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Symptoms, causes, and risk factors of immune system disorder

Symptoms, causes, and risk factors of immune system disorder

The immune system is referred to as the defense system that protects the body against different kinds of diseases. The stronger the immune system, the higher will be the chances of the body staying away from diseases. Suffering from immunodeficiency or immune system disorder is a cause of concern and must be immediately addressed.

Symptoms

  • Cold hands
    If the blood vessels suffer from inflammation, it gets difficult for the ears, toes, fingers, and nose to stay warm. The affected portion of the skin turns white. Slowly, the color changes into blue when these areas are further exposed to some cold object or atmosphere. When the flow of the blood becomes normal, the skin turns back to red. Medical experts refer to this as the Raynaud’s phenomenon. It is one of the most commonly observed symptoms of immune system disorder.
  • Dry eyes
    When a person is suffering from an autoimmune disorder, his immune system, instead of protecting his body against diseases, attacks it. Lupus and rheumatoid arthritis are two of the most common examples of this condition. People who suffer from an autoimmune disorder tend to have dry eyes. The person will feel the presence of some grainy object when this happens. There are also chances of suffering from redness, pain in his eyes, or a blurred vision. Some also find it difficult to cry when they have dry eyes.
  • Fatigue
    Feeling tired all the time is a sign of the body suffering from fatigue due to some abnormality in the body. This happens when the defense system of the body is not functioning properly. When a person feels a sense of fatigue, he thinks sleeping will help. If you feel exhausted even after a sound sleep, it indicates that there is a disorder in the immune system. You might feel an aching sensation in your muscles and joints too.
  • Mild fever
    If you feel an increase in your body temperature, there is a chance that your immune system is overworking. This could be a result of an infection making its way to your body. Having a mild fever is one of the earliest signs of you suffering from an autoimmune condition. If the fever persists for a long period, get yourself checked by a doctor.

Causes
Disorders related to the immune system largely happen as a result of deficiency caused by:

  • Drug therapy
    In some countries, powerful drugs are used extensively to treat cancer. The drugs work towards prohibiting the cancer cells from multiplying. Though the drugs are supposed to attack cancer cells only, they affect the cells that facilitate immune responses. This could result in certain disorders of the immune system.
  • Malnutrition
    Malnutrition is one of the direct causes of immune system disorders. Cell-mediated immunity and antibody responses get damaged because of T cell deficiency.
  • Other causes
    These include deficiencies associated with restricted environmental exposure, infections, and congenital and hereditary defects.

Risk factors

  • Gender
    Medical experts suggest that females are at a higher risk of suffering from immune system disorders than males.
  • Age
    Mostly, young and middle-aged people have been found to be suffering from autoimmune disorders.
  • Other risk factors
    These include family history, previous infections, and exposure to environmental agents, among other aspects.

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