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Sara
Age 17
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What You Need to Know About Lupus

 What is Lupus?

          The Lupus Foundation of America defines Lupus as a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. The body's immune system normally makes proteins called antibodies to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. These foreign materials are called antigens. In an autoimmune disorder such as lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances (antigens) and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against "self." These antibodies, called "auto-antibodies," react with the "self" antigens to form immune complexes. The immune complexes build up in the tissues and can cause inflammation, injury to tissues, and pain.

Who does Lupus effect?

          At least 1.4 million Americans have a form of lupus. According to The Lupus Foundation of America, they also estimate that 90% of those living with lupus are female; a diagnosis is most often made, between the ages of 15 and 45. African Americans, Latinos, Asians and Native Americans are, for an unknown reason at a greater risk. More people have lupus than AIDS, cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, sickle-cell anemia, and cystic fibrosis combined. LFA market research data shows that between 1,400,000 and 2,000,000 people reported to have been diagnosed with lupus. (Study conducted by Bruskin/Goldring Research, 1994.) For most people, lupus is a mild disease affecting only a few organs. For others, it may cause serious and even life-threatening problems. Thousands of Americans die each year from lupus-related complications.

What are the Symptoms?

  • Extreme fatigue

  • Joint swelling (arthritis)

  • Muscle ache (myalgia)

  • Persistent, Low-grade fever (less than 101° F)

  • Skin rash

  • Butterfly rash (across bridge of nose and cheeks)

  • Weight loss

  • Hair loss (alopecia)

  • Photosensitivity (sun or light sensitivity)

  • Mouth or nose sores

  • Pain in the chest on deep breathing (pleurisy)

  • Raynaud's Phenomenon (fingers turning white and / or blue in the cold)

*If you are experiencing more that five of these symptoms consult your physician. Or visit the American Lupus Foundation web site at: www.lupus.org for a more detailed symptom summary.

Commonly Asked Questions

1. Is lupus contagious?

          No, not even through sexual contact.

2. Is lupus a form of cancer?

          No, lupus is not a form of cancer. It is an autoimmune disease.

3. Is lupus like AIDS?

          No. In AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) the immune system is under active; it is deficient. In lupus the immune system is overactive, producing large quantities of antibodies. AIDS is contagious but lupus is not. The majority of people diagnosed with AIDS die from their disease whereas the majority of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life.

4. Is there a cure for lupus?

          At the present time there is not a cure for lupus, but there certainly are effective treatments.

Test Yourself for Lupus

          Because many lupus symptoms mimic other illnesses, are sometimes vague, and may come and go, lupus can be difficult to diagnose. Diagnosis is usually made by a careful review of a person's entire medical history, physical examination, coupled with an analysis of the results obtained in routine laboratory tests and some specialized tests related to immune status. Currently there is no single laboratory test that can determine whether a person has lupus or not.

          If you have been experiencing symptoms of lupus over time with no explanation, the following set of questions may help you to decide if you should consult with a medical professional about obtaining additional tests for lupus.

  • Have you ever had achy, painful and/or swollen joints for more than three months?

  • Have you ever had an unexplained fever of over 100 degrees for more than a few days?

  • Have you ever experienced persistent, extreme fatigue/exhaustion and weakness for days or even weeks at a time, even after 6-8 hours of restful nighttime sleep?

  • Have you ever had sensitivity to the sun where your skin "breaks out" after being in the sun, but it's not sunburn?

  • Have you ever been told that you have a low blood count(s) - anemia, low white cell count or a low platelet count?

  • Have you ever been told that you have protein in your urine?

  • Have you ever had chest pain with deep breathing for more than a few days (pleurisy)?

  • Have you ever had a prominent redness or color change on your face in the shape of a butterfly across the bridge of your nose and cheeks?

  • Have you ever had a seizure or convulsion?

  • Have you had any sores in your mouth that lasted for more than two weeks?

If you answer "yes" to at least three of these questions, the Lupus Foundation of America suggests that you consult with your doctor.

http://www.lupus.org/education/testyourself.html

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