Immunology

Immunology refers to the study and treatment of diseases relating to all aspects of the immune system. The immune system is a collection of biological processes that prevents disease by identifying and overcoming pathogens and tumour cells. A physician specialising in immunology is known as an immunologist, and they treat and study a range of disease and conditions of the immune system.

The immune system can detect a vast array of agents that compromise the health of individual cells from viruses to harmful chemicals. The nature of many pathogens means that they can evolve to evade the immune system, but the immune system itself is also able to evolve and adapt to overcome threats to health.

Diseases of the immune system fall into two main categories, which include:

• Immunodeficiency
• Autoimmunity

Immunodeficiency occurs when parts of the immune system fail to respond to threats to health, and autoimmunity refers to the condition where the immune system attacks your body instead of disease. Allergies and responses to otherwise harmless agents are also well-known conditions of the immune system, such as the case with an allergic reaction.

Immunology is heavily reliant on technology and continuing study of immune systems, and immunologists are heavy involved in many aspects of biomedical science. There are many different branches of immunology from cancer immunology to evolutionary immunology.

Clinical immunologists can treat a range of disease to the immune system, from common allergies to auto immune disease such as HIV. If you need to find more information on immunologists in your area, look to physicians.com.au. Contact a listed physician today specialising in the field of immunology.