There are many types of epithelial tissue diseases, spreading across all the forms of epithelial tissue. Here are a few key diseases that are important to understand when discussing how disease affects epithelial tissue.
Eczema
First, let's look at eczema. Eczema, also known as dermatitis, is a disease that causes inflammation and irritation of the skin. In fact, that's what dermatitis means: derma means 'skin,' and -itis means 'inflammation.' This irritation and inflammation of the skin can take on many forms, including swelling, rashes, pustules, and itching. Common causes for eczema include allergies, changes in hormone levels, stress, or genetic predisposition to the disease.
While there is no cure for eczema, there are ways to treat it. Ointments and medicated salves can help sooth the symptoms, while prescription medications can help manage the dryness and irritation of the skin. Prevention is a best bet for eczema, including moisturizing the skin and avoiding irritants.
Eczema affects the stratified squamous epithelium of the skin, and the underlying blood vessels.
Psoriasis
Next, we'll look at psoriasis. Psoriasis is a disease that affects the epithelial cells of the skin, creating a red, scaly rash. Often psoriasis is associated with other diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. Genetic factors can lead to a predisposition to psoriasis, though the disease is often brought on by environmental triggers. The stratified squamous epithelium cells sense stress hormones, infection, and the presence of certain medications like lithium, a depression drug. Injury to the skin in the form of sunburns or scratches can also trigger psoriasis; when injury causes a patch of red, itchy psoriasis, the phenomenon is known as the Koebner response.
Psoriasis affects the stratified squamous epithelium of the skin.
Epithelial Carcinoma
Now, let's look at epithelial carcinoma. There are many forms of epithelial cancers, known as carcinomas, which can affect epithelial tissues throughout the body. Carcinomas result from genetic predisposition, environmental factors, such as excess sunlight, or exposure to pollutants and smoking, and can become malignant if not treated promptly. Malignant cells divide out of control and form large masses, or tumors. This kind of cancer arises in the cells of the body that line its outer and inner surfaces; examples include breast carcinoma, colon cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and stomach cancer. Many of these carcinomas are among the most dangerous cancers, in terms of their prognosis.
Epithelial carcinoma affects all of the epithelial tissues that line the outer or inner surface of the body, including stratified squamous, simple squamous, simple columnar and stratified columnar epithelium.
Severe Asthma
Finally, we'll take a look at sever asthma. Severe asthma is a disease that causes inflammation of the air passages in the body, including the lungs, the bronchial tubes that lead from the windpipe to the lungs, and the windpipe itself, or trachea. Asthma can lead to the breakdown and shedding of the respiratory epithelial cells, while severe asthma exhibits thickened and renewed epithelial cells that do not respond well to asthma treatments that try to reduce swelling, such as corticosteroids.
Severe asthma affects the epithelium of the respiratory system, particularly the simple squamous epithelium of the air sacs in the lungs, the simple columnar cells of the bronchial tubes, and the pseudostratified epithelium of the windpipe and upper respiratory tract.
