Neurological Autoimmune Conditions
When taken literally, the term “autoimmune conditions” may sound ironic. Why? It is generally known that where there is immunity, there are no diseases. Being immune implies that a person is fully protected from external factors that cause diseases. All this is true; however neurological autoimmune conditions are as a result of malfunctioning of the human’s nervous system.
The body starts to fight its own healthy cells!
Our bodies are in the habit of recognizing tissues, cells, organs and other parts of the body as either ‘self’ or ‘non-self’. It detects something out of ordinary in the body’s system; it instantly tags it as a foreign body and immediately starts producing antibodies to counter it.
Neurological autoimmune conditions come about when the body fails to recognize its own body parts and starts to attack itself with antibodies in response. Imagine what would happen when each body’s healthy cells are treated as cancerous cells by the body! Obviously, these unwarranted and unnecessary protective actions will effectually lead to diseases and mostly, the most dangerous ones. These are the diseases that result to neurological autoimmune conditions. Autoimmunity also occurs in other living organisms, thus is not only restricted to humans.
Causes of neurological autoimmune conditions
Neurological autoimmune conditions are mostly hereditary, though in rare cases it may be as a result of infections. It is more susceptible to women as compared to men. There are numerous types of neurological autoimmune conditions. Here is a brief analysis of some of them.
Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
This is a brain disease that normally happens after viral fevers. It can also be triggered by some parasitic infections and some vaccination. In other instances, it erupts without a reason. Its symptoms consist of the following; uncalled for fever, headache, drowsiness, seizure and sometimes coma. These neurological autoimmune conditions cause undue swelling in the brain and the spinal cord of the infected victim. Its treatment consists of anti inflammatory drugs (corticosteroids and methylprednisolone).
Alopecia Areata
This neurological autoimmune condition has to do with the body’s hair. The extreme form of Alopecia areata known is referred to as Alopecia Areata Totalis which normally leads to hair loss throughout the body. Its first symptom is a small, round, bald patch that occurs on the affected area. It is treated through the use of hair loss prevention creams, fluocinocide and steroid injections but the success rate has so far been low.
Addison ’s autoimmune diseases and conditions
These types of neurological autoimmune conditions are caused by a disorder in the adrenal glands. It is also referred to as hypocortisolism or chronic adrenal insufficiency and is mostly caused by the adrenal glands failing to produce enough steroids for the body. Basically, it can occur to anybody irrespective of the age and some of its symptoms are such as vomiting, dizziness, anxiety, weight loss, personality swings, fatigue, sweating and general muscle weakness. Its treatment is usually via the use of oral dosages that include oral tablets such as hydrocortisome that normally replaces the missing cortisal.
Apart from the aforementioned neurological autoimmune conditions and diseases, here is a list of some others:
- Autoimmune Hepatitis
- Autoimmune Hemolytic anemia and Antiphospholipid Antibody Syndrome
- Bullous Pemphigoid
- Autoimmune Inner Ear conditions
- Crohns neurological autoimmune condition
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary conditions
- Vasculitis
- Goodpasture syndrome
- Wegener’s Granulomatosis
- Endometriosis
- Vitiligo
- Schizophrenia