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Things to know about lupus?

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xixgun · M
All I know is it does not mean you'll turn into a werewolf.
Sounds stupid, but it's a factual statement.
@xixgun
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/323653.php

What is lupus?
Last reviewed Mon 12 November 2018
By Yvette Brazier
Reviewed by Vincent J. Tavella, MPH

Types Causes Risk factors Symptoms Video Classification: 11 symptoms Diagnosis Treatment and home remedies Outlook

Lupus is a long-term autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissue. Symptoms include inflammation, swelling, and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, blood, heart, and lungs.

Due to its complex nature, people sometimes call lupus the "disease of 1,000 faces."

In the United States, people report around 16,000 new cases of lupus each year, and up to 1.5 million people may be living with the condition, according to the Lupus Foundation of America.

The Foundation say that lupus affects women in particular, and it is most likely to appear between the ages of 15 and 44 years.

Lupus gained public attention in 2015 after the singer Selena Gomez announced she received a diagnosis in her late teens and underwent treatment for the condition.

Lupus is not a contagious disease. A person cannot transmit it sexually or in any other way to another person.

However, in rare cases, women with lupus may give birth to children who develop a form of lupus. This is called neonatal lupus.
Types

There are different kinds of lupus. This article will focus mainly on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), but other types include discoid, drug-induced, and neonatal lupus.
Systemic lupus erythematosus
A malar rash is a symptom of lupus. Image credit: Doktorinternet, 2013.
A malar rash is a key symptom of lupus. Image credit: Doktorinternet, 2013.

SLE is the most familiar type of lupus. It is a systemic condition. This means it has an impact throughout the body. The symptoms can range from mild to severe.

It is more severe than other types of lupus, such as discoid lupus, because it can affect any of the body's organs or organ systems. It can cause inflammation in the skin, joints, lungs, kidneys, blood, heart, or a combination of these.

This condition typically goes through cycles. At times of remission, the person will have no symptoms. During a flare-up, the disease is active, and symptoms appear.
Discoid lupus erythematosus

In discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) — or cutaneous lupus — symptoms affect only the skin. A rash appears on the face, neck, and scalp.

The raised areas may become thick and scaly, and scarring may result. The rash may last from a number of days to several years, and it may recur.

DLE does not affect the internal organs, but around 10 percent of people with DLE will go on to develop SLE, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. It is not clear, however, if these individuals already had SLE and just showed clinical signs on the skin or if there is a progression from DLE or SLE.
Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus

Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus refers to skin lesions that appear on parts of the body that are exposed to the sun. The lesions do not cause scarring.
Drug-induced lupus

In around 10 percent of people with SLE, symptoms occur because of a reaction to certain prescription drugs. According to Genetics Home Reference, some 80 drugs may cause the condition.

These include some of the drugs that people use to treat seizures and high blood pressure. They also include some thyroid medications, antibiotics, antifungals, and oral contraceptive pills.

Drugs that are commonly associated with this form of lupus are:

Hydralazine, a hypertension medication
Procainamide, a heart arrhythmia medication
Isoniazid, an antibiotic used to treat tuberculosis (TB)

Drug-induced lupus typically goes away after the person stops taking the medication.
Neonatal lupus

Most babies born to mothers with SLE are healthy. However, around 1 percent of women with autoantibodies relating to lupus will have a baby with neonatal lupus.

The woman may have SLE, Sjögren's syndrome, or no disease symptoms at all.

Sjögren's syndrome is another autoimmune condition that often occurs with lupus. Key symptoms include dry eyes and a dry mouth.

At birth, babies with neonatal lupus may have a skin rash, liver problems, and low blood counts. Around 10 percent of them will have anemia.

The lesions usually go away after a few weeks. However, some infants have a congenital heart block, in which the heart cannot regulate a normal and rhythmic pumping action. The infant may need a pacemaker. This can be a life-threatening condition.

It is important for women with SLE or other related autoimmune disorders to be under a doctor's care during pregnancy.
xixgun · M
@EugenieLaBorgia See? Nowhere in there does it say you'll turn into a werewolf. I was right.