INTERACTION BETWEEN INFECTION, NUTRITION AND IMMUNITY IN TROPICAL MEDICINE

P. C. M. Pereira(1)

(1)Departamento de Doenças Tropicais e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP, Botucatu, SP, Brasil.

ABSTRACT: Host nutritional state has an important role in susceptibility to bacteria, parasites, and viral infections. Infection precipitates the appearance of signs and symptoms of nutrition deficiencies in the undernourished; this can aggravate infection evolution. Infection stimulates specific and non-specific host defense mechanisms; these are directly influenced by the nutritional state of micro- and macronutrients. Immune alterations, which are closely related to nutritional status, markedly contribute to a higher susceptibility to infectious agents and can also contribute to worsening nutritional state, forming a vicious cycle.

KEY WORDS: Infection, nutrition, immunity, tropical diseases

CORRESPONDENCE TO:

Paulo Câmara Marques Pereira, Departamento de Doenças Tropicais e Diagnóstico por Imagem, Faculdade de Medicina, UNESP, Distrito de Rubião Junior, S/N, CEP:16618-000, Botucatu, SP, Brasil, Fone/Fax: 55 14 6821 9898, Email:ppereira@fmb.unesp.br