Our Body's Army

L.M. is a 25 year old male who came in because of one week cough and colds. He had intermittent low grade fever and headache which was temporarily relieved by Paracetamol. He works as a call center agent and juggles between morning and night shifts. He complained of easy fatigability which prodded him to seek consult.

This is the most common case that I see in practice. People who work hard to earn money end up spending more money on consultation and medications. The usual course is an interchange of fever, cough, colds and body malaise. Can we prevent these symptoms from worsening?

A good immune system serves as a good defense for our bodies. The immune system develops from birth and increase its competence through the work of several organs like the thymus. However, the thymus involutes early in life. As adults we rely on different white blood cells, macrophages and cytotoxic killer cells whenever foreign agents invade our system. The immune system almost mimics an army of militiamen with hierarchy of function.

During viral invasion which we acquire from a single sneeze of an infected individual, our defense system starts to work. Each type of cell have specific function either as 'deep penetration agents', recognition, antigen presenting, helper or killer cells. However, during times of stress or when we have chronic diseases, most of the members of our immune system are busy trying to increase our energy as in moments of stress or warding off agents that destabilize our body systems in chronic diseases.

It is advised that we get enough sleep and we eat the right kind of food. As for LM, lack of sleep and work stress had taken its toll rendering his immune system unprepared for the viral infection. When the virus has penetrated our body's barrier, the illness ensues. Worst, he did not rest during the time he first felt the symptoms. He continued to report for work.

Normally, viral infection spontaneously resolves. A good rest and hydration may speed up healing. No drugs are necessary to treat the illness. However, when one organism has engaged our body's army, several other microorganisms can enter. Let's just say the first agent makes us vulnerable to other agents. So that after one week, LM came into my clinic, with the characteristic smell of bacteria, hyperemic pharynx and congested turbinates. This time, it's no longer viral but bacterial.

With the invasion of bacteria, some of our immune system may not be able to kill them. Thus they can multiply and cause more cell damage. Only at this point in time will the doctor prescribe an antibiotic.

I had to prescribe an antibacterial agent for LM plus drugs to relieve his symptoms. Aside from the drug regimen, I strictly advised him to drink around 10 glasses of water everyday. Water should be taken in at intervals not in the evening when we remembered we had to take a lot of water. I also told him to buy fruits as source of Vitamin C rather than synthetic Ascorbic acids found in most drugstores. On top of these, complete bed rest for 3 to 5 days is warranted.

Rest and rehydration may halt bacterial progress. It is important then that at the onset of symptoms, one should rest and avoid exposure to other persons with obvious illness.