Inflammation and Infection Overview

Inflammation and Infection Overview

• Inflammation is a protective response to injury or irritants.
• Infection is a microorganism invasion causing tissue damage.
• Inflammation often precedes or accompanies infection.
• Inflammation, marked by "itis" suffix, can escalate to infection.

Signs of Inflammation

• Redness
• Heat
• Swelling
• Pain

Inflammatory Mediators

• Histamine, prostaglandins, and kinins are key mediators.
• These substances dilate blood vessels, increasing blood flow (redness & heat).
• They aid white blood cell movement.
• They cause swelling (edema) and pain.

Types of Inflammation

• Inflammation can be local (confined) or systemic (body-wide).
• Inflammation can be acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term).
• Long-term inflammation can damage tissues and lead to disease.