Autoimmune Is Not A Infectious Disease, Recognize Facts And How To Prevent It

Illustration of autoimmune disease (Freepik)

JAKARTA - Not a few people still mistaken for autoimmune disease as an infectious disease, thus making those around patients or sufferers feel panicked.

In fact, autoimmune is not a disease that can be transmitted from one individual to another, but a condition characterized by the immune system experiencing disorders and attacking the body's own cells.

This was also said by a specialist in internal medicine consultant allergies and immunology from Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Dr. dr. Alvina Widyaningsih.

"This autoimmune disease occurs because the immune system cannot function properly," he said as quoted by ANTARA.

He explained that a healthy immune system should be able to distinguish between the body's own cells and bacteria or dangerous viruses that must be destroyed. However, in autoimmune sufferers, the immune system actually fails in recognizing their own body cells and attacks them.

As a result, various organs of the body such as the respiratory system, blood, kidney, skin, and nerves can be damaged.

"The immune system should protect us from bacteria and viruses, but in autoimmune, there should be attacks on the body's own cells," he explained.

Autoimmune diseases can be triggered by various factors, one of which is genetic or hereditary factors. However, genetic factors alone are not enough to trigger autoimmune. Triggering factors from the environment are needed so that these conditions actually manifest.

Several environmental factors that can trigger autoimmune include hormonal changes, ultraviolet light exposure that can damage DNA, viral or bacterial infections, including COVID-19, as well as exposure to chemicals from food and the environment.

To reduce the risk of being exposed to autoimmune diseases, Alvina suggested that individuals who have a family history with autoimmune undergo a healthy lifestyle. Consumption of nutritious food without additional chemicals, avoiding ultra-process foods, and maintaining environmental hygiene can help reduce risks.

"If a person has an autoimmune talent, then often consumes foods that contain many chemicals and are exposed to chemicals from the environment, this can disrupt the immune system and increase the risk of autoimmune," he concluded.