As medical science progresses and medicines and surgical techniques become progressively more sophisticated, their impact on the patient and society at large becomes less predictable and, at the same time, more impressive, where they are successful. In turning to modern medicine for solutions to their health problems, people are usually satisfied with the response that they receive. However, there remain certain illnesses which cannot be cured, and these are typically caused by pathogens known as viruses. Vaccine formulation development is an essential process in trying to counter viruses and their spread.
People may think that an ordinary antibiotic can kill a virus, but it isn't able to, since a virus is not like bacteria, in that it is non-biotic (i. E. It is not a living organism). Since it is a microscopic entity, it cannot be removed surgically or destroyed using other techniques. The only effective treatment is the use of a vaccine.
It operates on the basis of a very simple principle. It mimics infection by the targeted virus in the patient's body, and thereby encourages the body to develop viral anti-bodies. The body produces the anti-bodies as soon as it detects the vaccine.
These antibodies are only manufactured by the human immune system. They entirely eliminate the viral particles. Once the infection has been destroyed, though, the antibodies remain in the system indefinitely, preventing any future recurrence of that specific virus. By using immunization, life-long immunity is therefore generated without authentic infection taking place.
This is the reasoning behind the vaccination of small children against well-known viral infections such as smallpox or polio. They then remain safe for the rest of their lives, because they already have the viral antibodies in their systems. A basic, cliched illness, like smallpox, may once have been a massive problem to the human population, and the most important intervention in their elimination was the development of the smallpox vaccine.
Some of the most lethal or serious sicknesses are the result of viral activity. The hemorrhagic fever Ebola is one, as is AIDS, meningitis (in one of its forms), and, as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, polio (which paralyses the patient if left untreated). Targeting these viruses for immunization development is obviously a primary priority in modern medicine. The public recognizes this priority, and the media are not slow to report on attempts to formulate an antidote to a notorious disease, no matter how empty such attempts may turn out to be.
Over time, however, a virus may mutate and return to a medication-resistant state. It either mutates into a new genetic form (strain), or simply develops resistance against the patient's antibodies. As frightening as this may sound, it is an ongoing phenomenon, as seen, for example, in the case of the influenza virus, which presents in a new strain every year. There is no immunization process against it because it mutates too quickly.
As effective as a vaccine may be, the public should also be aware that sensible personal health habits are important too. Observing simple principles of personal safety and health are important in limiting or preventing infections and epidemics, especially where the disease is incurable, such as AIDS. In such cases, there is no vaccine, and so relying on one is neither an option nor is it necessary.
People may think that an ordinary antibiotic can kill a virus, but it isn't able to, since a virus is not like bacteria, in that it is non-biotic (i. E. It is not a living organism). Since it is a microscopic entity, it cannot be removed surgically or destroyed using other techniques. The only effective treatment is the use of a vaccine.
It operates on the basis of a very simple principle. It mimics infection by the targeted virus in the patient's body, and thereby encourages the body to develop viral anti-bodies. The body produces the anti-bodies as soon as it detects the vaccine.
These antibodies are only manufactured by the human immune system. They entirely eliminate the viral particles. Once the infection has been destroyed, though, the antibodies remain in the system indefinitely, preventing any future recurrence of that specific virus. By using immunization, life-long immunity is therefore generated without authentic infection taking place.
This is the reasoning behind the vaccination of small children against well-known viral infections such as smallpox or polio. They then remain safe for the rest of their lives, because they already have the viral antibodies in their systems. A basic, cliched illness, like smallpox, may once have been a massive problem to the human population, and the most important intervention in their elimination was the development of the smallpox vaccine.
Some of the most lethal or serious sicknesses are the result of viral activity. The hemorrhagic fever Ebola is one, as is AIDS, meningitis (in one of its forms), and, as mentioned in the preceding paragraph, polio (which paralyses the patient if left untreated). Targeting these viruses for immunization development is obviously a primary priority in modern medicine. The public recognizes this priority, and the media are not slow to report on attempts to formulate an antidote to a notorious disease, no matter how empty such attempts may turn out to be.
Over time, however, a virus may mutate and return to a medication-resistant state. It either mutates into a new genetic form (strain), or simply develops resistance against the patient's antibodies. As frightening as this may sound, it is an ongoing phenomenon, as seen, for example, in the case of the influenza virus, which presents in a new strain every year. There is no immunization process against it because it mutates too quickly.
As effective as a vaccine may be, the public should also be aware that sensible personal health habits are important too. Observing simple principles of personal safety and health are important in limiting or preventing infections and epidemics, especially where the disease is incurable, such as AIDS. In such cases, there is no vaccine, and so relying on one is neither an option nor is it necessary.
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