Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBy ConditionComplicationsWhen to See a Doctor
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
By Condition
Complications
When to See a Doctor
Inflammation, which can cause tissue and organ damage, is the main trigger behind the symptoms ofautoimmune diseases.
Common signs of autoimmune disease includefatigue,skin rashes, stomach ache, swollen glands, recurring low-grade fever, joint aches, and muscle pain.
While different types of autoimmune diseases share these common symptoms, there are also features that set them apart.
This article explains the common signs and symptoms of specific autoimmune conditions, as well as potential complications and when to reach out to your doctor.
Emily Roberts / Verywell
There are more than 80 autoimmune conditions. There is an overlap in symptoms among many of these conditions, and distinctive symptoms can help differentiate between them.
If you have one autoimmune disease, you have a 25% chance of developing other autoimmune conditions.This can make sorting out diagnoses more difficult. It can also cause some symptoms to be compounded.
Alopecia Areata
Alopecia areatais a condition in which the immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing hair loss. This mainly occurs on the scalp, though it can affect the eyebrows, eyelashes, beard, or any body hair.
Symptoms include:
Antiphospholipid Syndrome
Autoimmune Hepatitis
Autoimmune hepatitis is when the body attacks the liver, an important organ that has many functions. This condition may not cause symptoms in the early stages.
Symptoms may develop over time and include:
Understanding Unusual Urine Color, Odor, or Appearance
Celiac Disease
Celiac diseaseoccurs when the immune system attacks the lining of the small intestines in response togluten, a protein found in wheat, rye, barley, and many prepared foods.
While the symptoms of celiac disease vary from person to person, some of the more common ones include:
Crohn’s Disease
Crohn’s diseaseis an inflammatory bowel disease that causes widespread digestive tract inflammation.
Common symptoms of Crohn’s disease include:
Dermatomyositis
Dermatomyositisis a rare condition that can cause muscle swelling and inflammation, as well as skin-related issues.
Inflammation can lead to symptoms such as:
Graves' Disease
Graves' diseasecauseshyperthyroidism(overactivity of the thyroid gland). This leads to an increase in thyroid hormone production, which impacts multiple organs, including the heart.
Guillain-Barré Syndrome
Guillain-Barré syndrome(GBS) results from an immune system attack on theperipheral nervous system, usually after a bacterial or viral infection.
The nervous system is responsible for coordinating movement and processing sensory information, so a variety of symptoms can occur.
These include:
Guillain-Barré can develop quickly and may improve within a few weeks, but it can also lead to permanent damage.
Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis
Hashimoto’s thyroiditiscauses an underactive thyroid gland, also known ashypothyroidism.
The decrease in thyroid hormones causes:
The Link Between Thyroid Disease and Hair Loss
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple sclerosisis a neurological disorder in which the immune system attacks the fatty covering, ormyelin sheath, on nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord. Nerve fibers help with brain/body communication.
Symptoms vary significantly based on where in the brain and/or spinal cord the attacks occur. Some of the more common signs are:
Demyelination and Demyelinating Disease
Myasthenia Gravis
Myasthenia gravisoccurs when the immune system makes antibodies that attack the proteins that facilitate nerve and muscle communication. This leads to weakness in the eyes, neck, jaw, limbs, and muscles used for breathing.
Some common symptoms of myasthenia gravis include:
Pernicious Anemia
Pernicious anemiaoccurs when the immune system attacks the protein necessary for absorbing vitamin B12 in the gut. Since vitamin B12 plays an important role in making red blood cells, a deficiency leads to anemia.
Mild anemia may cause fatigue, and severe anemia may cause:
Vitamin B12 Deficiency: Symptoms, Causes, Risks
Polymyositis
Polymyositisis an inflammatory condition that targets the muscles of the neck, upper arms, shoulders, thighs, and hips. Weakness in these muscles may lead to trouble climbing stairs, lifting objects, or swallowing.
Other symptoms can include:
Primary Biliary Cirrhosis
Primary biliary cirrhosisoccurs when the immune system attacks the small bile ducts—tubes that connect the liver to the small intestine.
Early symptoms of the disease include:
Psoriasis
Other common symptoms include:
About 30% of people with psoriasis will developpsoriatic arthritis, a related condition that causes joint stiffness and pain.
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Besides joint symptoms, other early symptoms include:
As the disease progresses, inflammation may occur in other parts of the body, like the heart and lungs, causing chest pain and trouble breathing.
Sarcoidosis
Sarcoidosisis an autoimmune disease that causes lumps of inflamed tissue to form within organs, most commonly the lungs and lymph nodes. The lymph nodes are part of the immune system.
This leads to symptoms like:
Sjögren’s Disease
Other symptoms and related complications may include:
Although not very common, other organs like the lungs, liver, and kidneys may be impacted as well.
Systemic Scleroderma
Systemic scleroderma, also called systemic sclerosis, causes connective tissue to build up too quickly, which leads to scarring. This affects the skin and organs.
The most common symptoms of systemic scleroderma include the following:
Some symptoms depend on which organs are involved. For example, if the heart is impacted, an individual may experience chest pain andheart failure.
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Systemic lupus erythematosusoccurs when the immune system attacks and damages various organs within the body.
Lupus affects everyone differently. Some people have a few, mild symptoms, while others may have numerous, more severe symptoms.
Symptoms can include:
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetesoccurs when the immune system destroys beta cells in thepancreas. These cells produceinsulin, a hormone that helps blood sugar get processed into energy.
This attack on the beta cells can go on for years without symptoms showing up.
Symptoms that can occur include:
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcerative colitisis an autoimmune bowel disease that causes inflammation in the lining of the colon.
Symptomscan range from mild to severe and may include:
Ulcerative Colitis Stool: What You Need to Know
Vitiligo
Vitiligocauses a loss of the natural color (pigment) of the skin and may include symptoms like:
Complications of Autoimmune Conditions
Talk to your healthcare provider about what you can do to minimize the risk of complications that are associated with your condition(s).
When to See a Healthcare Provider
If you’re worried you may be experiencing symptoms of an autoimmune condition, or if you have a strong family history of autoimmune disease, see your healthcare provider. They can give you a comprehensive evaluation and a physical exam to help provide a diagnosis.
Your doctor may also orderblood testssuch as:
If your healthcare provider thinks that you may have an autoimmune disease, you will likely be referred to a specialist. This might include a rheumatologist (a doctor who focuses on musculoskeletal diseases) or an endocrinologist (a doctor who specializes in hormonal conditions).
Summary
Autoimmune diseases occur when the body mistakenly attacks healthy tissues or cells. This leads to inflammation, which may trigger symptoms such as fatigue, rash, pain, swelling, difficulty focusing, and a tingling or numb sensation.
There are dozens of autoimmune diseases, and each affects people somewhat differently.
Symptoms vary depending on the specific autoimmune disease, as do complications. Common complications include heart disease, mood disorders, nerve damage, blood clots, and organ damage.
If you have symptoms that seem in line with an autoimmune condition, call your healthcare provider. Autoimmune conditions can be difficult to diagnose and may take time.
37 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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