Autoimmune Disease

Autoimmune disease is a condition when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells, tissues, and organs. There are many types of autoimmune diseases, such as type 1 diabetes, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Scientists do not know the exact cause of autoimmune disease. It is not contagious but it tends to run in families, and could be triggered by infections, certain chemicals, and other substances in the environment. It is often difficult to diagnose an autoimmune disease because the symptoms, such as redness, swelling, heat, and pain, are commonly seen in other diseases. Treatment depends on the type of disease. Most treatments aim to slow down immune system attack against self and alleviate symptoms.