autoimmune

In an autoimmune disease the immune systemimmune systemih-MYOON SIS-tumThe body's defense system of cells, tissues and organs that fights germs and other foreign substances.Full entry Close treats part of the body as if it were a germ. Examples are rheumatoid arthritisrheumatoid arthritisROO-muh-toyd ar-THRY-tisA long-term autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the lining of the joints.rheumat/o flowing, joint pain-oid likearthr/o joint-itis inflammationFull entry Close, lupuslupusLOO-pusSystemic lupus erythematosus: a long-term autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues.Full entry Close, type 1 diabetestype 1 diabetesTYPE WUN dy-uh-BEE-teezA form of diabetes in which the pancreas makes little or no insulin because the immune system has destroyed the cells that make it.Full entry Close, multiple sclerosismultiple sclerosisMUL-tih-pul skluh-ROH-sisA long-term disease in which the immune system damages the protective covering of nerves in the brain and spinal cord.scler/o hard-osis conditionFull entry Close, Graves diseaseGraves diseaseGRAYVZ dih-ZEEZAn autoimmune disease in which antibodies make the thyroid gland overactive.Full entry Close, celiac disease and vitiligovitiligovit-ih-LY-gohA long-term skin condition in which patches of skin lose their color.Full entry Close. These diseases are more common in women and often have flares and calmer periods. Treatment often uses drugs that quiet the immune system, such as corticosteroidcorticosteroidkor-tih-koh-STER-oydA drug that acts like the hormones of the adrenal glands, used mainly to calm inflammation and the immune system.cortic/o cortex (the outer layer of the adrenal gland)-oid likeFull entry Closes.

Drugs that calm the immune system raise the risk of infection: teach hand hygiene, avoiding sick contacts and reporting fever.