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.

• People with autoimmune diseases may notice one or more of the following:

• Extreme tiredness – feeling unusually exhausted even after rest.

• Joint pain and swelling – stiffness, warmth, or difficulty moving joints.

• Low-grade fever – mild fever that keeps coming and going.

• Skin rashes – red patches, sensitivity to sunlight, or unexplained skin changes.

• Dry mouth or dry eyes – a gritty feeling in the eyes or difficulty swallowing dry foods.

• Muscle weakness – trouble lifting objects, climbing stairs, or feeling less strength than usual.

Autoimmune diseases are diagnosed by putting together several pieces of information. Your doctor looks at your symptoms, examines you, and uses blood tests, scans, or biopsy results when needed. Because these conditions can change over time and no single test can confirm them, diagnosis often requires follow-up visits and repeated assessments.

• Regular check-ups help your doctor keep the disease under control and prevent complications. They are important because:

• Sudden disease flares – symptoms can worsen unexpectedly, and early treatment helps avoid damage.

• Medication safety – many treatments require periodic blood tests to monitor liver, kidney function, and blood counts.

• Hidden organ involvement – some organs (like the kidneys, lungs, or heart) may be affected without obvious symptoms, so routine monitoring is essential.

• Infection prevention – people on immune-modifying medicines need timely vaccines and guidance on avoiding infections.

• Rheumatoid arthritis often shows a typical pattern of symptoms, such as:

• Small joints are usually involved – especially the fingers, knuckles, and wrists, making daily tasks harder.

• Morning stiffness lasting more than 1 hour – joints feel “stuck” or difficult to move after waking up, improving slowly with activity.

• Swelling on both sides of the body – the same joints on the right and left sides are commonly affected.

• Spondyloarthritis is a group of autoimmune conditions that mainly affect the spine and the areas where tendons attach to bone. Key features include:

• Lower back, neck, and heel pain – pain more in early morning or after taking rest.

• Pain improves with movement and worsens at night – people often feel stiff on waking and better once they start moving.

• Possible eye, skin, or gut involvement – it can cause episodes of red, painful eyes (uveitis), skin problems like psoriasis, or blood in stools/frequent stools.

• Psoriatic arthritis is a type of joint problem that can happen in people who have psoriasis on their skin. It can show up in several ways, such as:

• Puffy fingers or toes
  An entire finger or toe can swell up and look like a sausage. It may feel warm, stiff, or painful.

• Changes in the nails
  Nails may have small dents, become rough, thick, or start lifting slightly from the skin underneath.

• Red, scaly skin patches
  These patches may appear on the scalp, elbows, knees, or behind the ears. They may itch or flake.

• Pain where tendons join the bone
  This often happens at the back of the heel or the bottom of the foot and feels like a deep, sore spot.

• Morning stiffness
  Joints may feel stiff or tight when you wake up, slowly improving as you start moving.

• Uneven joint involvement
  One side of the body can be affected more than the other—one knee, one ankle, or one set of finger joints.

JIA is a long-lasting joint illness that affects children and teenagers. A child is considered to have JIA when joint pain, swelling, or stiffness continues for more than six weeks, and the symptoms start before the age of 16. It is not caused by injury and not the same as adult arthritis.

There are a few main types:

• Type with only a few joints affected
  Usually only one to four joints are swollen or painful—commonly the knees or ankles. Parents may notice the child limping in the morning or avoiding certain activities.

• Type with many joints affected
  Five or more joints can be involved. Both big joints (like knees, shoulders) and small joints (like fingers) may hurt or feel stiff, especially after rest.

• Type with fever and rash
  Some children get daily high fevers, a light pink rash on the body, and feel tired or unwell along with joint problems. These symptoms may come and go.

• Systemic JIA is a type of childhood arthritis that affects the whole body, not just the joints. Children with this condition may have:

• Daily high fevers and a pink rash
  The fever often comes once or twice a day, and a light pink rash may appear on the skin when the fever rises.

• Tiredness and general unwell feeling
  Children may look pale, weak, or less active than usual.

• Swelling in the belly area
  The liver or spleen can sometimes become bigger, making the stomach area look or feel swollen.

