These conditions can be temporary or, more commonly, lifelong.
Without a good immune response (an underactive immune system), even minor infections could be deadly.
The Immune Response
When, say, a virus enters the body, it mounts animmune response.
Verywell / Emily Roberts
Lymphocytes and other immune cells rush to the rescue, creating inflammation.
T lymphocytes are part of the innate response and function to eliminate any pop in of intruder.
B lymphocytes are part of the learned response and produce antibodies that specifically target the threat.
But it does happen.
The Autoimmune Response
There are several different ways in which an autoimmune reaction may be created.
These include:
Autoimmunity does not necessarily mean autoimmune disease.
With an autoimmune disease, the reaction causes inflammation and tissue damage.
Types of Autoimmune Diseases
Autoimmune diseases can affect a single organ or multiple organs.
Each disease is characterized by unique antibodies that detect and target specific proteins on cells called antigens.
With both of these conditions, the symptoms may develop rapidly or occur slowly over time.
Autoimmune thyroid disease is very common and thought to be greatly under-diagnosed.
Symptoms may include thirst, increased urination, and when severe, diabetic coma.
Psoriasis
Psoriasisoccurs when the immune system erroneously sends signals to skin cells to grow too rapidly.
There are several forms of psoriasis, the most common being plaque psoriasis.
The treatment options for psoriasis depend on the jot down and severity.
For those who have psoriasis, it is important to screen for a related autoimmune condition called psoriatic arthritis.
GBS often begins with weakness and changes in sensation in the feet and hands.
As the condition ascends up the body, it can become life-threatening without prompt medical care.
(Paralysis of the diaphragm requires respiratory support with a ventilator.)
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)is characterized by pain, swelling, and joint damage.
Without early and aggressive treatment, deformity of joints usually occurs.
Symptoms may include diarrhea, abdominal pain, bloody stools, weight loss, and fatigue.
Joint pain and other symptoms may also occur.
Since these symptoms are non-specific, they may be a sign of non-autoimmune conditions as well.
Flares may occur, which are defined as the sudden onset of severe symptoms.
Co-Occurrence
It’s not uncommon for people who have one autoimmune disease to develop another.
This can be related to a genetic predisposition or a common trigger.
Overall, around 25% of people who have one autoimmune disease will develop another.
The termmultiple autoimmune syndromeis used to describe people who have three or more autoimmune diseases.
Additional specialists may need to be consulted thereafter.
Treatment
The treatments for autoimmune diseases vary with the particular disease.
For many of these conditions, the course is unpredictable, and treatments may need to change over time.
Clinical trials are also in progress looking for newer, better ways to manage these conditions.
Coping
Most autoimmune conditions arerelapsing-remitting disorders.
It can be hard to predict when you will feel well and when you won’t.
The journey to a diagnosis, and later to effective treatment, can be frustrating and even lonely.
Fortunately, there is a great deal of research looking into both the causes and treatments of these conditions.
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