Preclinical Paediatrics · MU Sofia

39. Development of the immune system in childhood. Immunopathological reactions. Oral immunity.

Traces how the immune system develops from the foetal period through the newborn stage and infancy to adolescence, covering maternal antibodies, the timing of first viral infections and how severity changes with age. Oral immunity is described as a mix of local and systemic responses, and a table compares IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE across childhood. The note also explains why young children respond poorly to polysaccharide antigens and lists oral and general warning signs of immune deficiency.

Inside: 7 sections · 1 table · 16 flashcards · 4 min

Topic 39 of 40 in the MU Sofia syllabus for Preclinical Paediatrics (Dental Medicine, Year 3). The free AceMed note covers it in 7 sections, about 551 words (4 min of reading), with 16 flashcards.

In this note

  1. DEVELOPMENT OF IMMUNE SYSTEM IN CHILDHOOD. IMMUNOPATHOLOGIVAL REACTIONS. ORAL IMMUNITY
  2. INTRAUTERINE DEVELOPMENT
  3. NEWBORNS
  4. MATERNAL ANTIBODIES
  5. ORAL IMMUNITY OF NEWBORNS
  6. DEVELOPMENT OF IMMUNE SYSTEM IN CHILDHOOD
  7. Summary and extra points

INTRAUTERINE DEVELOPMENT

Passive immunity from mother and developing own immunoreactivity→ protection of the foetus from congenital infections

NEWBORNS

  • Rejected Zero Immunity
  • At birth, presence of phagocytic activity of complement, interferon and other factors of non-specific immunity
  • In this period, congenital and acquired infections occur with undifferentiated clinic and a tendency to generalisation

MATERNAL ANTIBODIES

  • From 2nd month of the infant and begins to decline
  • Disappears within 6 months, but it is retained for longer in breast-fed infants

ORAL IMMUNITY OF NEWBORNS

  • Oral mucosa adapts as a barrier
  • Supported by emergence of immunoregulatory network
  • It depends on microbial colonisation and food allergens
  • Breast feeding is the best way to shape the immune phenotype
  • Breast milk contains immune cells, cytokines, growth factor, immunoglobulin A
  • Breast milk provides early postnatal development of secretory immunity
  • Secretory IgA until 8months is obtained from the mother→ secretion begins thereafter
  • At this period, oral microflora is modelling and inhibits surface colonisation of MOs which prevents the penetration of harmful factors
  • Neonatal period is critical for infection and allergies

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