When Your body Screams No! or you can say when your protective force (Immune System) is unable to protect you became less or no caring for you or
When your immune system turn on itself, there is a war within the body.it means the proteins in the form of B and T Lyphocytes of your body or mixture of Antigen Antibody complex with complement complex becomes allergent to you ,a protein or an organ is no more tolerated by our body or Immune system and it cecomes hyperactive to it itself or on provocation of some external allergens ,it causes Autoimmune Disease and as it mostly involves connective tissue like muscles,joints,Blood vessels etc it is also called as Connective tissue diorder.
As we know this protective Immune system by making either B lymphocytes or Tlymphocytes protects us when ever an acute (Viral fever,Bacterial infection-skin ulcer,pharyngitis, diarrhoea,jaundice)or Chronic infection (TB,Leprosy)invade or attacks us ,they self contain the offending agent either by killing it immediately or converting a protective Antigen Antibody complex making it is totally unharmful for our body.But here this immune sytem which is broken by HIV infections or make less reactive using Immunusupressants like Steroid,Mycopholate,,Tacrolimus,Cycloserine,like medicine in Asthma,Transplant surgery or treating patients with anti cancer drugs which kill Blood cells or lymphocytes the Sanik of our Immune system or Diabetes or any other chronic infection or old age or child age where our Immune system is less reactive leads to somany opputunistic infections to us or our Body cannot control the infections and infections turns into septicaemia leading to more morbidity and mortality.
But in this order this system or its complex antigen antibody becomes injurious to us and produce a variety of diseases,few of them has been enumerated below.Just like a Police officer attacks you instead of protecting you? Or if, instead of getting the bad guys behind bar to protect you, he decides to put you behind bars?
This is exactly what happens when your body's immune system mistakenly turns on your own healthy organs and attacks them, resulting in autoimmune disorders. When the attack is on a single organ system such diseases are called 'organ-specific' autoimmune diseases (e.g., type 1 diabetes), whereas when the attack is more widespread and affects many organs the diseases are termed as 'systemic' autoimmune diseases (e.g. rheumatoid arthritis). Your immune system may also react to a foreign substance that it normally would ignore (akin to a cop arresting an infant) resulting in an immune reaction commonly termed as an 'allergy'. Here are some major autoimmune disorders and how to cope with them.
LUPUS
Diagnosing this disorder can be complicated as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) symptoms tend to vary from patient to patient, are unpredictable, and follow an up and down course.
THE DISORDER
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease wherein your body's immune system attacks various organs including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs, making it a potentially life-threatening illness. "While lupus is quite rare (affects 1 in 40,000 people), it is a dramatic disease..
WHO’S AT RISK
“Lupus affects young women between 13 and 40 years. "Environmental factors, family history, exposure to oestrogen and smoking, and viral infections are other common risk factors.”
THE SYMPTOMS
These include arthritis, kidney problems, low platelet and WBC counts, psychosis (manic episodes), rashes on face, especially after-sun exposure, mouth sores, and swelling of the lung and heart lining.Rash bilaterl on cheek is diagnostic when localised to this area is also called DLE otherwise SLE when other organs like muscle ,Joints,Lung, Liver, Kidneys and Blood vessels are affected.
RULE IT OUT
This is difficult to diagnose. Doctors will order blood tests to measure your blood cell count, ESR, kidney and liver functions, and the presence of anti-nuclear antibodies (indicative of an autoimmune disease) as well as urine tests to detect increased protein or red blood cells. A false-positive syphilis test may also be indicative of lupus.
HOW TO GET WELL
“About 10 to 15 years ago, the 5-year mortality rates were 80% . But with improved treatment options, 90% of patients survive for 20 years,.Treatment includes immunosuppresants and immunomodulating agents like steroids. "There are many side effects of steroid use, so it is a matter of balancing the side effects of the drug and the disease symptoms,”.
RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS
Although joint pain and inflammation are the most visible symptoms, this disorder affects every organ in the body; treating it early and aggressively is the best way to tackle the disease.
