In our lives, special groups such as children, the elderly, pregnant women and people with chronic diseases have different immunity from healthy adults, which makes them more vulnerable to infection. Understanding the immune characteristics of these special groups and the corresponding anti-infection precautions is essential to protect their health.
1. Immunity characteristics of children and precautions
for anti-infection
(1) Immunity characteristics
A child’s immune system is not fully developed at birth and improves with age. In infancy, their immune cells and immune molecules are relatively weak. For example, antibodies in infants are mainly acquired from the mother through the placenta, but this passive immunity gradually weakens in the first few months of life. In addition, children’s skin and mucosal barrier function is not perfect, easy to allow pathogens to invade.
(II) Precautions
for anti-infection
1. Vaccination: Vaccination is an important means to enhance children’s immunity and prevent infection. According to the national immunization program, children should be vaccinated on time, such as BCG vaccine, hepatitis B vaccine, DPT vaccine, etc., which can effectively prevent the corresponding infectious diseases. At the same time, for influenza, pneumonia and other diseases, vaccination at one’s own expense can also be considered in specific seasons or high-risk situations.
2. Hygiene habits: Teach children to develop good personal hygiene habits, such as washing hands frequently, especially before meals, after defecation and after going home. This can effectively reduce the chance of infection by hand-transmitted pathogens.
3. Balanced nutrition: ensure that children take in adequate and balanced nutrition, including protein, carbohydrates, fat, vitamins and minerals. For example, nutrients such as vitamin C, vitamin D, and zinc are important for the development and function of the immune system.
4. Avoid contact with the source of infection: try to avoid taking children to crowded and poorly ventilated places, such as shopping malls, hospitals, etc. In the season of high incidence of influenza and other infectious diseases, if conditions permit, children can wear special masks for children.
5. Breastfeeding: For infants, breast milk is rich in immunoglobulin, lactoferrin and other ingredients, which can provide natural immune protection for infants, so breastfeeding should be advocated.
2. Immunity characteristics and anti-infection precautions
of the elderly
(1) Immunity characteristics
With the increase of age, the immune system function of the elderly gradually declines. The activity of immune cells is reduced and the number of immune cells is reduced, such as the function of T lymphocytes, which leads to the reduction of the ability to recognize and eliminate pathogens. In addition, the elderly are often accompanied by a variety of chronic diseases, which can further affect the normal function of the immune system.
(II) Precautions
for anti-infection
1. Vaccination: The elderly should actively vaccinate against influenza and pneumonia. These vaccines can significantly reduce the risk and severity of infection-related diseases, hospitalization and mortality.
2. Chronic disease management: actively treat and control chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, etc. Because these diseases weaken the body’s resistance, good disease control helps to maintain the stability of the immune system.
3. Lifestyle adjustment: Maintain a regular lifestyle, moderate exercise can enhance the body’s resistance, but pay attention to avoid overwork. At the same time, adequate sleep is also very important for the repair and maintenance of the immune system.
4. Nutritional support: to ensure adequate intake of high-quality protein, vitamins and minerals for the elderly. Increasing the intake of foods rich in antioxidants, such as fresh vegetables and fruits, can help to combat the damage of free radicals to immune cells.
5. Environmental hygiene: keep the living environment clean and well ventilated, clean room regularly, dry the bedding, and reduce the breeding of pathogens.
3. Immunity characteristics and anti-infection precautions
of pregnant women
(1) Immunity characteristics
During
pregnancy, a series of changes occur in the immune system of pregnant women. On the one hand, in order to avoid immune rejection of the fetus, the immune system of pregnant women will adjust to a certain extent, making the body’s immune defense ability decline in some aspects; on the other hand, physiological changes during pregnancy may also affect the function of immune cells.
(II) Precautions
for anti-infection
1. Prenatal examination: regular prenatal examination, timely detection and treatment of possible infection problems. Doctors will carry out relevant examinations according to the specific conditions of pregnant women, such as blood routine, C-reactive protein, and examinations for specific pathogens.
2. Food safety: Pay attention to food hygiene, ensure that food is fresh and clean, avoid eating raw meat, raw fish, unsterilized dairy products, etc., to prevent infection with Toxoplasma gondii, Listeria and other pathogens.
3. Personal hygiene: maintain good personal hygiene habits, take a bath and change clothes frequently. In particular, attention should be paid to the cleanliness of the vulva to prevent urinary tract infections and reproductive system infections.
4. Avoid contact with the source of infection: try to avoid contact with sick people, especially those with infectious diseases. During the flu season, reduce the number of visits to crowded places and wear masks if you need to go out.
5. Cautious medication: If pregnant women have symptoms of infection, do not self-medication. Many drugs may have adverse effects on the fetus, and safe and effective drugs should be selected for treatment under the guidance of doctors.
4. Immunity characteristics and anti-infection precautions
of people with chronic diseases
(1) Immunity characteristics
The immune system of patients with
chronic diseases is usually in a state of disorder or suppression. For example, in patients with diabetes, elevated blood sugar is conducive to the growth of bacteria and fungi, and high blood sugar can affect the function of white blood cells and reduce their ability to resist infection; in patients with AIDS, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) attacks CD4 + T lymphocytes in the immune system, resulting in severe immune deficiency.
(II) Precautions
for anti-infection
1. Disease control: Active treatment of chronic diseases, strictly in accordance with the doctor’s advice to control the disease, such as diabetic patients to control blood sugar levels within a reasonable range, which is the key to improve immunity and prevent infection.
2. Enhance immunity: According to the physical condition, under the guidance of doctors, some methods of enhancing immunity can be used appropriately. For example, for some patients with chronic diseases with low immunity, immunomodulators can be used, but attention should be paid to their side effects.
3. Pay attention to protection: These people should pay more attention to protection in life to avoid infection. For example, during the epidemic of respiratory infectious diseases, they should avoid going out as far as possible, wear masks if they need to go out, and pay attention to keeping a certain distance from others.
4. Regular review: go to the hospital regularly for review, monitor the body’s immune function and condition changes, and timely detect potential signs of infection, so as to treat as soon as possible.
In a word, because of the special immunity of special population, we need to pay more attention and take targeted measures in anti-infection, so as to better protect their health and reduce the harm caused by infectious diseases.
