Uncommon Autoimmune Diseases Everyone Should Be Aware Of

How To Prevent & Treat HIV/AIDS

As the infection progresses, it begins to interfere with the immune system which results in an increased risk for common infections such as tuberculosis and tumors; this can be fatal for those infected when compared to an individual with a healthy immune system. Symptoms that appear in the later stages of the infection are known as acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), where patients also experience extreme weight loss. Ways to prevent contracting this fatal disease include practicing safe sex, needle exchange programs, and male circumcision.

The disease can be managed with antiretroviral medication, especially when diagnosed early. To be clear, there is no cure or vaccine for this disease. However, antiretroviral treatment can slow the disease's progression and allow an individual to have a somewhat average life expectancy. The best way to diagnose HIV/AIDS is a simple blood test. Without a proper diagnosis or treatment, the average survival rate after contracting this condition is eleven years.

Signs & Symptoms Of Vitiligo

Probably well known due to the King of Pop, Michael Jackson, having vitiligo universalis (meaning all over the body), this autoimmune disorder is a non-contagious, long-term skin condition whose symptoms include visible signs of patches of skin losing pigmentation. These patches become white, have sharp margins, and can affect both sides of the body. They can just be in specific areas or cover the entire body. No specific cause is known. However, research has indicated it could be the result of the immune system attacking and destroying the skin's melanocytes - which are the cells that give skin its color - as well as genetic susceptibility triggered by environmental factors, such as sun exposure.