Introduction
The main task of the immune system in our body is to protect us from diseases and infections. Therefore when you hear about diseases infections the first thing that comes to your mind would be the immune system because its job is to fight them. However, if one is suffering from an autoimmune disease then it would cause one’s immune system to attack the healthy cells in our body accidentally. Thus autoimmune disease can be very difficult and problematic and it might cause infections in certain cases.
In other words, autoimmune diseases can be defined as disorders wherein our body’s immune system turns against the body instead of protecting it from diseases infections. The exact cause of autoimmune disorder is not known but there are several factors which could be the culprits. At times, certain infections can increase the chances of the development of different kinds of autoimmune disorders or diseases in the human body. Thus, it is important to identify the symptoms, get diagnosed and fight against autoimmune diseases at the earliest.
Connections
Autoimmune disorders have been associated with diseases infections for the longest time. If you are suffering from an autoimmune disease then it means that there is severe malfunctioning of your immune system. Because of this, the immune system is not able to differentiate between good and bad cells and tissues and hence they attack the good ones by producing antibodies.
Now, viruses and bacteria are said to be able to trigger the same kind of immune response from our body. Thus, researchers suggest that infections can cause autoimmune diseases because in the event of an infection, our body produces antibodies which attack the normal or ‘good’ cells in the process, leading to the development of autoimmune diseases.
Research
A lot of research points out that there is a definite and strong connection between diseases infections and autoimmune disorders. In order for an autoimmune disorder to develop, presence of an environmental trigger and a genetic susceptibility is a must. People who are exposed to certain viruses are susceptible to developing autoimmune diseases. Thus the development of type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and various other kinds of autoimmune diseases can be linked to infections. Now, it is not mandatory that all who gets these diseases infections are likely to develop autoimmune diseases since genetic disposition is also a factor.
Symptoms
There are many symptoms which indicate that you are suffering from autoimmune disease or diseases. One of the most common symptoms associated with autoimmune disease is fatigue. Since autoimmune diseases have the tendency to affect the flow of oxygen, therefore it leads to development of toxicity and causes one to feel tired and lethargic. Other symptoms include having swollen glands, headaches, light sensitivity, dry mouth, dry eyes, etc.
Since the symptoms of autoimmune diseases are quite common in nature and similar to the symptoms of other diseases and disorders, therefore it does not make the job of detecting an autoimmune disease easy. Hence, it is best to consult an experienced doctor if you feel that something is not right in your body.
