Lupus Definition, Reason, Symptoms, Treatment & Prevention
Understanding
Lupus or also known as Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), is a chronic inflammatory disease that occurs when a person’s immune system attacks the body’s own cells and tissues.
The inflammation that occurs as a result of lupus is known to have a thousand faces, as it can attack various organ systems of the body, including the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs.
Lupus is often difficult to recognize because the signs and symptoms vary widely and mimic many other clinical conditions. One sign that is quite distinctive in lupus is a rash on the face that resembles butterfly wings on the cheeks. But even this rash does not always occur in people with lupus. SLE is also known to be more common in women. Although it can occur in all age groups, lupus is most often diagnosed between the ages of 15 and 40.
Symptom
Before being detected, many people with lupus are not aware that they have lupus and also because they do not experience significant symptoms for a long time.
Symptoms can appear suddenly and are often surprising and affect the quality of life for people with lupus. What’s more, the symptoms of lupus also vary widely and are different for each individual, depending on the organs of the body that are affected.
Some common symptoms that are often encountered are:
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Skin rashes
Skin rashes are most common on the face, wrists and hands. What is quite characteristic of SLE is a rash on the cheeks and bridge of the nose, which is known as the ‘butterfly rash’ or ‘malar rash’ . Skin rashes can also be itchy, painful, or inflamed which can be made worse by sunlight.
- Fatigue
Severe fatigue is one of the most common symptoms of SLE. In patients with lupus, even doing everyday activities can cause fatigue. Many people with SLE state that the fatigue they experience greatly affects their quality of life.
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Pain or swelling in the joints
Joint pain and swelling are generally felt in the hands and feet, but they can also move around and are generally felt more severely in the morning. Permanent deformity of the joints is rare in people with lupus.
Reason
Until now, most cases of lupus are not known with certainty the cause. Its emergence is thought to be a combination of genetic factors and environmental factors. There are individuals who are born with a tendency to experience lupus, some are triggered by factors of infection, use of certain drugs, or because they are influenced by stressful conditions.
Even though it has not been completely cured, a series of therapies and medications are now increasingly being developed to control the various symptoms that arise. Individuals with a tendency to experience lupus may experience mild to severe symptoms when exposed to triggers from their environment.
Some conditions that are considered as triggers are sunburn, infection, certain types of food, consumption of certain drugs, tiring activities, lack of rest, or stressful conditions.
Diagnosis
Diagnosing lupus can be difficult at first because the signs and symptoms of lupus are so varied, such great imitators can misdiagnose and mask the real problem. The diagnosis can be known quickly generally if handled by the right expert, careful findings from the physical examination, as well as appropriate blood and urine tests.
Laboratory tests usually include:
- Complete blood count, to evaluate the number of red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and hemoglobin, which is a protein found in red blood cells. One thing that needs to be known is the indication of anemia which often occurs in lupus patients
- Examination of kidney and liver function is also necessary because lupus generally affects the functioning of these organs
- A urine examination is done to check the levels of protein and red blood cells in the urine
- Antinuclear Antibody (ANA) examination, which detects the presence of certain antibodies in the body. Although most individuals with lupus have positive ANA results, not everyone with positive ANA has an indication of lupus. To be sure, the doctor will suggest doing a more specific antibody test if a person’s ANA test results are positive
Investigations such as chest X-rays and echocardiograms are also usually needed to see abnormalities in the heart and lungs. sometimes. a kidney biopsy examination that requires kidney tissue for further examination will also be carried out if abnormalities in the kidneys are suspected.
Treatment
Treatment for lupus problems depends on the symptoms and complaints that are experienced. Medications commonly used to control lupus symptoms include:
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), used to treat pain, swelling, or fever caused by lupus
- Corticosteroid drugs, used to treat inflammation caused by lupus. Several side effects have been recorded as a result of using this drug, such as weight gain, bruising on the body, diabetes, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of infection.
- Immunosuppressant drugs, which are drugs to suppress the immune system. Side effects may occur in the form of an increased risk of infection, liver damage, and decreased fertility
- Antimalarial drugs, which have been shown to control some lupus symptoms when used regularly
Prevention
Because the cause of lupus is a combination of genetic and environmental factors and is still under research, there is no proven method that is 100% effective in preventing this disease.
Those who are known genetically to have a family history of lupus tendencies should do a laboratory check as early as possible to find out the condition of their body.
If a predisposition to lupus is found, the doctor can carry out strategies to prevent more severe symptoms from occurring. A series of lifestyle changes are also usually recommended by doctors to increase physical and psychological resilience in dealing with lupus symptoms.