1.58. Autoimmune Diseases http://www.ck12.org
FIGURE 1.117
Poison ivy plants are wild vines with
leaves in groups of three. They grow
in wooded areas in most of the United
States. Contact with poison ivy may
cause a rash in a person allergic to the
plant.- Mold.
- Dust.
- The dead skin cells of dogs and cats, called dander.
- Stings of wasps and bees.
Most allergies can be treated with medicines. Medicines used to treat allergies include antihistamines and corticos-
teroids. These medicines help control the immune system when it attacks an allergen.
Sometimes, allergies cause severe symptoms. For example, they may cause the throat to swell so it is hard to breathe.
Severe allergies may be life threatening. They require emergency medical care.
Vocabulary
- allergy: Over-sensitivity of the immune system when it attacks a harmless substance.
- autoimmune disease: Disease in which the immune system attacks the body’s own cells.
- multiple sclerosis: Disease in which the immune system attacks nerve cells, resulting in weakness and pain.
- rheumatoid arthritis: Disease in which the immune system attacks the cells of joints, causing joint damage
and pain. - type 1 diabetes: Disease in which the immune system attacks normal cells of the pancreas, preventing the
production of insulin.
Summary
- Autoimmune diseases occur when the immune system attacks normal body cells.
- Allergies occur when the immune system attacks harmless substances that enter the body from the outside.
Practice
Use the resources below to answer the questions that follow.
- Malfunction of the Immune Systemat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YO_ph9wvFkI (2:06)