What are cytokines?

Cytokines are tiny messages that help cells talk to each other when something happens in the body.

Imagine you're playing with your toys and one of them breaks. You shout out to let your friends know so they can come help you fix it. Cytokines work kind of like that shout, but instead of helping fix a toy, they help fix problems inside your body, like when you get sick or hurt.

Cytokines are made by special cells in your body called immune cells. When something goes wrong, these cells release cytokines into the space around them. Other nearby cells can then "hear" those messages and respond, maybe by getting bigger, moving faster, or calling more friends to help.

Think of it like a game of telephone. If one person says something, the next person hears it and passes it along until everyone knows what's going on.

Sometimes, if too many cytokines are sent out at once, it can feel like your body is shouting really loudly, this can make you feel extra tired or achy when you're sick.