Inflammation

From ArticleWorld

Inflammation is the body’s initial response to receiving an injury, irritation or infection. Inflammation, when it is easily visible, can be observed by seeing redness, a sensation of heat, pain, swelling and some dysfunction of the affected area. Inflammation, while uncomfortable, sets the stage for the ultimate outcome of healing.

Characteristics

When an injury such as a laceration occurs, the body responds by sending macrophages to the area to clean up any debris that might be present. The protein, histamine, is released that sends messages to the infection fighting cells to come to the affected area. Much of the immediate redness and swelling is caused by histamine that increases the capillary permeability and allows body fluids to come to the area.

Eventually other cells, such as leukocytes, arrive to fight infection. Wound-healing cells, known as fibroblasts, come to the area and begin laying down the structure that will result in wound healing.

If inflammation persists, proteins called cytokines and tissue necrosis factor with cause even more cell types that fight infection to come to the inflamed site. Neutrophils, in particular, serve as phagocytes and attempt to clean up as much dead debris and foreign material as possible.

Outcomes

There are four possible outcomes to inflammation. The inflammation can resolve with complete healing of the damaged tissue. The wound can heal with some scarring with connective tissue replacing the otherwise healthy tissue. If certain pyogenic bacteria are present, an abscess can form. Abscesses contain bacteria and infection-fighting cells that are walled off from the rest of the body.

Lastly, the inflammation can become chronic and remain inflamed for up to many years. Such areas of chronic inflammation contain macrophages which attempt to interrupt the cause of the inflammation; however, toxins released by these cells in order to kill infecting organism can also be toxic to the body. Local tissue destruction is likely.

If inflammation becomes systemic, it can lead to a systemic immune response that can lead to illness and death. Inflammation that affects the whole body causes vasodilatation and low blood pressure. Certain inflammations in the body can be low-grade and basically without symptoms. The role of this kind of inflammation in the formation of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease is being studied.