As knowledge will always be the foremost advocate for progress, it is my hope that this brief outline on each of the more widespread forms of Lupus will help simple people like us somehow understand this mysterious disease.
In simple words Lupus is generally defined as a breakdown of the immune system in which the body just literally harms itself, destroying its own healthy cells and tissues. The immune system produces harmful antibodies that cause inflammation and tissue damage to the skin, joints, blood vessels, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain.
Lupus can take on several forms. To further make sense of this disease let us highlight several of them:
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or SLE is the more common form of lupus. It is usually this form people refer to when they say they have lupus. It is this type of lupus which can affect many parts of the body. The symptoms can vary from mild to acute and is commonly marked by fatigue, pain and swelling in the joints, fever, skin rashes, hair loss, chest pain, seizures, mouth and nose sores, heart diseases, kidney problems. While it can also arise during childhood and late adulthood, SLE usually manifests around the ages of 15-45 years.
Discoid Lupus Erythematosus is a skin disorder form of lupus and is identified by the appearance of a red, plump rash on the face, scalp, or in different places. The plump surfaces may become thick, solid and crusty and could result in scars. The rash could last for days or years and may reappear. A small fraction of people who have discoid lupus may develop SLE or have SLE in addition to.- As the word itself implies, Drug-induced Lupus is a form of lupus brought about by the use of certain medications. This form displays similar symptoms to those of SLE (skin rash, fever, arthritis, chest pain). Symptoms naturally recede when the drug is discontinued.
Neonatal Lupus develops in newborn babies of women who have SLE or some other form of immune system disorder. It is a very rare form of Lupus and not all mothers who have SLE will give birth to babies having neonatal lupus. The noticeable signs of this form of lupus are when babies display a skin rash, liver abnormalities, or low blood counts at birth. These abnormalities completely cease over the course of several months, as a result though these babies may possibly acquire a serious heart defect. Modern scientific technology has now made possible the early detection of mothers who are most at risk of conceiving babies with this disorder, thus ensuring prompt treatment for the infant immediately at birth or even beforehand.
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