Immune System Disorders Specialist

What are immune system disorders?

Immune system disorders, also called autoimmune diseases, are conditions that affect your body’s natural ability to protect itself from illness. A functional immune system wards off viruses, bacteria, and other germs that would otherwise infect you.

If you have an immune system disorder, the same defense mechanisms mistakenly attack specific tissues or cells in your body as they would normally attack germs. The many immune system disorders cause different overall effects and symptoms. Some affect your entire body.

Experts aren’t quite sure what causes immune system disorders. They know that some run in families while others are significantly more prevalent in some people than others. The ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC team helps you go over your risk factors and evaluate you to diagnose existing autoimmune diseases.

What are the most common immune system disorders?

There are over 80 different known immune system disorders. Some come from underactive immune systems, while others, like allergies, come from overactive immune systems.

The most common immune system disorders include:

• Asthma
• Eczema
• Hay fever
• Type 1 diabetes
• Psoriasis
• Rheumatoid arthritis (RA)
• Lupus
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Addison’s disease
• Graves’ disease
• Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
• Celiac disease
• Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

When you come in for an evaluation, the ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC team completes a physical exam after going over your medical history. They consider your symptoms as well as your past medical experience when making a diagnosis. They might also order tests, like antinuclear antibody testing, to confirm that you have an autoimmune disease.

How are immune system disorders treated?

Since autoimmune diseases vary widely, they aren’t all treated the same way. In fact, your treatment plan can differ widely from someone else’s who has the same diagnosis.

Often, the treatment plans for immune system disorders involve activity and lifestyle changes. For example, the ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC team might recommend that you alter your diet to exclude foods that trigger your symptoms or flare-ups. Exercise can also improve symptoms of immune system disorders like Type 1 diabetes.

With some immune system disorders, you can take medications that reduce inflammation and pain throughout your body. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are an excellent choice for this. Immunosuppressant drugs reduce immune system reactions, which can be helpful if you have an overactive immune system.

For allergies, ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC offers immunotherapy using allergy shots and allergy drops. These treatments slowly increase your immune system’s tolerance of allergens that cause reactions like hay fever and hives.

Call ENT & Allergy Specialists of VA, PC today for more information about immune system disorders or schedule your appointment online.