Lupus is a chronic, comprehensive autoimmune disease that can affect the joints, skin, brain, lungs, kidneys, and blood vessels, causing widespread inflammation, explains the website lupusresearch.org.
What is an autoimmune disease?
Autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, occur when the immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells and tissues. This attack causes inflammation and can damage many parts of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels, and even the brain, Medlineplus.gov explains.
Why does lupus occur?
Researchers are still investigating what may cause it; the cause of lupus is not known, MedlinePlus explains. Research includes:
- Genetics
- Environmental factors such as viral infections, sunlight, certain medications, and smoking
- Problems with the immune system
Types of lupus
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common and can be mild or affect many parts of the body.
- Cutaneous lupus, which primarily causes skin rashes when exposed to the sun.
- Drug-induced lupus.
- Neonatal lupus is when the newborn acquires antibodies from its mother through breastfeeding. This is rare.
Symptoms of lupus
Mayo Clinic clarifies that no two cases of lupus are the same and explains that symptoms may appear suddenly or develop slowly, and vary in intensity and time, and some are permanent.
Most people with lupus have a disease characterized by episodes or flares in which signs and symptoms get worse for a while but then disappear completely for a period.
The most common symptoms are:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling
- A butterfly-shaped rash on the face that may involve the cheeks and bridge of the nose or a rash on the rest of the body
- Lesions that appear on the skin or worsen with sun exposure
- Fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or stressful situations
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dry eyes
- Headache, disorientation and memory loss