Autoimmune Disorders: Types, Symptoms, and Risk Factors

The immunity generally safeguards against bacteria, viruses, toxins, or any other foreign body. Upon detection of foreign invaders, the organism deploys a legion of combatant cells to initiate an assault against the intruders. Immune systems usually have the ability to discriminate between alien and self-cells. When the immune system doesn’t resist the foreign bodies and starts killing of own healthy cells it gives rise to autoimmune disorders. Autoimmune disorders have the potential to impact multiple organs and tissues, such as blood vessels, connective tissue, endocrine glands (e.g., thyroid and pancreas), muscles, joints, skin, and red blood cells. Over 80 autoimmune diseases have been reported from these affected areas, and many more are yet to be identified. Genetics, diet, infections, and chemical exposure can all play a role. Autoimmune disorders are difficult to diagnose because the specific disorders have numerous possible symptoms and individual symptoms vary. Symptoms of autoimmune diseases vary depending on the affected body part. Many types of autoimmune diseases cause fatigue, redness, swelling, heat and pain. This chapter reviews some autoimmune risk factors, indications and different types of autoimmune disorders.