Autoimmune Diseases in Kids

Our body contains various organ systems which can be interdependent on one another for the proper functioning of the human body. The body also offers its own protective mechanism, that is called the ‘immune system’. The disease fighting capability gets activated in event of the perceived threat to the structures inside body. Various specialized cells and tissues work collectively so that you can facilitate immune responses in event of the attack by pathogens, environmental irritants or whatever the disease fighting capability perceives to be a threat. The immune system responds by producing substances called antibodies in order to defend the body from substances which it identifies as ‘foreign invaders’. However, problems arise when the immune system is not able to differentiate the human body’s own cells from your foreign invaders. You are clinically determined to have an autoimmune disease when the antibodies which are supposed to fight infections and diseases, start targeting the body’s own cells. What triggers this kind of faulty immune fact is unfamiliar, but it’s believed that genetic predisposition is among the main risk factors. Autoimmune conditions can impact children in addition to adults. Given below is a few information on the normal autoimmune diseases in children.

Common Autoimmune Diseases in Children

Autoimmune diseases could be localized or systemic anyway. Systemic autoimmune diseases can affect many body parts whereas the localized autoimmune disorders affect a particular organ or a area of the body. The actual factors behind such disorders are unknown, and there is no complete cure for the majority of of the conditions, however, the autoimmune disease symptoms may be managed by using drug therapy. Symptomatic approach can also be followed for that treating these diseases. As stated earlier, those affected by autoimmune conditions could be from any age group. Though more than 80 autoimmune diseases figure in the list of autoimmune diseases, there are some autoimmune disorders that commonly affect children. Given listed here are many of these conditions.

Juvenile Rheumatoid arthritis symptoms: Juvenile arthritis rheumatoid is surely an autoimmune ailment that can impact children who fall in the age bracket of 6 months to sixteen years. This problem is seen as a symptoms including joint pain, swelling, redness and stiffness of the affected joints. This condition is classified into pauciarticular, polyarticular and systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis symptoms. While pauciarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis doesn’t affect more than four joints, polyarticular juvenile rheumatoid arthritis symptoms may affect five or maybe more joints. Systemic juvenile rheumatoid arthritis symptoms affects our bodies systems and may even cause inflammation of joints, connective tissues and organs also.

Rheumatic Fever: Rheumatic fever is really a disease wherein various connective tissues from the body could get inflamed. It really is believed that a delay in the diagnosis and treatment of an infection brought on by Streptococcus bacteria may trigger rheumatic fever in youngsters. The kid may develop rheumatic fever symptoms about 4-5 weeks after the bacterial infection. Since fever, joint swelling and pain are normal warning signs of this condition, it really is known as rheumatic fever. It is believed that the delayed autoimmune response to the bacteria or perhaps the growth and development of autoantibodies may affect differing of the body. Inflammation from the lining with the heart, arrhythmia and rheumatic heart disease are a few of the intense complications of this disease.

Celiac Disease: This really is another autoimmune ailment that affects children. It is the consumption of gluten that triggers an autoimmune response in youngsters. Celiac disease is characterized by the inflammation of the lining from the small intestine. This problem affects the intestine’s power to absorb nutrients, which often, may modify the child’s growth. The inability to digest certain foods, could make them prone to nutritional deficiencies. In severe cases, the youngsters growth could be stunted, and his/her bones can become weak.

Lupus: Lupus is an additional autoimmune condition that will even affect infants. In newborns, this problem is medically known as neonatal lupus. Systematic lupus erythematosus is easily the most common type of this condition that may affect various vital organs, joints and cause inflammation in several areas of the body. The precise reason for this disease isn’t known, however it is believed that genetics or environmental factors may play a role. It is considered that use of certain drugs may also induce the production of autoantibodies.

Autoimmune Thyroid Diseases: Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s thyroiditis are both localized autoimmune diseases where autoantibodies target the thyroid gland, and get a new secretion with the thyroid hormones. Since thyroid hormones play a vital role inside the development and growth, autoimmune thyroid diseases might have serious repercussions over a child’s health. In the event of children struggling with Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, the autoantibodies that target the thyroid cells bring about hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is seen as an an inadequate secretion with the thyroid hormones. On the other hand, Graves’ disease is seen as a the enlargement with the thyroid gland together with excessive secretion from the thyroid hormones.

This was some good info about the common autoimmune diseases in children. The signs of the autoimmune condition one may be struggling with, would vary with regards to the the main body that’s targeted from the autoantibodies. As stated earlier, treating autoimmune conditions involves the utilization of immunosuppressants or immune-modifying drugs. Most of the autoimmune diseases in youngsters along with adults are chronic, and can’t be completely cured, however, to as be managed with the aid of drug therapy or any other treatment options.

Tags: , , , , , ,

  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • StumbleUpon
  • Reddit
  • Twitter
  • RSS

Leave a Reply

AD