Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system attacks the healthy tissues and organs of the body. An immune system that attacks the very parts of the body it is supposed to protect can cause severe damage to the nervous system, joints, and internal organs.
One such illness that causes this to happen is the autoimmune disease known as lupus. The inflammation caused by lupus can affect many parts of the body, including blood cells, the brain, skin, joints, kidneys, heart, and the lungs.
Lupus can often remain undiagnosed simply because the symptoms it causes can be mistaken for other ailments that cause similar symptoms in the body.
The severity of lupus and the onset of symptoms varies widely with each individual case of this disease. Symptoms may appear suddenly in some individuals, while for others, the development of the illness can be far slower.
Some cases of lupus can be severe and permanent, whilst others can produce only mild disease and be temporary in nature. These are what are known as lupus flare-ups. A flare-up can produce many symptoms for a while, followed by an improvement or a complete disappearance of all symptoms for a time.
The main symptoms associated with lupus can be both mental and physical. Mental confusion can occur along with memory loss and changes in behaviour.
Physically, joint pain, stiffness, and swelling of tissues within the joints can be experienced. Fever and fatigue are common too, and so are headaches, chest pain, dry eyes, shortness of breath, skin lesions, and a butterfly-shaped rash on the face.
Lupus is caused by an auto-immune response, and this is why it is known as an auto-immune disease. The trigger for developing lupus is believed to be both genetic and environmental in nature, but the exact cause remains unknown.
Lupus can, however, be caused by having an inherited predisposition for developing this condition, which also needs an environmental influence combined to trigger it.
Sunlight, infections, antibiotics, and certain medications that treat seizures and high blood pressure can act as these environmental triggers and cause lupus in susceptible individuals. Drug-induced lupus eases once the drug responsible for the flare is stopped.
Other risk factors for developing lupus include sex, age, and race. Women aged between 15 and 45, of African or Hispanic origin, are more likely to develop this disease than others.
Lupus is diagnosed by the symptoms present. Some make it easier to do so than others, such as a butterfly-shaped rash on the face. Blood tests that show a high level of a certain antibody can also indicate that lupus is present. X-rays and scans of the joints and organs can also help medical professionals make an accurate lupus diagnosis.
Treatment of lupus usually involves the use of anti-inflammatory drugs, and hydroxychloroquine is often prescribed to treat fatigue and joint and skin problems. Steroid tablets and injections are also used to control inflammation and skin rashes.
In severe cases, immunosuppressant drugs are used to lower the number of certain antibodies in the blood.
It is hard to prevent a disease where the true origin of the cause is not known or is potentially inherited. For those at risk, staying out of the sun can prevent skin rashes and other skin problems. Avoiding potential trigger medications and substituting them with natural alternatives where available can also help prevent certain symptoms from developing.