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 normally fights germs and leaves the body's own cells alone. In an autoimmune disease it treats some of the body's own tissue as foreign and attacks it, causing inflammationinflammationin-fluh-MAY-shunThe body's protective response to injury or infection, with redness, heat, swelling, pain and sometimes loss of function.Full entry Close and damage. 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 (the joints), lupuslupusLOO-pusSystemic lupus erythematosus: a long-term autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the body's own tissues.Full entry Close (many organs), 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 (the insulin-making cells of the pancreas), 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 (the nerve coverings) and psoriasispsoriasissuh-RY-uh-sisA long-term immune-related skin disease in which skin cells grow too fast and pile up on the surface.psor/o itch-iasis conditionFull entry Close (the skin).

Many of these diseases are treated with drugs that weaken the immune system, such as corticosteroids and other immunosuppressantsimmunosuppressantim-yoo-noh-suh-PRES-untA drug that lowers the activity of the immune system.immun/o immunesuppress hold down-ant agentFull entry Close. Teach infection prevention and to report a fever. Disease flares come and go, so ask about fatigue, pain and new symptoms at each visit.