McKenna's Pharmacology for Nursing, 2e

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P A R T 3  Drugs acting on the immune system

1–3 days

Signs + Sx: Fever Cough Aches and pain Runny nose

Varicella virus

Inhaled virus causes inflammatory reaction in respiratory tract

4–7 days

B cells react with varicella

Varicella invades cells; multiplies

Plasma cells Antibody formation

IgM produced

2–3 weeks

Ag-Ab complex formation

Chicken pox lesions Varicella destroyed Varicella enters CNS

Activation of complement

Increased permeability

Phagocytosis Vasodilation

Kinin activation

Lysis of complex

Chemotaxis

IgG produced

Years

Exposure to virus

Immediate Ag-Ab complex formation, varicella destroyed

No clinical presentation

Slow immune response

Immunosuppressed state -Age

-Illness -Stress -Debilitation

Varicella leaves CNS along nerve route

Signs + Sx: Shingles—lesions along nerve root

Ag-Ab complex formation (as above)

FIGURE 15.5  Process of response to varicella exposure in humans. Ag-Ab, antigen–antibody complex; Ig, immunoglobulin.

effector T cells. Suppressor T cells monitor the chemical activity in the body and act to suppress B-cell and T-cell activity when the foreign antigen is under control. Both

B cells and T cells ultimately depend on an effective inflammatory reaction to achieve the end goal of destruc­ tion of the foreign protein or cell (Figure 15.6).