Suffering From Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease which occurs when the body immune system attacks the healthy body tissues instead of the foreign substances such as bacteria and viruses. When this happens inflammation occurs which leads to swelling, pain, and damaged tissues in the body. Lupus damages different parts of the body such as:

• Joints
• Skin
• Blood vessels
• Brain
• Heart
• Kidney
• Lungs

There are several types of lupus. These include:

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: This type of lupus affects many parts of the body. It is the most common type of lupus.
• Drug Induced Lupus: This is a kind of lupus that is caused by certain kind of medications.
• Discoid Lupus Erythematosus: This kind of lupus usually causes skin rash that does not go away.
• Neonatal Lupus: This is a type of lupus that usually affects the new born.
• Subacute Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus: This is a kind of lupus that makes the skin sore when it is exposed to sunlight.

The cause of lupus is not yet known but researchers believe that certain genes that have an effect to the immune system to be the cause of the disease.

Other factors that are believed to cause lupus include viral infection that causes mononucleosis, sunlight, smoking, some medications especially those in the penicillin and sulfa groups, exposure to certain chemical compounds such as trichloroethylene which can be found in water and dust. Infections such as hepatitis C infections, cytomegalovirus (CMV), parvovirus and Epstein- Barr virus common in children are also suspected to trigger the onset of the condition.

Lupus is common in women than men and it mostly affects women of African American, Native American, Asian, and Hispanic origin than Caucasian women.

Lupus has several symptoms and they vary according to people affected. The common lupus symptoms include:

• Muscle pain
• Swollen glands
• Joint swelling and pain
• Hair loss
• Fatigue
• Fever with unknown cause
• Red rashes in the face
• Swollen glands
• Sun sensitivity
• Chest pain especially when taking a deep breath
• Mouth ulcers
• Pale and purple fingers or toes
• Swollen legs and on areas around the eye
• Weight loss or gain
• Dry eyes

There is no single test that can be used to diagnose lupus and doctors will take months or years to diagnose lupus. Tools which can be used to diagnose lupus include:

• Blood tests
• Kidney biopsy
• Medical history
• Skin biopsy
• Complete body examination

Lupus can be treated with different drugs depending on its severity. When you experience mild to severe symptoms the following medication can be used:

• Corticosteroids: These drugs are usually used to prevent inflammation. They have side effects such as osteoporosis which the risk can be reduced by taking Calcium and Vitamin D supplements. Other side effects include diabetes, hypertension, easy bruising, increased risk of infection, and weight gain.
• Non-steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs): Examples of these drugs include naproxen sodium (Aleve), aspirin, and ibuprofen (Motrin and Advil).
• Anti-malarial Drugs: These drugs are commonly used to treat lupus symptoms and prevention of flares even though there is no relation between malaria and lupus. Side effects of these drugs include muscle weakness and vision problems. An example of these drugs is Hydroxychloroquine (Plaquenil).

In cases of severe lupus symptoms the following drugs can be used:

• Immunosuppressive Drugs: Side effects of these drugs include infertility, cancer risk, and liver damage. Examples of these drugs include azathroprine (Imuran) and Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxam)