Immunity factor in diarrheal diseases
Immunity plays an important role in susceptibility to enteropathogens. Maternal antibody is provided to the infant through breast milk and this protects against a variety of enteric infections.
Transplacental antibody may also play a role in some. Immunity is actively acquired by the individual who has a diarrheal disease or in some cases even an asymptomatic infection.
There is also evidence that competence of the immune system can be compromised, such as by macronutrient deficiencies, reducing the resistance to enteric infection.
Immunocompetence in a child can be compromised by previous viral infection, such as measles or influenza, or by other infections, such as tuberculosis or typhoid fever.
These infections , along with micronutrient deficiencies, could place individual at a greater risk of diarrhea or of more severe illness through alteration in immune function or by other mechanisms.
Cholera was the first diarrheal disease for which a vaccine was available . A prenatal cholera provides approximately 50% protection lasting for less than 6 months. New killed or live V. cholera vaccines may offer greater efficiency and duration of protection.
Immunity factor in diarrheal diseases
