Immune
Complexes
and
Serum
Sickness
In
some
individuals
the
immune
system
may
recognise
foreign
serum
proteins
as
antigens
and
may
form
antibodies
against
them
in
an
allergic
reaction.
When
the
antibodies
interact
with
the
proteins,
a
series
of
chemical
molecules
called
immune
complexes
may
form,
and
with
activation
of
complement,
the
person
may
develop
a
type
of
disease
called
serum
sickness.
This
type
of
immunity
provides
substantial
and
immediate
protection
to
disease,
but
is
only
a
temporary
measure.
This
goes
off
after
few
days.
Examples
are
the
serum
preparations
for
chickenpox,
hepatitis
B
etc.
