[Mechanisms of the intractability of bacterial infections in immunodeficiency status in childhood].
Most of the primary immunodeficiency diseases develop in childhood. The patients with antibody deficiency are susceptible to pyogenic bacteria since antibody is essential to opsonize bacteria. T cell deficiency causes defect of cytokine production needed to activate macrophages to kill intracellular bacteria such as mycobacteria and leeds to intractable infection of such bacteria. Complement mediated bacteriolysis is important to protect neisseria such as meningococcus and deficiency of C5-C9 provides susceptibility to the bacteria. Defect of superoxide synthesis or adhesion of neutrophils is related to severe infection of pyogenic bacteria. On the way of development of immune system, children especially in early infancy display susceptibility to bacterial infections.
Yata
J
J
Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University.
D000367:Age Factors; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000209:etiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D007153:Immunologic Deficiency Syndromes / Q000150:complications / Q000276:immunology*; D007223:Infant