"Carefully leveled text and vibrant photographs introduce early readers to the structure and function of the immune system. Includes infographics, an activity, glossary, and index."--

Examines the workings of a complex structure, the body's defense against disease and infection.

"A estas alturas, y en parte debido a la pandemia, probablemente habrás oído hablar del sistema inmunitario. Sabrás que te protege de infecciones y que se le suele llamar las <<defensas>>, pero quizá no mucho más. Pues bien, ha llegado la hora de que alucines con todo lo que hace en tu cuerpo este maravilloso sistema y el impacto que tiene en tu salud.Los fenómenos biológicos que se exponen son complejos, pero la doctora Sari Arponen te los cuenta de forma amena, simplificándolos para que tú y cualquier persona no versada en medicina los entienda. En estas páginas no sólo encontrarás todos los secretos del sistema inmune, sino mucha otra valiosísima información sobre el funcionamiento de tu cuerpo y su relación con el entorno.Con su estilo desenfadado, un delicioso toque de ironía y sin pelos en la lengua, la autora aborda todos los conceptos médicos y antropológicos que rodean al sistema inmunitario exponiéndolos con claridad y mucho humor. ¡Además de aprender, lo pasarás en grande!Si

A look at the immune system and its potential to help and hurt.

Describes the human immune system and its workings, including diseases of its underreacting or overreacting.

Disease--specifically infectious disease--is what eventually kills the overwhelming majority of us. In fact, it's amazing that it doesn't get us sooner: we fight off millions of disease-causing germs every day. So how come we're not dead yet? In this lively and accessible book, Idan Ben-Barak tells us why. He explores the immune system and what keeps it running, how germs are destroyed, and why we develop immunities to certain disease-causing agents. He also examines the role of antibiotics and vaccines, and looks at what the future holds for our collective chances of not being dead. This is entertaining and thoughtful science writing to inspire the student interested in a career in medicine or immunology, or to inform the reader who just wants to understand more about their body while having a laugh along the way.

"A groundbreaking narrative exploration of the human immune system--the key to human health and longevity--from the Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist and acclaimed author of A Deadly Wandering"--

Whether it is asthma, food or pollen allergies, type-1 diabetes, lupus, multiple sclerosis, or Crohn's disease, everyone knows someone who suffers from an allergic or autoimmune disorder. And if it appears that the prevalence of these maladies has increased recently, that's because it has--to levels never before seen in human history. These days no fewer than one in five, and likely more, Americans suffer from one of these ailments. We seem newly, and bafflingly, vulnerable to immune system malfunction. Why? Science writer Moises Velasquez-Manoff explains the latest thinking about this problem and explores the remarkable new treatments in the works. In the past 150 years, improved sanitation, water treatment, and the advent of vaccines and antibiotics have saved countless lives, nearly eradicating diseases that had plagued humanity for millennia. But now, a growing body of evidence suggests that the very steps we took to combat infections also eliminated organisms that kept our bodies