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Immune system and infections

Some give orders, while others ward off disease or collect the body's garbage. The immune system is built of a range of different cells with a variety of capacities that can be engaged to help protect against almost any threat to the body's health. It is also important that the immune system does not react too aggressively. If the immune system is reacting against a false enemy, problems like allergies are the result. If it begins to attack the body itself, such as in an auto-immune disease like arthritis, it can disrupt the nervous and hormonal systems and damage the joints.

Feature: Allergies

Sneezing, blocked nose, runny eyes - and that at just the time of year when people want to be outside more. It is no wonder that many people with hay fever want to find alternatives to allergy medication. In our fact sheets we report on an alternative that is becoming more popular in Europe: specific immunotherapy - and what parents can do to try to prevent their children getting allergies.

Feature: Common cold

What is the common cold? How is it different from the flu? The cold is an infection that is usually caused by viruses and develops over a few days. It usually starts with a scratchy or sore throat.

Feature: HIV test in pregnancy

In Germany there are not very many pregnant women infected with HIV. But it does happen that a woman does not realize that she is a carrier of the virus. If a woman finds out about her infection in time, the child can almost always be protected. Our fact sheet tells you whether you or your child can be infected with HIV during the pregnancy, what you can do for your child if it becomes necessary, and who may find out about HIV test results.

Fact sheet

Feature: Influenza

Influenza ("the flu") is not an ordinary cold. It hits harder, making you feel very ill very quickly, but symptoms usually improve within a week. Babies and toddlers, people who are over 65 and people with certain chronic diseases have a considerably higher risk of flu-related complications. There are several things you can do to lower the likelihood of infection.

Feature: Microbes

Over 100 years ago, in May 1910, Robert Koch died. He was one of the founders of modern microbiology and was awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for discovering the tuberculosis bacillus. But what exactly are microbes? When are they good for us and when do they harm us? Read more about them in this feature.

What are microbes?

Feature: Using antibiotics

Did you know that most respiratory illnesses like the flu, or a simple cough or stuffy nose, are caused by viruses? And that antibiotics will not help in most cases because they only fight against bacteria? Using antibiotics when you have a viral infection is not only ineffective, it can also be harmful. Find out more here about what adverse effects this can have, as well as how the incorrect use of antibiotics can make bacteria more resistant.

Research summaries

Allergies: Can specific immunotherapy injections reduce hay fever and other forms of allergic rhinitis?

Repeated injections of tiny amounts of the specific substance that cause a person's allergic reactions can reduce hay fever symptoms. This specific immunotherapy or "desensitisation" needs to be continued for several years. There is a small chance of a dangerous reaction to the injection that would need immediate medical treatment. more...

Allergies: What are the advantages and disadvantages of various antihistamines?

Of out of several antihistamines for allergy symptoms, loratadine might have some advantages for people with allergic rhinitis and urticaria. Cetirizine might cause more sleepiness than some of the other drugs, but this is not certain. more...

Allergy and food intolerance: Can soya baby formulas prevent them?

Soy formula has not been shown to protect high-risk babies from developing allergies or food intolerance. more...

Urinary tract infections: Do antibiotics help?

Three or more days of antibiotics almost always ensure that the symptoms of an uncomplicated urinary tract infection will go away quickly. Taking antibiotics over five days or more can get rid of the last of the bacteria causing the infection, but the longer the treatment, the more adverse effects there are. more...

Common colds: Is it better to take antibiotics or not?

It does not make sense to use antibiotics for simple colds. These drugs have no proven benefit, and can have adverse effects. more...

Hepatitis B: Should I get tested?

Certain groups of people have a high risk of becoming infected with hepatitis B. But on the whole, less than 1% of all people in Germany have a hepatitis B infection. Adults who have no special risk do not seem to have health benefits from doing a test or from having a vaccination. more...

HIV infection: Does exercise help?

Regular aerobic and/or progressive resistance exercise could have a positive effect on heart and lung fitness in people living with HIV who are medically stable. It could also improve body shape and psychological wellbeing. This kind of exercise does not appear to have an effect on viral load or CD4 counts. more...

Common colds: Can vitamin C prevent or relieve them?

Taking vitamin C every day to try to prevent colds does not protect most people from colds. It only slightly shortens the amount of time that they are ill. Starting to take vitamin C at the first sign of a cold does not affect the course of the cold. more...

Common colds: Wait before trying antibiotics?

If there does not appear to be any medical need for antibiotics to treat a simple cold, waiting one to two days can avoid unnecessary adverse effects. more...

Common colds: Should we follow the "drink more fluids" advice?

There is no medical reason to drink more than you feel like drinking when you have a cold. more...

Sore throats: Do antibiotics help?

Antibiotics can shorten the symptoms of sore throats caused by infections by less than a day. There are adverse effects, though, so that weighing up the pros and cons is an individual exercise. more...

Babies with high risk of allergy: Could prebiotics in infant formulas make a difference?

Infant formulas containing prebiotics might be able to prevent the development of eczema in babies who are at high risk of allergies, but they have not been tested enough to be sure. So far, none of the breast milk substitutes has been shown to provide better protection than breastfeeding. more...

Fatigue in autoimmune diseases: Which non-drug treatments can help?

Tailored physical exercise programmes and energy conservation techniques can reduce fatigue in people who have multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis or lupus. more...

Influenza: Do antiviral drugs like Tamiflu work and what are their adverse effects?

Antiviral influenza drugs can make flu symptoms go away a bit sooner. But they only help if they are taken within 48 hours after a person becomes ill. They can cause nausea and other adverse effects too. more...

Guillain-Barré syndrome: Could corticosteroids help or delay recovery?

Corticosteroids have not been shown to improve the long-term outcome of treatment for Guillain-Barré syndrome. Corticosteroid tablets might even delay recovery. more...

Asthma: Can specific immunotherapy reduce the symptoms, and how safe is it?

Specific immunotherapy (“desensitisation”) can reduce the number of asthma attacks in people with allergic asthma. When injected, mild reactions in the tissue around the injection site are common. There is a small chance of a dangerous reaction to the injection that would need immediate medical treatment. more...

Influenza: How much protection do flu vaccinations offer?

In most years healthy people are unlikely to get influenza, whether or not they are vaccinated. However, vaccination can reduce the risk of getting influenza by half or more. This can make a big difference in years when the risk of infection is high. more...