Quote:
|
Originally Posted by AngelsSix
I have a question concerning this. Do we only build immunity to viruses or to bacteria as well?? I was wondering that by making more and more anti-bacterial products, etc., if we will end up developing a super bacteria that will beat everything we have thus far. I also wonder if we will lower our immunity to things to the point where our systems will start triggering allergies to normal everyday things.
|
We build immunity to both viruses and bacteria. But some viruses mutate so quickly that you need a new vaccine every year. If you caught the flu last year, your immune system won't recognize this year's new and improved version. Other viruses, like chicken pox, don't change -- if you caught it as a child you get lifetime immunity. And some bacteria are really "smart" and build slimy cocoons to "hide" from our immune system.
And yes, more and more antibacterials mean super bugs. That antibacterial pump soap you use gets washed down the drain and into the water supply. Bacteria develop resistance to it. These bugs don't get any nastier than those our g-grandparents faced, we just have no way to fight them. People used to die from staph infections all the time -- those days are back again.
The quiz is on Thursday.
