The body, thanks to its immunity to harmful infections, can withstand pathogens and thus protect people from various diseases. However, the level of resistance may decrease, while decreasing the level of health protection. That is why you need to know how to test immunity.
Immunity - what is it?
In order to determine if the level of immunity has not decreased, you first need to figure out what it is. Immunity is the ability of the human body to withstand the effects of various bacteria, viruses and other dangerous microorganisms. If this ability is weakened, then the body is subject to the influence of harmful organisms from the external environment and is unable to defend itself against the occurrence of diseases. In order to avoid the occurrence of such a situation, you should understand what tests to take in order to check the immunity.
Types of Immunodeficiency
The lowered level of immunity, which is the cause of a person’s disease state and requires an answer to the question of how to check immunity, what tests are needed in adults and children, has a certain name - immunodeficiency. It is of two types.
- Primary immunodeficiency.
It includes congenital immunity pathologies that are inextricably linked with genetics. The presence of such diseases is determined immediately after birth. Children with congenital immunodeficiency are very weak, their average life expectancy does not exceed 7 years.
- Secondary immunodeficiency.
It appears as a result of a malfunction in the immune system. One of the most common causes is malnutrition or unbalanced nutrition.
Signs that the body's level of protection is reduced
With a decrease in the level of immunity, the human body gives its owner signals that make it possible to understand that a problem has arisen. Such signs are very easy to recognize if you know what to look for. To do this, you need to monitor how many times a year there are signs of colds, if not more than 4 times in 12 months, then everything is fine, and if more often, then this is an alarming bell. In addition, with reduced immunity, there may be diseases such as:
- angina;
- furunculosis;
- herpes and others.
In addition, individual symptoms and the general condition of a person may be signs of a lowered protective bar. Having discovered at least one of the signs, one can judge the need for measures aimed at increasing immunity. These signs include:
- fatigue and a feeling of weakness;
- decreased performance;
- sensation of pain in bones and muscle fibers;
- frequent pain in the head;
- frequent and prolonged colds, often with complications;
- frequent bowel dysfunction;
- poor condition of hair, nails and reduced attractiveness;
- slow healing of wounds, often they become inflamed;
- pallor of the skin;
- slow recovery of the body after illness.
If even one of the above symptoms is present, you should consult a doctor to take an analysis and check your immunity in order to get adequate treatment.
For what reasons immunity can decrease
There are a number of reasons for a decrease in the level of immunity, which are very easy to find even without taking tests. And having found such symptoms, one does not need to wonder how to check immunity.
The answer will already be known if the doctor found:
- AIDS virus;
- the presence of pregnancy;
- skin and sexually transmitted diseases;
- an allergy.
It is necessary to take tests if the specialist has suspicions of:
- autoimmune pathologies (e.g. chickenpox);
- hepatitis;
- AIDS;
- tuberculosis;
- diabetes;
- oncological disease;
- inflammation lasting a long time;
- fever
- disturbances in the endocrine system;
- frequent SARS;
- pneumonia
- autoimmune disorders.
In addition, the test also needs to be taken in the case of a planned intervention surgically and before giving the child a vaccine against polio, if there is evidence for this.
How to find out the level of immunity
Often a question arises in an adult, how to check immunity. In order to find out what status the main protective barrier of the body against the harmful effects of viruses and bacteria, it is necessary to consult a doctor first. This is done by a therapist for adults and a pediatrician for children.
This procedure is as follows. First, the doctor collects an anamnesis and takes pressure measurements and counts heart beats. Then, following the results of the interview, he appoints a number of laboratory tests: urinalysis, clinical and biochemical blood tests. And only after receiving all the data, we can conclude about the patient’s health status.
If necessary, additional examination, that is, the presence of a threat of immunodeficiency, gives direction to the immunologist, who is conducting another study - an immunogram.
What is an immunogram
An immunogram is the most accurate answer to the question of how to test immunity. In general, this is a specialized, narrowly targeted blood test that examines in detail the indicators of the immune system. The components of the immune system are phagocytes, white blood cells and other shaped elements. It is their number, ratio and activity that determine the quality of immunity and are checked by an immunogram.
How is an immunogram performed?
With this type of complex study, venous blood is sampled to determine the cause that causes a decrease in the level of protection.
The immunogram is taken in 3 steps:
- Clinical blood sampling, which shows how large the deviations from the normal level, as well as what is the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR).
- Venous blood sampling, which measures how many antibodies are contained in the blood, in fact, an immunogram.
- Analysis of tissue particles, spinal cells and lacrimal fluid.
To study materials of biological origin to test immunity, you must perform the following tests:
- ELISA (study of enzyme composition);
- RIA (study of the status of the method of isotopes).
How to determine the level of immunity at home
The above describes how to test immunity with the help of tests, but how to do it at home? This question was answered by German experts who developed the test, answering all its questions and calculating the number of points obtained, you can approximately assess the state of your immune system.
And in the event of an unsatisfactory result, you should immediately consult a doctor for an outpatient study.
Measures to enhance the body's level of protection
First of all, to increase the efficiency of the immune system, the following conditions must be met:
- Normalize your diet, balance and supplement with the missing elements.
- Go in for sports and give up bad habits.
- Follow your daily routine, taking enough time to sleep.
- Do not overload the body with excessive loads in work and sports.
In addition, regular walks in the air, hardening, hiking in the bath will positively affect the state of immunity. You can also take vitamins and immunomodulators.
If you find one or more signs that indicate a malfunction in the immune system, you should immediately consult a doctor for an examination. The specialist will tell you how to check immunity. This is important because immunity is the most reliable natural defender of the body from exposure to pathogenic microorganisms and allows you to stay healthy.