Nothing irritates a person more than sniffling throughout the day, and the very fact that it is the harbinger of other diseases should make you wary of it. What starts as an itchy throat can lead to a full-fledged case of nasal congestion. The human body has the ability to protect itself from various diseases, and the immune system is what helps it in this endeavor.

Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease that causes discomfort in the airways of the lungs by blocking the passageway. This condition is chronic and is caused due to air pollution and a number of allergies among other common factors. It is estimated that more than 350 million people globally suffer from many asthma symptoms with some cases that also result in fatalities.

In meningococcal meningitis, the meninges or the lining of the spinal cord and the brain is infected. The infection can be caused by bacteria or virus. However, the meningococcus bacterium is more commonly known to cause meningitis as well meningococcemia. The bacterium is categorized into five groups known as serogroups:

Multiple sclerosis is a disease that attacks the central nervous system and has a potential to cause permanent disability. The condition is serious, affecting the brain and the spinal cord. When the protective sheath – myelin, is attacked by the immune system, multiple sclerosis is triggered. The nerve fibers are damaged due to lack of myelin and this leads to damage to the nerve signals between the brain and other body parts which further affects the communication process.

Eczema is an inflammatory skin condition that causes skin irritation leading to oozing blisters and itchy rashes. This condition leads to leathery skin patches in later stages. This skin condition is common in younger children. There are environmental as well as hereditary triggers that might result in developing this skin condition.

Our body is capable enough of protecting itself from disease-causing agents to a certain extent. The immune system is what keeps harmful agents at bay. However, there are instances when the immune system isn’t strong enough to keep the body from harm’s way. In such situations, the viruses and bacteria enter the body and wreak havoc and the result is that you are bed-ridden for a few days.