• A rare but serious complication
  In some children, the immune system can suddenly become unwell and cause a dangerous “inflammation storm.” This needs urgent hospital care but is not common.

• Lupus is a long-term condition where the body’s immune system becomes overactive and starts affecting different parts of the body. It can show up in many ways, including:

• Butterfly-shaped rash on the face
  A red rash that appears across the cheeks and nose, often after sun exposure.

• Mouth ulcers
  Small, painless sores inside the mouth.

• Sensitivity to sunlight
  Even a little sun exposure can cause rashes, fatigue, or joint pains.

• Kidney or blood problems
  Lupus can sometimes affect the kidneys or cause low blood counts, which may be found through routine tests.

• Sjögren’s Syndrome is a condition where the body’s moisture-producing glands slow down, leading to dryness and discomfort. Common features include:

• Dry eyes
  Eyes may feel gritty, itchy, or irritated, especially while reading or using screens.

• Dry mouth
  Difficulty swallowing dry foods, needing to sip water often, or getting more dental cavities.

• Tiredness
  Many people feel unusually fatigued or low on energy.

• Joint pains
  Mild aches or stiffness in the joints can occur.

• Why regular care is important
  Protecting the eyes and teeth is essential because dryness increases the risk of infections and cavities.
  Doctors also monitor for a rare long-term complication where the immune system can cause swelling of glands or lymph nodes. The condition also affects lungs, heart, kidney and nerves.

• Scleroderma is a condition where the body’s tissues become thicker and tighter than normal. It can affect the skin as well as other organs. Key signs include:

• Tight, shiny skin
  Skin on the hands, face, or other areas may look smooth, stiff, or shiny.

• Color changes in fingers (Raynaud’s)
  Fingers may turn white, blue, or red when exposed to cold or stress.

• Possible internal involvement
  It can sometimes affect digestion, breathing (lungs), or kidneys.

• Why regular checks are important
  Early screening for lung problems is very important to prevent serious complications.

Vasculitis is a condition where blood vessels become inflamed, which can cause problems in different parts of the body. It is grouped by the size of the blood vessels affected:

• Large blood vessels
  Example: Takayasu’s disease
  Signs: Weak or missing pulse in one arm, differences in blood pressure between arms, tiredness, dizziness, or pain in the arms when lifted.

• Medium blood vessels
  Example: Polyarteritis nodosa (PAN)
  Signs: Pain or weakness in the feet or hands, stomach pain, unexplained weight loss, skin rashes, or numbness in fingers and toes.

• Small blood vessels
  Example: IgA vasculitis, ANCA-related types
  Signs: Purple or red spots on the skin, swelling in hands or feet, blood in the urine, tiredness, or joint aches.

Vasculitis can affect many parts of the body, so regular check-ups and monitoring are important to catch problems early.

• Myositis is a condition that causes the muscles to become weak and sometimes sore. It can make everyday activities more difficult and may come on gradually or suddenly.

  Common signs and symptoms:

• Weakness in arms and legs – difficulty lifting objects, combing hair, climbing stairs, or standing up from a chair.

• Fatigue – feeling unusually tired, even after rest.

• Muscle pain or tenderness – some people feel aches or discomfort in affected muscles.

• Rash in some types – a red or purplish rash may appear on the face, hands, or chest (this is often seen in dermatomyositis).

• Trouble swallowing or breathing – in some cases, muscles around the throat or lungs may be affected, causing coughing, shortness of breath, or swallowing difficulties.

• Why early treatment matters:
  Starting treatment early can help improve muscle strength, reduce pain, and prevent complications. With the right care, many people regain most of their normal muscle function over time.

Autoimmune diseases can change over time, and symptoms may come and go. Regular check-ups with your doctor are important because they help:

• Adjust medications – doses may need to change depending on symptoms or side effects.

• Monitor health – blood and urine tests can catch problems early, even before you notice symptoms.

• Check organs – some autoimmune conditions can affect the kidneys, lungs, heart, or other organs, so routine monitoring is important.

• Prevent infections and other issues – vaccines, healthy habits, and lifestyle guidance help keep you safe and reduce complications.

Ongoing care helps people stay as healthy and active as possible.