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  • Lupus
    Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. Lupus affects about 5 in 10,000 people. Most often, lupus starts in people in their 20s and 30s. It occurs 10 times more often in women than in men.
Submitted by PatientsEngage on 15 January 2015

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs inside the body). Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years. Lupus affects about 5 in 10,000 people. 

Who is affected by lupus?

Most often, lupus starts in people in their 20s and 30s. It occurs 10 times more often in women than in men. The disease is more common in some ethnic groups, mainly blacks and Asians. Other risk factors include exposure to sunlight, certain medications, infection with Epstein-Barr virus, and exposure to certain chemicals. In Asia, countries such as *India and Japan have a lower incidence of lupus whereas Shanghai has higher prevalence.

*Osio-Salido E, Manapat-Reyes H, Epidemiology of systemic lupus erythematosus in Asia, Lupus, 2010 Oct;19(12):1365-73.

Air pollution, especially the particulate matter released when fossil fuels and other materials are burned, has been associated with lupus risk.

 

Condition

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  • Prevention of Lupus
    There is no known way to prevent Lupus since there is no known cause as yet. You can help manage flare-ups though: Avoid known triggers such as sunlight, stress, and lack of sleep Manage your diet Get adequate exercise  
  • Management of Lupus
    What you can do to cope up with the disease It is vital that you take an active role in your treatment. One key to living with lupus is to know about the disease and its impact. Being able to spot the warning signs of a flare-up can help you prevent the flare or make the symptoms less severe. Many people with lupus have certain symptoms just before a flare, such as: Feeling more tired Pain Rash Fever Stomach ache Headache Dizziness You should see your doctor often, even when symptoms are not…
  • Lupus Treatment
    There is no cure for lupus. However, treatment options to control symptoms are available. Most people with lupus can lead active, healthy lives. Treatment plans should meet the individual patient's needs and may change over time. To develop a treatment plan, the doctor tries to: Prevent flares Treat flares when they do occur Minimise complications Mild forms of the disease may be treated with:  NSAIDs for joint symptoms, after talking with your doctor  Corticosteroid creams for…
  • Lupus Tests and Diagnosis
    As signs and symptoms vary considerably from person to person, there is no single diagnostic test that can confirm lupus. In addition, signs and symptoms tend to change over time and are similar to those of other disorders and diseases. These fluctuations in disease activity make lupus extremely challenging to diagnose. The doctor may suggest some of the following: Complete blood count (CBC) to detect anaemia, low platelet count, and low white blood cell count. Antibody tests that includes…
  • Forms of Lupus
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  • Lupus Symptoms and Signs
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  • Lupus Causes and Risks
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