Overview
If an immune system is defective, the person will eventually suffer from severe infections from viruses, bacteria, and other antigens. In cases of severe immunodeficiency, the lack of enzyme allows build-up in the immune system cells, which ultimately kills them. Because the cells are the entire team against foreign substances, if they're affected, the immune system will eventually stop working.
Most immunodeficiencies, though, are results of an overreaction of the immune system, in which it attacks its own cells because of a failure to recognize the cell as its own or foreign.
Most immunodeficiencies, though, are results of an overreaction of the immune system, in which it attacks its own cells because of a failure to recognize the cell as its own or foreign.
Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML)
1. Leukemia is cancer of the blood cells, in which bone marrow is taken over by malignant cancerous cells. Causes the spleen, liver, and other organs to swell up.
2. Symptoms include: fever or chills, persistent fatigue and weakness, frequent infections, unexplained weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, enlarged spleen or liver, easy bleeding and bruising, bone tenderness, red spots on the skin, sweating excessively.
3. Scientists don't have a definite answer, but they think that leukemia is caused by a mutation in the blood cells that eventually affects the other produced cells.
4. Diagnosis is made by detecting Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome abnormality - karyotyping.
5. Most common treatments are chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
2. Symptoms include: fever or chills, persistent fatigue and weakness, frequent infections, unexplained weight loss, swollen lymph nodes, enlarged spleen or liver, easy bleeding and bruising, bone tenderness, red spots on the skin, sweating excessively.
3. Scientists don't have a definite answer, but they think that leukemia is caused by a mutation in the blood cells that eventually affects the other produced cells.
4. Diagnosis is made by detecting Philadelphia (Ph) chromosome abnormality - karyotyping.
5. Most common treatments are chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
diabetes
1. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disease that affects the body's own ability to produce insulin, which is a hormone necessary for food break down into energy.
2. Symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, high blood pressure, and frequent infections. 3. Diabetes is caused by the immune system's fighting of its own insulin until the pancreas can no longer outproduce their destruction. 4. Diagnosis is made by different blood tests: Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test - measures your average blood sugar for the past 2 or 3 months Fasting blood sugar test - a normal blood test after 12 or 24 hours of fasting. 5. Treatments include: monitoring blood sugar, excercise, healthy diet, insulin therapy, and oral medications depending on the type of diabetes. |
asthma
1. Asthma is an inflammatory chronic disease in the lungs.
2. Symptoms are: shortness of breath, coughing and chest tightening due to a narrowing of the airways that is caused by a build-up of fluid called edema and the entrance of inflammatory cells into the airway walls. 3. It is caused by changes on a human's chromosome 5, 6, 11, 12, or 14. 4. The diagnosis is made, typically, by questions of symptoms by your doctor. However, additional tests of lung function are requested sometimes: Spirometry which requires you to exhale as much air as possible so they measure your lung capacity. 5. The best treatment for Asthma is prevention of an attack by avoiding activities that trigger symptoms and longterm controlling of the disease. In emergency cases, and for prevention also, inhalers are used (albulterol). |
Lymphedema
1. Lymphedema is lymph fluid build up in the body.
2. The most common place is the limbs, but the face, neck, and abdomen are also places of swelling, its only symptom. 3. Usually caused by damage or removal of lymph nodes. 4. Diagnosis is made by MRI, CT Scan, or Ultrasound. 5. There is no cure for Lymphedema, but it can be controlled with treatments such as exercises, wrapping - or compression of - the designated place of swelling, massages, etc. |
mediterranean fever
1. Mediterranean Fever is an inherited disease that causes chronic fever and inflammation that affects the linings of the abdomen, chest, and joints.
2. Symptoms are abdominal, chest, or joint pains, and fevers or chills. 3. Caused by a mutation, resulting from overreaction of the immune system against its own cells. 4. Diagnosis is made by seeing if you have the mutation from inheritance, but certain tests are used to rule out other options, such as complete blood count, white blood cell count, Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, X-rays, and other blood tests. 5. The treatment's goal is to control symtpoms, like asthma. Some medications are used also, like Colchicine. |