Innate immunity

Looks like

The inborn defences: skin, mucus, stomach acid, white cells such as neutrophils and macrophages, and complement proteins.

What it does

Responds within minutes to hours to any invader in the same way.

Keeping it well

Fever and inflammation are its signs. Sepsis is its overreaction: fever or cold skin with confusion, fast breathing or mottled skin is an emergency.

Its parts

• Mast cells

Related conditions

• Allergy & anaphylaxis
• HIV infection
• Mast cell activation & mastocytosis
• Neonatal sepsis
• Neutropenic sepsis
• Primary immunodeficiency
• Sepsis
• Toxic shock syndrome
• Transplant rejection & graft-versus-host disease
• Urticaria & angioedema