|
Autoinflammatory Diseases
Autoinflammatory diseases (AIDs) are a group of rare disorders caused by dysfunction of the innate immune system. These responses are characterized by periodic or chronic systemic inflammation, usually without the involvement of Adaptive immune system, adaptive immunity. Autoinflammatory diseases are a separate class from autoimmune diseases; however, both are characterized by an immune system malfunction that may cause similar symptoms, such as rash, Edema, swelling, or fatigue. However, the main source of the diseases are different. A key difference between the two classes of diseases is that while AIDs trigger a malfunction of the innate immune system, autoimmune diseases trigger a malfunction of the adaptive immune system. The boundaries between autoinflammation (overactivity of the innate immunity), autoimmunity (overactivity of the adaptive immunity), and immunodeficiency (decreased activity of the innate or adaptive immunity) are often fluid. Clinical phenotypes associat ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Innate Immune System
The innate, or nonspecific, immune system is one of the two main immunity strategies (the other being the adaptive immune system) in vertebrates. The innate immune system is an older evolutionary defense strategy, relatively speaking, and is the dominant immune system response found in plants, fungi, insects, and primitive multicellular organisms (see Beyond vertebrates).. The major functions of the innate immune system are to: * recruit immune cells to infection sites by producing chemical factors, including chemical mediators called cytokines * activate the complement cascade to identify bacteria, activate cells, and promote clearance of antibody complexes or dead cells * identify and remove foreign substances present in organs, tissues, blood and lymph, by specialized white blood cells * activate the adaptive immune system through antigen presentation * act as a physical and chemical barrier to infectious agents; via physical measures such as skin and chemical measures such a ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
PFAPA
Periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenitis syndrome is a medical condition, typically occurring in young children, in which high fever occurs periodically at intervals of about 3-5 weeks, frequently accompanied by aphthous-like ulcers, pharyngitis and/or cervical adenitis ( cervical lymphadenopathy). The syndrome was described in 1987 and named two years later. Signs and symptoms The key symptoms of PFAPA are those in its name: periodic high fever at intervals of about 3–5 weeks, as well as aphthous ulcers, pharyngitis and/or adenitis. In between episodes, and even during the episodes, the children appear healthy. At least 6 months of episodes. Diagnosis requires recurrent negative throat cultures and that other causes (such as EBV, CMV, FMF) be excluded. Cause The cause of PFAPA is unknown. It is frequently discussed together with other periodic fever syndromes. Possible causes include primarily genetic factors or it may be due to an initial infection. T ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