THE DISORDER
"The name is a misnomer," . Although classified as an autoimmune musculo-skeletal disorder with most visible symptoms like joint pain/inflammation, rheumatoid arthritis (RA) affects every organ in the body. 'We have outstanding medication to treat RA nowadays." low-dose methotrexate (LDMTX) is the 'central anchor drug' for the treatment of RA.
WHO’S AT RISK
Although the cause is unknown, RA is more common in women. Among the confirmed risk factors are gum disease (periodonitis) and smoking.it affects children too and Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis is a seriuos as adult one.
THE SYMPTOMS
Early diagnosis is very crucial. "Symptoms to watch out for include: joint pain and swelling, long-lasting early morning stiffness, fever, weight loss and fatigue.”
RULE IT OUT
Diagnosis is arrived at after clinical examination of the patients and blood tests to detect
presence of rheumatoid factor and anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti- CCP) antibodies. A negative result for rheumatoid factor is not indicative of lack of the disease as this factor is detectable in only 75 to 80% patients.
HOW TO GET WELL
There has been a “quiet revolution" in treating RA, a. Besides LDMTX, other drugs prescribed may include non- steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS), steroids, disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS), and immunosuppresants.
EXPART SPEAK
“An exciting new discovery is that smoking is a trigger for autoimmune genes to become active”
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
This condition is characterised by relapses (when new symptoms appear) and remissions (when symptoms improve on their own).
THE DISORDER
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a disease in which your body's immune system destroys the protective covering on your nerves. This interferes with the communication between your brain and the rest of your body. This ultimately causes irreversible damage to the nerves themselves, which interferes with the functions that are controlled by the nervous system vision, speech, walking etc.
WHO’S AT RISK
“Women are 1.5 to 2 times more likely to get the disease.it manifests itself in younger people between 20 and 30 years of age.”Asian people are less at risk; it typically affects North Europeans." Genetics, infections, and the presence of other autoimmune conditions are also risk factors.
THE SYMPTOMS
These include loss of vision in one eye, weakness/paralysis of legs, arms, head and neck muscles weakness, tremors, fatigue, and difficulty in swallowing or speaking.
RULE IT OUT
The availability of the MRI has revolutionised diagnosis and treatment. "You can spot lesions in the brain very early in the disease" . Other tests include electrical tests that document the velocity of impulses from various parts of the body to the brain and a spinal tap.
HOW TO GET WELL
In many cases, minor symptoms resolve themselves without any treatment. Treatments to control symptoms include immuno-modulating drugs like interferon and glatiramer which slow down the appearance of symptoms and steroids and mitoxantrone to suppress the immune system. However, interferons are very expensive (Rs 25,000 to 30,000 a month) and therefore not accessible to many. Currently, many drugs are in trial and the outlook is optimistic.
TYPE 1 DIABETES
Although most common in children, this form of diabetes (also known as juvenile onset diabetes) is not easily recognised.
THE DISORDER
Type 1 diabetes is a condition where your pancreas produces very little or no insulin, the hormone needed to process sugar to produce energy.
WHO’S AT RISK
Risk factors include family history, genetics, geographical location, exposure to certain viruses, as well as dietary factors like low Vitamin D levels. This disorder is commonly seen in young children (peak age of onset is 12 or 13 years) and in women.
THE SYMPTOMS
“Onset is more dramatic, and if not diagnosed, this condition can potentially be fatal.In a lot of cases, the diagnosis is made when the child presents acute complications. Stay vigilant for symptoms like weight loss, excessive urination, hunger, blurred vision, fatigue, etc.
RULE IT OUT
Diagnosis is primarily done based on patient history and age. Abnormal blood sugar levels show up in a random blood sugar test and a glycated haemoglobin (A1C) test. Specific blood tests to confirm diagnosis include checking for the presence of GAD antibody, islet cell antibody, and insulin auto-antibodies.
HOW TO GET WELL
Life-long treatment with insulin is the only option available currently. Patients are also advised to eat right, exercise, and diligently monitor their blood glucose levels.
THYROIDITIS
This autoimmune disorder is characterised by chronic inflammation of the thyroid gland leading to either hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
THE DISORDER
Thyroiditis is a condition wherein the immune cells attack the thyroid gland causing inflammation. This chronic inflammation leads to thyroid cell damage. Depending on the rapidity of the damage, a patient can develop hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism.
