What is it?

Autoimmune disease are a group of diseases in which the immune system attacks body cells and tissues. In normal condition, the immune system seeks for bacteria, viruses and other foreign bodies to attack and protect the body from invaders. When it cannot differentiate between foreign bodies and attack its own cells, it is called autoimmune conditions. Some conditions attack one type of cell and affect only one organ, such as diabetes which affects the pancreas and in other conditions many body parts are affected. Body parts typically affected in autoimmune conditions are the skin, the joints, nervous system, kidneys, heart, thyroid and more.
In many cases, having one autoimmune condition may increase the risk for another autoimmune condition. Early symptoms may include fatigue, muscle pain, fever, rash and numbness. Diagnosis is based upon findings from medical history and physical examination. Further evaluation may include autoimmune antibodies and imaging tests.