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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.

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...

Uncomplicated urinary infections: How do short and long courses of antibiotics compare?

Three days of antibiotics are almost always enough to get over a urinary tract infection. Taking an extra two days of antibiotics can get rid of the last of the bacteria causing the infection, but the price is more adverse effects. more...

Common colds: Can antibiotics help?

The adverse effects of antibiotics probably outweigh the benefits of antibiotics for uncomplicated colds. They might be worthwhile only when a cold does not get better as fast as usual or there is bacterial infection. more...

Common colds: Can vitamin C prevent or relieve them?

Taking vitamin C every day does not prevent colds. However if you have a cold, it might be able to shorten the cold by about a day. more...

Common colds: What happens if you wait before trying start antibiotics?

Antibiotics are not going to help most children with simple colds, and will only help with middle ear infections a bit. This needs to be balanced against the adverse effects, and waiting a day to start the antibiotics might mean they are no longer needed. 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 sore throats caused by infections by less than 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...