🌿 Understanding Autoimmune Diseases – Patient Q&A Guide (FAQ)

 

1. What are autoimmune diseases?

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Autoimmune diseases happen when your body’s immune system mistakenly attacks your own healthy cells instead of just germs. Commonly affected areas include joints, skin, glands, organs, and blood vessels.
 

Examples: Rheumatoid arthritis, lupus (SLE), Sjögren’s syndrome, scleroderma, vasculitis, and myositis.

2. What are the most common symptoms?

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  • Extreme tiredness        
  • Joint pain and swelling 
  • Low-grade fever   
  • Skin rashes     
  • Dry mouth or dry eyes      
  • Muscle weakness

3. How are autoimmune diseases diagnosed?

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Diagnosis combines symptoms, examination, and tests over time. No single test is perfect.

Test What It Checks Key Point
ANA General autoimmunity Can be positive even in healthy people
RF / Anti-CCP Rheumatoid arthritis Usually reliable
ESR / CRP Inflammation Non-specific
Specific antibodies (anti-dsDNA, anti-Ro) Specific diseases Very useful when positive

Doctors use a mix of these and monitor how things change over time.

4. Why are regular follow-ups important in autoimmune diseases?

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  • Sudden disease flares  
  • Medication safety (need for blood tests)           
  • Hidden organ involvement (kidneys, lungs, heart)
  • Infection prevention (vaccines, hygiene)

5. What is inflammatory arthritis vs. osteoarthritis?

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Feature Inflammatory (e.g., RA) Osteoarthritis (OA)
Morning stiffness >30 minutes <30 minutes
Swelling Warm, puffy Bony, cool
Improves with Movement Rest
Symmetry Both sides often Usually one side

6. What are the classic signs of Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)?

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  • Small joints (fingers, wrists) usually involved 
  • Morning stiffness >1 hour     
  • Swelling on both sides (symmetrical)

7. What is Spondyloarthritis (SpA)?

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  • Affects lower back, neck, heels    
  • Pain gets better with movement, worse at night
  • May cause red eyes (uveitis), psoriasis, gut disease
  • HLA-B27 gene is often present

8. What are the key features of Psoriatic Arthritis?

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  • Swollen, sausage-shaped fingers or toes (dactylitis)
  • Nail pitting
  • Scaly skin patches typical for psoriasis

9. What is Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (JIA)?

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Arthritis in children <16 years, lasting >6 weeks.

  • Oligoarticular (few joints)
  • Polyarticular (many joints)
  • Systemic (fever plus rash)

10. What is Systemic JIA (Still’s Disease)?

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  • Daily high fever and pink rash appearing with the fever    
  • Swelling of liver/spleen possible        
  • Rare risk: MAS – severe inflammation storm

11. What is Lupus (SLE)?

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  • Butterfly-shaped facial rash
  • Mouth ulcers
  • Sun sensitivity    
  • Kidney or blood issues

12. What is Sjogren’s Syndrome?

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  • Dry eyes and dry mouth
  • Fatigue
  • Joint pain
  • Protect eyes/teeth and screen for rare lymphoma

13. What is Scleroderma?

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  • Tight, shiny skin  
  • Raynaud’s (fingers turn blue/white in cold)     
  • Can affect digestion, lungs, or kidneys      
  • Early lung screening is vital  

14. What are the types of vasculitis, and how common are they?

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Vessel Size Example Typical Signs
Large Takayasu Missing pulse, arm BP difference
Medium PAN Foot drop, abdominal pain
Small ANCA, IgA Purple spots, blood in urin

About 20% large, 30% medium, and 50% small vessel types.

15. How do hepatitis B and C relate to vasculitis?

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  • Hepatitis B: Can cause PAN-like vasculitis      
  • Hepatitis C: Can cause cryoglobulinemia (rash, nerve, kidney issues)
  • Treatment: antiviral plus immune suppression

16. What is myositis?

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  • Muscle weakness (trouble climbing stairs, standing up, lifting arms)  
  • If rash: dermatomyositis       
  • Early treatment improves outcomes 

17. Why is ongoing care important for people with autoimmune diseases?

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Autoimmune diseases can change over time — regular visits help adjust medication, monitor blood/urine, check for organ problems, and promote preventive care like vaccines and healthy habits.

18. Take-Home Messages

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Do This Avoid This
Regular doctor visits Ignoring new symptoms
Take medicines as advised Skipping blood tests
Exercise and eat well Smoking
Stay up to date on vaccines Excessive stres

You’re not alone! With early care and the right medical support, you can manage autoimmune diseases and live your best, healthiest life.