6 Less Common Symptoms of Lupus
Lupus can affect patients in many ways, and although no two patients will share exactly the same symptoms, there are some common symptoms that most people know of, like a butterfly rash, joint pain, sun sensitivity and extreme fatigue. However, there are also other lesser-known symptoms that you might not be aware of.
We’ve put together a list of six less common symptoms of lupus based on information from newlifeoutlook.
1. Psychological Symptoms
Depression and anxiety are common in lupus, but a rarer mental disorder is lupus psychosis. Lupus psychosis usually happens at either the onset of the condition or during the initial year of diagnosis. The psychosis will typically occur during a flare and is treated with steroids. Occasionally lupus psychosis can come from a reaction from prednisone. Lupus psychosis usually only lasts between two and four weeks.
MORE:Â Nine tips to help you to self-manage your lupus
2. Severe Headaches
Lupus patients can sometimes suffer from extreme headaches which will only respond to aggressive immunosuppressive medications. If you suffer from headaches which are debilitating and are not responsive to over-the-counter medications, you should see your doctor.
3. Nerve Complications
Because lupus can attack the nervous system, some patients may find they suffer from a variety of sensations ranging from tingling to pain, or feeling as though your skin is sunburnt. These feelings may be intermittent or constant.
4. Vertigo
Most cases of vertigo are unrelated to lupus, but sometimes if a person suffers from hearing loss due to lupus they may also suffer from vertigo.
MORE: Five lupus complications you may not be aware of
5. Mouth Problems
Many lupus patients are affected by Sjogren’s syndrome which dries out the body’s orifices such as the mouth. This can lead to gum disease and yeast infections, which are both painful and can make eating difficult. In addition, lupus patients who suffer from osteoporosis may also have issues with their jaws.
6. Rashes and Skin Involvement
Aside from the well-known butterfly rash that affects the face, some lupus patients may also have other skin rashes. Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus is a lupus-associated skin condition which develops on areas of the skin which have been exposed to sunlight. Calcinosis can leave white spots on the skin and livedo reticularis is due to the blood flowing through the capillaries abnormally resulting in purple blotches.
Lupus News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
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