Immunsygdomme

Immunsygdomme refer to a group of diseases that affect the immune system, the body's natural defense against illness and infection. These conditions can arise when the immune system malfunctions in various ways. Some immunsygdomme occur when the immune system becomes overactive or misdirected, leading it to attack the body's own healthy cells and tissues. This is the basis of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, and type 1 diabetes. In these cases, the immune system mistakenly identifies the body's own components as foreign invaders and mounts an inflammatory response against them.

Other immunsygdomme involve a weakened or compromised immune system, known as immunodeficiency. This can make individuals more susceptible to infections that a healthy immune system would normally fight off. Immunodeficiency can be congenital, meaning it is present from birth, or acquired later in life due to factors like certain infections (e.g., HIV/AIDS), malnutrition, or medical treatments such as chemotherapy or immunosuppressant drugs used after organ transplantation. A severely weakened immune system can lead to opportunistic infections, which are infections caused by pathogens that do not typically cause illness in people with healthy immune systems. Understanding the specific nature of the immune system's dysfunction is crucial for diagnosis and treatment of these diverse conditions.