Inflammation is the body’s response to infection or trauma. It is a defense mechanism that the immune system uses to fight off bacteria or heal injuries. However, there are times when the immune system is dysregulated and causes autoinflammatory diseases in children.
Autoinflammatory diseases cause regular bursts of inflammation that can cause a range of symptoms and potentially damage different organs in the body.
Read on to learn more about autoinflammatory diseases in children and how you can support your child if they get diagnosed with one.
What are the symptoms of autoinflammatory diseases in children?
The most common symptom of autoinflammatory disease is recurrent and unexplained fever. The fevers may be accompanied by other symptoms such as:
- Chills
- Skin rash
- Joint pain/swelling
- Sore throat
- Enlarged lymph nodes
- Redness or swelling of the eyes
- Inflammation of internal organs
- Mouth sores
- Abdominal pain
The symptoms usually show up as flare-ups that can last for multiple days and, left untreated, can lead to organ damage and health complications.
What causes autoinflammatory diseases in children?
Some autoinflammatory diseases are genetic and passed on from the parents to the child. In contrast, other diseases may develop because of gene changes that help regulate the innate immune system. When the body identifies potential invaders like bacteria, viruses, or toxins, it will trigger defense mechanisms such as inflammation to fight off the invaders. However, these genes can sometimes become deregulated by environmental factors, illnesses, or exposure to toxins, leading to “flare-ups.”
In some cases, the cause of the disease is unknown.
What are the different types of autoinflammatory disea