R. A. A. I. D.

Welcome to
R. A. A. I. D.

    The all new R. A. A. I. D. mobile app is finally here and ready to use. Access information in an instant with the touch of your finger tips.

     R. A. A. I. D. has been redesigned and optimized for all mobile, laptop, or desktop applications.

User friendly, and easier to read. No pop-ups or annoying banner adds that won't go away.

   Nothing but information with links to more resources and reference material for patients, doctors, nurses, and students.

R. A. A. I. D. is an organization created by Weishendo Publications which is dedicated to Raising the Awareness of Autoimmune Diseases, by using multimedia as a platform to reach others. We are committed to reaching those who are unaware of the effects, by sharing knowledge about these and other illnesses, and how they affect our society.

Autoimmune
Diseases
Dictionary:

A - B

C - D

E - F

G - H

I - K

L - M

O - P

R - S

T - U

V - W

Signs
&
Symptoms:

A - B

C - D

E - F

G - H

I - K

L - M

O - P

R - S

T - U

V - W

The Human
Body &
Autoimmune
Diseases

     Autoimmune Diseases are those in which the body is attacked by its own specific adaptive immune response. In normal, healthy states, the immune system induces tolerance, which is a lack of an anti-self immune response. However, with autoimmunity, there is a loss of immune tolerance, and the mechanisms responsible for autoimmune diseases include type II, III, and IV hypersensitivity reactions. Autoimmune diseases can have a variety of mixed symptoms that flare up and disappear, making diagnosis difficult.

     The causes of autoimmune disease are a combination of the individual’s genetic makeup and the effect of environmental influences, such as sunlight, infections, medications, and environmental chemicals. However, the vagueness of this list reflects our poor understanding of the etiology of these diseases. Except in a very few specific diseases, the initiation event(s) of most autoimmune states has not been fully characterized.

   There are several possible causes for the origin of autoimmune diseases and autoimmunity is likely due to several factors. Evidence now suggests that regulatory T and B cells play an essential role in the maintenance of tolerance and prevention of autoimmune responses. The regulatory T cells are especially important for inhibiting auto reactive T cells that are not eliminated during thymic selection and escape the thymus (see T Lymphocytes and Cellular Immunity). In addition, antigen mimicry between pathogen antigens and our own self antigens can lead to cross-reactivity and autoimmunity. Hidden self-antigens may become exposed because of trauma, drug interactions, or disease states, and trigger an autoimmune response. All of these factors could contribute to autoimmunity. Ultimately, damage to tissues and organs in the autoimmune disease state comes as a result of inflammatory responses that are inappropriate; therefore, treatment often includes immuno - suppressive drugs and corticosteroids.

The Primary Systems
of The Human Body

The human body and the primary systems affected by autoimmune diseases are listed below, starting with the biggest of all:

Integumentary System

Muscular System

Respiratory System

Endocrine System

Urinary System

Nervous System

Skeletal System

Lymphatic System

Circulatory System

Digestive System

Example of Autoimmune Diseases

Integumentary System (SKIN)

Featured
Auto-
Immune
Disease

There are 80 to 100 diseases classified as autoimmune with specific signs & symptoms.

Almost all of them share signs of inflammation, associated with either chronic or acute pain.

Polymyositis

Polymyositis (PM) is an inflammatory disorder in which muscle tissue becomes inflamed and deteriorates, causing weakness and pain. It is one of several types of inflammatory muscle disease, or myopathy. Others include dermatomyositis (DM) and inclusion body myositis. All three types are progressive conditions, usually beginning in adulthood. A fourth type, juvenile dermatomyositis, occurs in children. Although PM and DM can occur at any age, 60% of cases appear between the ages of 30 and 60. Females are affected twice as often as males.

The cause of PM and DM is not known, but it is suspected that a variety of factors may play a role in the development of these diseases. PM and DM may be autoimmune diseases, caused by the immune system's attack on the body's own tissue. The reason for this attack is unknown, although some researchers believe that a combination of immune system susceptibility and an environmental trigger may explain at least some cases.

Hashimoto's thyroiditis or chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis

Specific Topics
& Feeds

All medicines can have side effects. Some medicines and side effects are mentioned in this publication. Some side effects may be more severe than others. Always review the insert that comes with your medicine and ask your primary doctor or pharmacist if you have any questions about the possible side effects.

R. A. A. I. D.
Events Calendar

Connect With Us At Our New Home On Facebook @
http://www.facebook.com/weishendopublications/events/

300,000 CHILDREN
IN AMERICA HAVE ARTHRITIS
And we need your help spreading the word.

That’s right, kids get arthritis. It is a common misconception that only “old” people are afflicted with arthritis. Nearly 300,000 children in America have been diagnosed with juvenile arthritis.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), one form of juvenile arthritis, is actually quite prevalent, affecting more than 50,000 children in the United States alone. JIA is often referred to as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) in the United States. Other specific names and forms of juvenile arthritis include:

Systemic onset JIA or Still’s disease
Oligoarticular JIA (affecting fewer than 5 joints)
Polyarticular JIA (affecting five or more joints)
Enthesitis-Related Arthritis
Juvenile Psoriatic Arthritis

     When juvenile arthritis first shows its symptoms in a child’s body, many parents write off swollen joints and fever as a flu bug, or think that a sudden rash might have occurred from an allergic reaction. The symptoms might even recede slightly before showing up again, sometimes delaying diagnosis for quite some time. After all, who expects a small child to have arthritis?

     Most people don’t know that kids get arthritis. A child’s immune system is not fully formed until about age 18; so an “autoimmune” form of arthritis is especially aggressive in children, compromising their ability fight normal diseases and leaving them open to complications that may affect their eyes, bone growth, etc.

     The form of arthritis that these kids experience is not the same as grandma’s aches and pains. These children suffer from various autoimmune forms of arthritis. Their bodies’ immune system is attacking their joints, causing swelling, stiffness and permanent damage. This condition is extremely serious; if left untreated it can result in loss of mobility, blindness and even death. These children deserve our support!

    This July, tell at least one other person that it is Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month. Take at least one picture to show your support and post it using #CureArthritis.
https://curearthritis.org/juvenile-arthritis-awareness-month/

Match Up