Autoimmune Diseases - Symptoms, causes and treatment

Autoimmune disease is a condition when a person's immune system attacks its own body. There are more than 80 Classified disease autoimmune disease. Bsome have similar symptoms, such as fatigue, muscle aches, and fever.

Normally, the immune system functions to protect the body from attacks by foreign organisms, such as bacteria or viruses. When attacked by foreign organisms, the immune system will release proteins called antibodies to fight and prevent disease.

However, in people with autoimmune diseases, the immune system sees healthy body cells as foreign organisms, so the antibodies released by the immune system attack these healthy cells.

It should be noted that people with autoimmune diseases are more susceptible to infections, including COVID-19. Therefore, if you or someone around you suffers from this disease and requires a COVID-19 screening, click on the link below so you can be directed to the nearest health facility:

• Rapid Test Antibodies
• Antigen Swab (Rapid Test Antigen)
• PCR

Causes of Autoimmune Disease

The exact cause of autoimmune disease is not known, but the following factors are known to increase a person's risk of developing an autoimmune disease:

• Female gender
• Have a family history of autoimmune disease
• Being overweight or obese
• Smoke
• Using drugs that affect the immune system, such as simvastatin or antibiotics
• Exposure to chemicals or sunlight
• Suffering from a bacterial or viral infection, for example a viral infection Epstein Barr

Symptoms of Autoimmune Disease

There are more than 80 diseases that are classified as autoimmune diseases and some of them have the same initial symptoms, such as:

• Fatigue
• muscle aches
• skin rash
• Mild fever
• Hair loss
• Difficult to concentrate
• Tingling in hands and feet

Although they cause some of the same initial symptoms, each autoimmune disease still has specific symptoms, such as type 1 diabetes, which is characterized by frequent thirst, weakness, and weight loss for no apparent reason.

The following are some examples of autoimmune diseases and their symptoms:

• Lupus

  Lupus can affect almost any organ of the body and cause a variety of symptoms, such as fever, joint and muscle pain, skin rash, sensitive skin, canker sores, swelling of the legs, headaches, seizures, chest pain, shortness of breath, paleness, and bleeding.

• Graves' disease

  Graves' disease can cause symptoms such as weight loss for no apparent reason, bulging eyes, hair loss, palpitations, insomnia, and restlessness.

• psoriasis

  This disease can be recognized by the scaly skin and the appearance of red patches on the skin.

• Multiple sclerosis

  Symptoms that can be caused by mmultiple sclerosis These include pain, numbness in one part of the body, visual disturbances, muscle stiffness and weakness, reduced body coordination, and fatigue.

• Myasthenia gravis

  Symptoms that can be experienced as a result of suffering myasthenia gravis are drooping eyelids, blurred vision, muscle weakness, difficulty breathing, and difficulty swallowing.

• Hashimoto's thyroiditis

  This disease can cause symptoms such as weight gain for no apparent reason, sensitivity to cold air, numbness in hands and feet, fatigue, hair loss, and difficulty concentrating.

• Ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease

  Symptoms that can be experienced if you suffer from these two diseases are abdominal pain, diarrhea, bloody stools, fever, and unexplained weight loss.

• Rheumatoid arthritis

  Rheumatoid arthritis can make sufferers experience symptoms such as joint pain, arthritis, joint swelling, and difficulty moving.

• Gu . syndromeillain barre

  This disease causes symptoms in the form of weakness which if the condition gets worse it can develop into paralysis.

• Vasculitis

  Vasculitis can be recognized by symptoms of fever, weight loss for no apparent reason, fatigue, no appetite, and skin rashes.

Symptoms of autoimmune diseases can be flares, namely the onset of symptoms suddenly with a severe degree. flare usually occurs because it is triggered by something, such as sun exposure or stress.

When to go to the doctor

Check with your doctor if you are at risk for autoimmune diseases and experience the early symptoms mentioned above.

Immediately see a doctor if these symptoms do not improve, get worse, or if you experience specific symptoms.

Autoimmune Disease Diagnosis

To diagnose autoimmune diseases, the doctor will ask questions about the symptoms and complaints experienced by the patient, the patient's medical history, and the history of the disease in the patient's family. Next, the doctor will perform a thorough physical examination.

It is not easy for doctors to diagnose autoimmune diseases. Although each autoimmune disease has its own characteristics, the symptoms that appear can be the same. Therefore, the doctor will usually perform the following investigations to confirm the diagnosis:

• ANA test (antinuclear antibodies), to determine the activity of antibodies that attack the body
• Autoantibody test, to detect the characteristics of antibodies in the body
• Complete blood test, to count the number of red blood cells and white blood cells
• Test C-Reactive protein, to detect inflammation in the body
• Erythrocyte sedimentation test, to determine the severity of inflammation that occurs in the body

Autoimmune Disease Treatment

Most of the diseases that are classified as autoimmune diseases cannot be cured, but the symptoms that arise can be alleviated and prevented from happening flares.

Treatment for autoimmune diseases depends on the type of disease you have, your symptoms, and its severity. Some of the handling methods that can be done are:

Drugs

Medications that can be given to treat autoimmune diseases include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen or aspirin, for pain management
• Immune system-suppressing drugs, such as corticosteroids, to inhibit disease progression and maintain organ function
• Anti-TNF drugs, such as infliximab, to prevent inflammation from autoimmune diseases rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis

Hormone replacement therapy

Hormone replacement therapy is done if the patient suffers from an autoimmune disease that inhibits hormone production in the body. For example, giving insulin injections to people with type 1 diabetes to regulate blood sugar levels or giving thyroid hormones to people with thyroiditis.

Complications of Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune diseases can cause some serious complications, including:

• Heart disease
• Depression or anxiety disorder
• Nerve damage
• Deep vein thrombosis
• Damage to organs, such as the liver or kidneys

Autoimmune Disease Prevention

It is not known how to completely prevent autoimmune diseases. However, some of the efforts below can reduce the risk of developing autoimmune diseases:

• Exercise regularly
• Do not smoke
• Maintain ideal body weight
• Use protective equipment when working, to avoid exposure to chemicals
• Keeping the body clean to avoid viral and bacterial infections

Disease Aautoimmunity and COVID-19

People with autoimmune diseases will generally take drugs that have the effect of suppressing the immune system. As a result, people with autoimmune diseases are more susceptible to infections, including COVID-19.

Therefore, people with autoimmune diseases are required to maintain their health and have regular check-ups with the doctor.

Don't forget to wash your hands regularly with soap and running water, eat a balanced nutritious diet, get enough rest, and manage stress in a positive way, so that your immune system can be well maintained.