WHO’S AT RISK
Various factors including heredity, gender (women are more susceptible), age (middleaged women), and viral infections playa role. "There is a 50% concurrence in
identical twins indicating that the trigger is 50% genetic and 50% environmental.
THE SYMPTOMS
Generalised symptoms may include fever, weight loss, puffiness and joint pain. Typical hypothyroidism symptoms include constipation, weight gain, lethargy and dry skin. Typical hyperthyroidism symptoms include cardiac problems, weight loss, diarrhoea and tremors.
RULE IT OUT
Thyroid function tests and blood tests are normally done.
HOW TO GET WELL
Hypothyroidism is treated with synthetic thyroid hormones. Treatment for hyperthyroidism includes drugs to reduce the effect of excessive thyroid hormones. For example, beta blockers may be prescribed to reduce the impact on the heart. Surgery or radiotherapy to destroy the thyroid gland is also an option.
What are allergies?
Allergies are another form of immune system error which occur when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance (allergen) such as pollen, dust, food, or any other allergen that it would otherwise typically ignore. The resulting symptoms can range from minor irritation to a potentially life-threateninq emergency.
Common allergens
• Dust, pollen, mould
• Penicllin-based antibiotics
• Insect bites (bees, wasps)
• Eggs, nuts, dairy products, wheat
RULE IT OUT
• Skin test
• Blood tests
HOW TO GET WELL
Avoid the allergen
Take steroids, antihistamines, decongestants to relieve symptoms
Purified allergen shots
Epinephrine shots in emergencies
CATARACT
HERE LENS PROTEIN OF OUR EYE IN OLD AGE BECOMES REATIVE LEADING TO OPACITY OF lENS LEADING TO LOSS OF NEAR AND DISTANT VISION AND GRADUALLY COMPLETE LOSS OF VISION REQUIRING REMOVAL OF LENS BY CUTTING OR IN PIECEMEAL BY PHACOSURGERYAND PUTTING EXTERNAL GLASSES OR INTRAOCCULAR LENS IMPLANT .
ANKYLOSING ARTHRITIS
Backed with HLAB 27 gene in blood here both Sacroiliac joints gets stiff and rigid and gradually whole spine like a bamboo,affects more male than female ,anti steoid analgesic and physiotherapy is only help.
Psoriatic Arthritis
here a skin infection leading to multiple presentation starting from a bullae to keratineous hypersclrosis with most debilitating incurable skin disease needing stroid and immunosupressants for control with joint and muscleinvolvements need physiotherapy.
Sjogren's syndrome
here all saliva producing glands and lacrimal glands are involved ,patient doesnot have tear or salive in mouth leading to dryness of eye demanding repeated infections and severe xerostomia where digestion of food and deglutation becomes very problematic.
SCLREDEMA
Here mouth and skin of patients becomes thickened as antigen antibody comples settles at subcutaneous tissue leading to a very small stoma of mouth and skins become dry,unstrchable producing ulcers and gradually lung,oesophagus is involved leading to sever respiratory distress and severe dysphagia.
INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE
here multiple ulcers develops in large colon and lower part of small gut producing severe diarrhoea with pus and mucus in early stage which becomes fatal gradually and can develop internal fistulae or cancer too.
Good pasture Syndrome
here antigen antibody comples settles at nephrons and damaging them leading to renal failure.
therefore these are few Autoimmune Diorders enlisted beside this now a days Antiphospholod Syndrome where Cardiolipin Antibodies appear agains Phoshpholipid of cell wall and produce arteritis,still birth and miscarriage in pregant mother and involves Liver,Kidey,Muscles and joints in adult leading to Heart and lung failure.
More and more research will establish new and new facts more diseases likeAlzehmier and Psychosomatic diseases are also previewd in this category as more research will define Immune system more clearly and its complex agents and factors will be discovered more and more our understanding of Immune system will establish when we shall see that many cancers too will be attributed due to its falacy,so this subject is very vast and this century will establish its more clearly to us and more treatment inform of Gene and Stem cell therapy will come beside good immunosupressants medicines.