Disease, Illness and Condition Library
Lupus
know very little about. If you were to walk you to any person on the street, ask them if they had an uncle Lupus that loves women under 35, but would date anybody under the right circumstances, more than likely they would think you were crazy. But if they took the time to answer they would either say no, or say that they have an Uncle Lupe that loves women under 35. You are probably asking yourself what the above text has to do with Lupus, the disease. Please read on. This disease was named lupus, which means “wolf, “because of the large number of people that develop a butterfly shaped rash over their cheeks and nose. These oddly shaped rashes tended to give many lupus victims a wolf like appearance. In fact, rashes may appear elsewhere on the body as well, such as the upper arms, hands, ears, chest, and shoulders. It is estimated that at least 90 percent of those who contract lupus are women. Women of Asian decent appear to be at a greater risk of developing lupus than other women. Lupus usually develops between the ages of fifteen and thirty five, although it can occur at any age. Potentially lupus can affect many of the body’s organs. Lupus is classified as an autoimmune disease, which means that your body’s immune system develops antibodies in response to a virus, and then attacks its own organs and tissues. This produces inflammation of the joints, blood vessels, skin, and other tissue. Heredity and sex hormones are two other possible factors in the development of this disease. There are two types of lupus: systematic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and disoid lupus erythematosus (DLE). As the name implies, SLE is a systematic disease that affect many different parts of the body. The severity can range from mild to life threatening. The first symptoms are similar to arthritis, with swelling in the fingers and joints. The disease may also appear suddenly, with acute fever. The characteristic red rash may appear across the checks; there may also be red scaling lesions everywhere on the body. Sores may form in the mouth as well. Other possible symptoms include: * Abdominal and chest pain * Fatigue * Hair loss * Blood in the urine * Nausea * Loss of appetite * Poor circulation in the fingers and toes * Shortness of breath * Ulcers * Weight Loss * Vomiting The lungs and kidneys are often involved with lupus. Approximately 50 percent of those with SLE develop nephritis, inflammation of the kidneys. In serious cases the brain, lungs, and/or heart may be affected. SLE can cause anemia and inflammation of the surface membranes of the heart and lungs. It can also cause excessive bleeding and vulnerability to infection. If the central nervous system is involved, amnesia, deep depression, psychosis, mania, paranoia, seizures, and stroke may be present. The discoid type of lupus is a less serious disease that primarily affects the skin. The characteristic butterfly rash forms over the nose and checks. Their may also be lesions elsewhere, commonly on the scalp and ears, and these lesions may reappear or persist for years. When they disappear, they often leave scars. If these scars form on the scalp, permanent bald patches may result. While DLE is not necessarily dangerous to overall health, it is a chronic and disfiguring skin disease. Some experts have related it to a reaction to the infection with the tubercle bacillus. Both types of lupus follow a pattern of periodic flare-ups alternating with periods of remission. Exposure to the suns ultraviolet rays can result in a flare-up of DLE and may even induce the first attack. Other lupus triggers: * Stress * Fatigue * Pregnancy * Infections * Child birth * Some drugs * Unidentified viral infections * Chemicals * Some drugs Note: Drug induced causes usually clear up when the drug is discontinued. According to the American Rheumatism Association, four of the following eight symptoms must occur, either serially or at the same time, before a diagnosis can be made:
* Arthritis * Butterfly rash on the checks. * Abnormal cells in the urine. * Low white blood cell count, low platelet count, or hemolytic anemia. * Mouth sores. * Sun Sensitivity * Seizures and psychosis. * The presence of a specific antibody in the blood. This antibody is found in 50 percent of people with lupus.
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