Immune System: Disorders of the Immune System
Some common ailments of the immune system of our body:
Lymphangitis is the inflammation of the lymphatic vessels. This is characterized by certain inflammatory conditions of the skin caused by bacterial infections. Thin red lines may be observed running along the course of the lymphatic vessels in the affected area, accompanied by painful enlargement of the nearby lymph nodes.
Hodgkin’s Disease is the most common and least dangerous among the lymphatic disease. It usually starts in early adult life and may occur in both men and women. It is characterized by the enlargement of the lymph nodes. The affected person may noticed a lump in the neck, armpits, or groin.
Deeper node groups such as those in the chest or abdomen may also show some signs of enlargement. Such enlargements may cause some blockage in the esophagus or respiratory tract which may lead to vomiting, difficulty in swallowing, or coughing.
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) is a disease which breaks down the immune system of the body. It is caused by human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that attacks the immune system and destroys the lymphocytes. As more and more of these cells are destroyed, our body becomes increasingly susceptible to all kinds of diseases, including infections in the brain and neuron systems.
During the early stage of the disease, the person does not show any symptom. But once a person acquires the virus, he or she is capable of infecting other whether the infection will develop into AIDS or not. As the immune system weakens the HIV-infected person experiences recurrent flu-like symptoms such as fever, tiredness, and enlargement of the lymph nodes. Other symptoms involving the mucous membrane may keep on recurring because of low body immunity.
The final stage of the disease shows more complications. The body weight is greatly decreased. Lung cancer and skin cancer may also develop. There is a rapid decline in the health of the person. Most people with AIDS die within three years.
AIDS may be transmitted by sharing equipment for injecting drugs, tattooing or piercing, sexual intercourse with an infected person, exposure to infected blood or blood products, and from an infected mother to her baby before or during child birth.
The spread of AIDS can be prevented in many ways:
1. Adults should have sex only with their spouses and stay faithful to each other.
2. Avoid sharing needles, toothbrushes, or shavers.
3. Use sterilized tools when having your ear pierced, when tattooing, or when having acupuncture.
4. When having a blood transfusion, make sure that the blood you will receive is properly tested and HIV-free.
Autoimmune Disease are caused by the inability of the immune system to recognize its own tissue, causing the body to attack itself.
One of the most common autoimmune disease is rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis is characterized by an inflammation of the synovium, a membrane that lines the joints. When the synovium swells, it invades and damages the bone and cartilages in the area. The inflammatory cells then release a substance that destroys bone and cartilage. This results in pain, loss of movement and complete destruction of the joint.
Lupus is another autoimmune disease. Symptoms include a rash on the face, neck, or arms, extremely sensitivity to sunlight, joint pains, muscle pains, fatigue, inflammation of body organs such as lungs and heart, and kidney damage. There is no cure for lupus. Some medications such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, anti-malarial drugs, and co-steroids are used to control it.
Allergies are the body’s hypersensitive response to substances that stimulate the immune reaction. These substances are called antigen. An antigen that produces an allergic response is called allergen. Allergens are generally not harmful. They do not cause an immune response in non-allergic people. But in people with allergies, allergens can cause reactions that can be dangerous. When allergens enter the body, the immune system release chemicals such as histamines. Histamines can start the symptoms of an allergic attack like runny nose, sneezing, and itching.
House dust, animal fur, tree and grass pollen, cigarette smoke, and other substances can cause allergies in sensitive people. Treatments for allergies include anti-histamines, avoiding exposure to allergens, and immuno-therapy or “allergenic shots”.
Category: Immune System
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