Active Immunity and Passive Immunity | CHAPTER 16 | Pediatric Nursing

Active Immunity and Passive Immunity – Health of the children has been considered as the vital importance to all societies because children are the basic resource for the future of humankind. Nursing care of children is concerned for both the health of the children and for the illnesses that affect their growth and development. The increasing complexity of medical and nursing science has created a need for special area of child care, i.e. pediatric nursing.

Pediatric nursing is the specialized area of nursing practice concerning the care of children during wellness and illness. It includes preventive, promotive, curative and rehabilitative care of children. It emphasizes on all round development of body, mind and spirit of the growing individual. Thus, pediatric nursing involves in giving assistance, care and support to the growing and developing children to achieve their individual potential for functioning with fullest capacity.

Active Immunity and Passive Immunity

A. Active immunity: Active immunity involves the production of antibodies by the body itself and the subsequent development of memory cells.

Examples of Active Immunity

a) Natural – Producing antibodies in response to exposure to a pathogenic infection (i.e. challenge and response)

b) Artificial – Producing antibodies in response to the controlled exposure to an attenuated pathogen (i.e. vaccination)

B. Passive immunity: Passive immunity results from the acquisition of antibodies from another source and hence memory cells are not developed.

Examples of Passive Immunity

a) Natural Receiving antibodies from another organism (e.g. to the foetus via the colostrum or a newborn via breast milk)

b) Artificial – Receiving manufactured antibodies via external delivery (eg blood transfusions of monoclonal antibodies)

Active immunity will result in long-term immunity but passive immunity will not (due to the presence or absence of memory cells) Both active and passive immunity can be induced by either natural or artificial mechanisms.

Active immunity is superior to passive immunity due to-

• Protection is long lasting
• No risk of hypersensitivity reaction
• Develop immunological memory
• Less expensive
• More effectiveness
• Mild side effects
• Prevention of disease

[Ref by-M.R.Choudhury 97/5]

Host Resistance against Infections:

Active immunity:

• It is that type of acquired immunity where immune -competent cells of body participate actively.
• It is the immunity which is developed in an individual as a result of infection or specific
  immunization.
• Here the individual produces actively the antibodies or effectors T cell after contact with foreign antigen.

Active immunity may be acquired in 3 ways:

a) Following clinical infection e.g. /Chicken pox, /Rubella / Measles.

b) Following subclinieal or inapparent infection e.g. Polio & Diphtheria.

c) Following immunization with an antigen may be / Killed vaccine /a live attenuated vaccine or toxoid.

Passive immunity:-

When antibodies produced in one body are transferred to another to induce protection against disease. It is known as passive immunity.

Or

It is that type of acquired immunity where the antibody is introduced into a host to produce a specific immunity

Passive immunity may be developed in following ways;

a) By administration of antibodies containing preparation (Immunoglobuliin or antiserum)

b) By transfer of maternal antibodies across the placenta.

c) By transfer of maternal antibodies (IA) via colostrum to foetus,

d) By transfer of lymphocytes, to induces passive cellular immunity.

Active Immunity is Produced in Three Ways:

➤Following clinical infection > c.g., chickenpox, rubella and measles.

➤Following subclinical or in-apparent infection -> e.g., polio and diphtheria.

[Ref-M.R. Choudhury/5]

➤Following immunization with an antigen -> which may be a killed vaccine, a live attenuated vaccine or toxoid.

Difference Between Active & Passive Immunity:

Difference between Active Immunity and Passive Immunity

Cardinal/Marked/Special/Unique Features of Acquired Immunity:

Specificity specific to its stimulating antigen.

Immunological memory It can recall previous contact with the particular antigen so that subsequent immune responses lead to more rapid and larger antibody or T-cell response.

Adaptiveness Capable of responding to antigen not encountered before.

Self-limitations immunity may die out sometime after removal of antigenic stimuli.

Discrimination of self from non-self Capable of distinguishes self from non-self.

Cells of Innate Immunity:

• Neutrophils (Polymorphs)
• Eosinophils
• Macrophage
• NK cells (natural killer cells)
• LAK cells (lymphokine activated killer cells).

Read more:

• Concept about Immunology | CHAPTER 16 | Pediatric Nursing