Lupus may occur when the body's immune system begins attacking its own tissues and cells, instead of attacking viruses and bacteria, as it is supposed to. This may cause inflammation resulting in swelling, pain and damage to the tissue.
While symptoms may be mild, the condition may be lifelong and may become severe. The cause of lupus may not be fully understood. Some people may be born with certain genes, which may affect the immune system, making the patient more susceptible to developing lupus. Viral infections may cause lupus, as well as sunlight.Symptoms of lupus may include joint pain, swelling in the joints, fever, fatigue and skin rash. Problems with the heart, lungs, kidneys, blood cells and nervous system may develop over time. Some patients may experience hair loss and mouth sores as well.
Symptoms may vary greatly from patient to patient. Patients may experience flare-ups when symptoms may be very prominent, but may also experience remissions when symptoms may be mild. Lupus may act differently in different patients, making it harder to diagnose. To diagnose lupus, a doctor may perform a physical exam, take the patient's medical history and take a blood test for certain proteins. Other conditions may cause the blood to make these proteins as well, so a blood test may be taken with other tests as well.
Treatment for lupus may vary depending on the types of symptoms experienced. Treatments may be intended to treat the symptoms of lupus and not the condition itself. A doctor may recommend using a corticosteroid to treat rashes and certain medications to treat joint pain.
Other medications may be effective in treating fatigue, joint pain, rashes and lung inflammation. Still, low dosage corticosteroids may be used if other treatment options do not work. Other medications may be recommended, as corticosteroids may cause side effects in some patients.
By www.healthnews.org
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