This pillar will explore the human immune system, which is a complex system of organs, cells and tissues designed to protect the body from all manner of communicable diseases. The body’s immune function protects from invading organisms and helps us function optimally year-round.  

The immune system performs several important tasks, which together help to protect us from illness. These include fighting the effects of pathogens or germs that cause disease, such as viruses, harmful bacteria, fungi or parasites, and removing them from the body before harm is caused. When harmful substances from the environment enter our bodies, it is the immune system that recognizes and eradicates these substances. The immune system is also responsible for fighting changes within the body that can cause disease, such as cancer cells. 

The infographic attachment looks at some of the world’s most common communicable diseases. 

In a person with a healthy immune system, it becomes easier over time for the body to eradicate pathogens and other harmful germs. This is because the immune system “learns” how to fight those pathogens and becomes stronger as a result. The next time that person encounters the same disease, the immune system already knows how to fight it and can effectively prevent it from taking hold. 

The immune system will typically become activated when it recognizes something alien to the body, which is known as an antigen. This can include proteins on the surface of viruses, bacteria or fungi. The immune system identifies information about the specific antigen and learns how to fight it. This can take some time the first time we encounter a pathogen. When the immune system encounters the same pathogen, it knows how to fight it and can either reduce the time we are ill or prevent us from becoming ill in the first place. This is why certain illnesses can only usually be caught one in a lifetime, such as chickenpox. 

Some information about enhancing immunity against disease can be found in the PDF attachment.