Autoimmune Disease Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

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Autoimmune Disease Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention

Definition

The immune system can normally distinguish between body cells and foreign cells. 

However, different things happen to the body of an autoimmune disease sufferer who actually acts the opposite.

The immune system of sufferers of autoimmune diseases actually perceives certain body parts, such as joints or skin, as threatening foreign cells.

That is why, the immune system produces proteins called autoantibodies to attack the body’s healthy cells.

There are many types of autoimmune diseases. For example, type 1 diabetes mellitus, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Graves’ disease, idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), SLE ( systemic lupus erythematosus ), and rheumatoid arthritis.

Type of Disease

After knowing what autoimmune is, you also need to know the types. Some of the autoimmune diseases that are quite common are:

  • Type 1 diabetes mellitus

In this condition, the body’s immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

  • Arthritis rheumatoid

In rheumatoid arthritis, the body’s immune system can attack the joints. This then causes complaints such as redness, heat, pain, and stiffness in the joints of the body.

  • Psoriasis

Psoriasis causes skin cells to multiply rapidly. The excess cells accumulate and form a scaly red rash on the skin of certain body parts.

  • Multiple sclerosis

This disease causes damage to the myelin sheath, the protective layer that covers nerve cells. Damage to the myelin sheath can cause signs and symptoms such as numbness, weakness, balance disturbances, and difficulty walking.

  • Systemic lupus erythematosus

Lupus can affect various organs in the body. Some of the symptoms that are common in individuals who experience this condition are pain in the joints, feeling tired, and rashes on the skin.

  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)

The term is used to describe the condition of inflammation of the intestinal lining. The two most common types of IBD are Crohn’s disease, which can occur in any part of the digestive tract, and ulcerative colitis, which generally affects the colon and rectum.

  • Addison’s disease

Addison’s disease can affect the adrenal glands, which produce the hormones cortisol and aldosterone. Deficiencies in these hormones can affect how the body stores and uses carbohydrates and sugar. Some of the symptoms that can arise are weakness, weight loss, and low blood sugar levels.

  • Graves’ disease

Graves’ disease can attack the thyroid gland in the neck and cause an increase in thyroid hormone production. Thyroid hormone functions to control the use of energy or metabolism in the body. Elevated thyroid hormone levels can cause signs and symptoms of nervousness, increased heart rate, intolerance to heat, and weight loss. One of the most common signs of Graves’ disease is a protruding eyeball, which is known as exophthalmos.

  • Sjogren’s syndrome

This condition attacks the joints and glands that provide lubrication or lubrication to the eyes and mouth. The characteristic signs of Sjogren’s syndrome are joint pain, dry eyes, and dry mouth.

  • Thyroiditis Hashimoto

In this disease, thyroid hormone production decreases. Some of the signs and symptoms of Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are weight gain, sensitivity to cold air, feeling tired, hair loss, and enlargement of the thyroid gland.

  • Myasthenia gravis

Myasthenia gravis affects the nerves that help the brain move muscles. When there is damage to these nerves, the signals produced by the brain cannot direct the muscles to move. The most commonly observed symptom is muscle weakness that worsens with activity and improves with rest. This condition often involves the muscles that control chewing and facial movements.

  • Vasculitis

Vasculitis can occur when the body’s immune system attacks blood vessels. Inflammation that occurs can narrow the arteries and veins so that the blood flowing through the blood vessels becomes reduced.

  • Pernicious anemia

This condition affects a protein known as the intrinsic factor, which helps the intestine to absorb vitamin B12 from food. Without these vitamins, the body cannot produce enough red blood cells. Pernicious anemia is more common in those who are elderly.

  • Celiac disease

Those with this condition cannot eat foods that contain gluten, which is a protein found in wheat and wheat products. When the immune system detects gluten in the digestive tract, it attacks it and causes inflammation.

Symptoms

There are more than 80 diseases that are categorized as autoimmune diseases. Some of them have early symptoms, such as:

  • skin rash
  • fatigue
  • joint pain and stiffness 
  • muscle aches
  • fever
  • persistent diarrhea and indigestion
  • hair loss
  • hard to concentrate
  • tingling in hands and feet
  • heart palpitations and easy sweating

Even though they have the same initial symptoms, each type of autoimmune disease can have its own specific symptoms. 

For example, psoriasis, which is an inflammatory condition of the skin, is characterized by red rashes, dry skin, thick, scaly, and easily peels off. 

Type 1 diabetes can make sufferers feel weak, often thirsty, and lose weight for no apparent reason.

Reason

The causes of autoimmune diseases are still being studied by experts. 

However, some sources suspect that diet, history of infection, and exposure to certain chemicals may play a role in the occurrence of autoimmune diseases.

In addition, it is also known that there are groups of people who have a higher tendency to experience certain autoimmune diseases compared to other groups.

Risk Factors

There are several factors that can increase the risk of suffering from autoimmune diseases, namely:

  • female gender
  • have a family history of autoimmune disease
  • are overweight or obese
  • smoking
  • taking drugs that affect the immune system, such as steroids
  • exposed to chemicals or sunlight
  • have a bacterial or viral infection, such as an Epstein Barr virus infection

Diagnosis

Here are some steps to diagnose an autoimmune disease.

  • Clinical Anamnesis

The doctor will conduct a medical interview to find out if there is a history of autoimmune disease in the family.

The doctor will also ask whether the patient has any symptoms related to a certain type of autoimmune disease. 

  • Physical examination 

Physical examination includes blood pressure, pulse, temperature, as well as assessing rashes/discoloration of the skin, lumps in the neck, joints, muscle strength and perception.

  • Laboratory examination

Laboratory tests that can be done include:

  • ANA ( antinuclear antibody ) test, to determine the activity of antibodies that attack the body;
  • autoantibody test, used to check the characteristics of antibodies in the body;
  • C-Reactive protein test, to detect inflammation in the body;
  • complete blood test, performed to determine the number of red blood cells as well as white blood cells;
  • erythrocyte sedimentation test, performed to determine the severity of inflammation in the body; as well as
  • lumbar puncture to determine albumin levels in cerebrospinal fluid.

  • Other Supporting Examination 

Some supporting examinations, for example:

Treatment

Autoimmune diseases generally cannot be cured. However, the symptoms can be alleviated or prevented.

Treatment of autoimmune diseases depends on the type of disease, symptoms, and severity.

To relieve symptoms, doctors can also prescribe medicines, such as:

  • non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), including ibuprofen and aspirin, which help with pain
  • anti-TNF drugs, such as infliximab, which can prevent inflammation due to rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis
  • drugs that suppress the immune system, for example, corticosteroids, which inhibit disease progression and maintain organ function

In addition, several lifestyles recommended by doctors for people with autoimmune diseases include:

  • eat healthy food
  • stop smoking
  • exercising regularly
  • lose weight
  • avoid stress
  • Use sunblock when the weather is hot

Prevention

So far, there is no 100 percent effective way to prevent autoimmune diseases. 

However, several efforts can be made to reduce the risk of autoimmune diseases, namely:

  • exercise regularly
  • do not smoke
  • maintain an ideal weight
  • wear protective equipment when working, to avoid exposure to chemicals
  • keep the body clean to avoid viral and bacterial infections

Complications

Some complications of autoimmune diseases to watch out for:

When to See a Doctor? 

Check with your doctor if you are in a risk group and experience the initial symptoms mentioned above.

See a doctor immediately if:

  • there are disturbances in the level of consciousness, progressivity, and cardiopulmonary which does not improve, get worse
  • experiencing specific symptoms

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