Actually, there is no body part or organ that cannot be affected by inflammation: From an inflamed toenail to meningitis, from a skin inflammation to tendonitis – everything is conceivable. And – there are very different degrees of inflammation. A pimple on the nose is a localized, tissue-destroying bacterial inflammation. If this pimple is not expressed properly, bacteria can reach the meninges via the bloodstream and, in the worst case, cause meningitis. What types of inflammation are there and what causes can they have? You can find out here.
Localized and generalized inflammation
Local, or localized, inflammation then changes to what is called “generalized” inflammation. Experts use this term when the infection is not limited to one spot, but affects the entire body or entire body parts. In this case, the pathogens from local foci of infection are washed into the entire organism via the bloodstream and cause damage there.
The body’s immune system is then no longer able to stop the spread of germs, such as bacteria, viruses, and occasionally fungi or parasites. Either because it is too weakened, for example after an operation, transplant or accident, in newborns or in sick elderly people. Sometimes, however, the pathogens are too numerous or their poison is too aggressive.
For example, Pope John Paul ll and paralyzed actor Christopher Reeve, who became famous for his role as Superman, died not from their long-standing illnesses but from acute blood poisoning triggered by severe inflammation, technically known as sepsis.
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What is inflammation and how does it happen?
Inflammation is a highly complex process of the body’s defense system against attacks of all kinds. It is always a reaction to pathogenic stimuli, such as toxins or foreign bodies, by which tissues and/or cells are damaged. How pronounced the inflammation turns out depends on the strength, number and intensity, but also on the duration of the attacking stimuli. The goal of inflammation is always to get the “pest” and its consequences out of the body.
Causes of inflammation
Inflammation can be caused by both external and internal stimuli and influences. External influences include:
- Viral and/or bacterial or their toxins, respectively.
- Poisonings
- Heat, for example sunburn, or cold
In addition to external influences, there are also stimuli from within that can lead to infections, for example:
- Metabolic products, for example, uric acid crystals.
- Tissue decay products
- Products that have arisen as a result of an impaired immune response
