overview
Lupus is a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease). The inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems – including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs.
Lupus can be difficult to diagnose because its signs and symptoms often mimic those of other conditions. The most noticeable sign of lupus – a rash that looks like a butterfly’s wings spreading down both cheeks – occurs in many cases of lupus, but not all. Lupus Treatment in Hyderabad
symptoms
Butterfly-shaped red rash on nose and cheeks
Lupus Facial RashOpen Popup Dialog
No case of lupus is exactly the same. Signs and symptoms can come on suddenly or slowly, can be mild or severe, and can be temporary or permanent. Most people with lupus have a mild illness characterized by episodes called flares, when the signs and symptoms get worse for a while, then get better, or even go away for a while.
The signs and symptoms of lupus you experience will vary depending on the body systems affected by the disease. The most common signs and symptoms are:
- Tired
- fever
The reasons
As an autoimmune disease, lupus occurs when your immune system attacks healthy tissues in your body. Lupus is likely the result of a combination of your genetics and your environment.
It seems that people with a hereditary predisposition to lupus can develop the disease if they come into contact with something in the environment that can trigger lupus. However, in most cases, the cause of lupus is unknown.
Some possible triggers are:
- Sunlight. Sun exposure can cause painful skin lesions or trigger an internal reaction in susceptible individuals.
- Infections. Infection can trigger or relapse lupus in some people.
- Medication. Lupus can be triggered by certain types of blood pressure medication, anti-seizure medication, and antibiotics. People with drug-induced lupus usually recover when they stop taking the drug. In rare cases, symptoms may persist even after the drug is discontinued. Lupus Treatment in Hyderabad
Risk factors
Some of the factors that can increase your risk of lupus include:
- Your gender lupus is more common in women.
- Age. Although lupus affects people of all ages, it is most commonly diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 45.
- Run. Lupus is more common among African Americans, Hispanics, and Asian Americans.
Complications
The inflammation caused by lupus can affect many areas of your body, including:
- Kidneys. Lupus can cause severe kidney damage, and kidney failure is a leading cause of death in people with lupus.
- Brain and Central Nervous System When your brain is affected by lupus, you may experience headaches, dizziness, behavior changes, visual disturbances, and even stroke or seizures. Many people with lupus have memory problems and may have difficulty expressing their thoughts.
- Blood and blood vessels. Lupus can cause blood problems, including a decrease in the number of healthy red blood cells (anemia) and an increased risk of bleeding or clotting. It can also cause blood vessels to become inflamed.
- Lung. Lupus increases the likelihood of inflammation of the lining of the chest cavity, which can make breathing painful. Bleeding in the lungs and pneumonia are also possible. Lupus Treatment in Hyderabad