Symptoms of Lupus

Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that manifests when the body's immune system starts to attack its own tissues and organs. The inflammation that results from lupus can affect several areas throughout the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, heart and lungs.



Lupus is far more often observed in women than in men but no clear connection for this observation has been discerned. There are four kinds of lupus in existence these are: systemic lupus erythematosus, discoid lupus erythematosus, drug-induced lupus erythematosus and neonatal lupus. Of the types identified, systemic lupus erythematosus is by far the most widespread and serious form of lupus.



The prognosis for people with this disease was very poor in the past however improvements in the diagnosis and treatment methods implemented for lupus has greatly enhanced the probability of surviving with the condition. Once the disease is treated most people with the disease can lead regular lives.



Because it is an autoimmune disease, it not only attacks foreign substances that may enter the body, such as bacteria and viruses, but also incites the immune system to attack healthy tissue. As said before this leads to inflammation and subsequent injury to different sections of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels and brain.



It is not yet known what causes the disease, like other autoimmune diseases it is a mystery. It is theorized that it is the result of a combination of factors, most specifically, the patient's genes and the environment. Some experts also believe that a person may inherit a predisposition to lupus, but not the actual disease itself. Instead, people with this possible inherited predisposition for the disease may only develop the condition when they make some form of contact with something in the environment that may trigger lupus, including some types of medication or a virus.



The disease does not necessarily develop in the same way for all individuals affected by the disease . Signs and symptoms may manifest suddenly or develop gradually. They may be mild or severe, and may be temporary with fluctuating periods of the associated symptoms or permanent. Most people affected by lupus have a mild form of the disease characterized by episodes which are known as flares when signs and symptoms are exacerbated for a short period, then improve or even disappear entirely for some time.

The signs and symptoms of lupus that an individual will experience will greatly depend on the areas of the body that are troubled by the condition. However the more typical signs and symptoms may include any of the following:



Anxiety

Depression

Memory loss

Fatigue

Fever

Weight loss or gain

Fingers and toes that turn white or blue during exposure to cold or during stressful periods. This is called Raynaud's phenomenon.

Joint pain, stiffness and swelling

Butterfly-shaped rash or malar rash on the face that covers sections of the cheeks and the bridge of the nose

Skin lesions that appear and are actually worsened by sun exposure

Mouth sores

Hair loss (alopecia)

Shortness of breath

Chest pain

Dry eyes

Easy bruising



Once a person develops an unexplained rash, ongoing fever, persistent aching or fatigue, he or she should consult a doctor to rule out the possibility that it could be lupus.



Once a person has been diagnosed with lupus, he or she should have regular consultations with a doctor so that the condition can be treated and monitored effectively. Also any new symptoms should be assessed immediately.Please visit these links for more information on Symptoms of Lupus Link I and Link II.