided all cells and organs are functioning properly.
Antibodies develop over time as the body becomes more capable of synthesizing antibodies in response to antigens. Maternally acquired immunity begins to wane by six to eight months of age, and it takes six to eight years for infants’ immune systems to acquire concentrated levels of antibodies. In part, this timeline explains why many children experience more illnesses, such as colds, early on, but less and less as they approach adolescence.
The nature of the developing immune system is such that it becomes stronger when it is able to fight off infections on its own. Conversely, infections that the body cannot fight off and those that are treated indiscriminately with antibiotics only weaken the immune system. Antibiotics are extremely useful medicines when used to treat infections that the body cannot fight on its own, but overuse should be avoided.
As a child grows, the components of his or her immune system change slightly. For example, the adenoids and tonsils often shrink to smaller sizes as puberty sets in. This is because children’s immune systems are less dependent on them as they develop. In some cases, these organs may show signs of chronic infection or abnormal enlargement and are often removed to avoid interference with other bodily functions.
Babies with abnormal immune systems are not able to fight infections like a healthy baby can. Parents should pay close attention to signs of persistent infection, including high-grade and chronic fevers, night sweats, and tender or enlarged lymph nodes. Children should be regularly evaluated for physical and emotional development, a health process that also monitors immune system development.
To help babies’ immune systems develop normally, pregnant women should avoid alcohol and tobacco, eat healthy foods, and take prenatal vitamins. Exposure to secondhand smoke in infancy and childhood also has a depressant effect on children’s immune systems. Other conditions such as vitamin deficiency, blood disease and cancer will affect immunity.
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