What You Need to Know About Lupus in a Nutshell

Lupus is an autoimmune disease which mainly affects women in their childbearing years. Women of color are more susceptible to the disease than caucasian women. However, men and children can also develop the condition.

Find out why more children than ever are being diagnosed with lupus.

The condition varies greatly from patient to patient as it can affect any area of the body. Because there are so many symptoms associated with the disease, lupus is notoriously difficult to diagnose and patients often wait years before they get a positive diagnosis. Rheumatologists have devised a list of 11 common traits of the disease and a person must present at least four of these to be diagnosed.

The skin is the part of the body most commonly affected by lupus, with many patients presenting the typical “butterfly rash” which is a redness or rash stretching across the cheeks and the bridge of the nose. However, lupus can affect any of the body’s internal organs including the kidneys, lungs, and brain, and can be life-threatening.

There is no cure for lupus, but there are effective treatments to manage the symptoms of the disease. Steroids are taken to control flares and many lupus patients take immunosuppressants. Some lupus patients undergo chemotherapy treatment.

Read our six tips for patients newly diagnosed with lupus.

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.