What general term describes a medical condition in which a person’s own immune system mistakenly attacks and damages the body’s own healthy cells or tissues?

Explanation

An autoimmune disease is a general term describing a medical condition in which a person’s own immune system, which normally functions to protect the body from external threats like bacteria and viruses, mistakenly identifies certain of the body’s own healthy cells or tissues as foreign and consequently attacks and damages them. There are many different types of autoimmune diseases, each affecting different specific parts of the body and producing quite varied symptoms depending on which particular tissues are affected. The precise underlying causes of most autoimmune diseases are not yet fully understood, though a combination of genetic and environmental factors is generally believed to play a significant contributing role. Explore more Everyday Science MCQs on mcqstutor to keep practicing.