Red spots on the skin, butterfly on the face, fever, joint pain and fatigue are symptoms that may indicate lupus Lupus is a disease that can occur at any time and after the first seizure, symptoms may appear from time to time and therefore, treatment should be maintained throughout life.
In general, black women are the most affected and, in addition to these symptoms, there may also be hair loss in certain areas of the head, sores inside the mouth, a reddish rash on the face after sun exposure and anemia.It can also affect the kidneys, heart, digestive system and cause seizures.
- Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the patient’s immune system begins to attack the body’s cells.
- Causing symptoms such as red spots on the skin.
- Arthritis and sores in the mouth and nose.
- This disease can be discovered at any stage of life.
- But it is most commonly diagnosed in women between the ages of 20 and 40.
If lupus is suspected, it is recommended to consult a rheumatologist, as your doctor should evaluate the symptoms referred and perform tests to confirm the diagnosis.
The main symptoms of lupus are listed below and if you want to know your chances of having lupus, check your symptoms:
However, these signs and symptoms are not always enough to determine that it is lupus, as there are other diseases, such as rosacea or seborrheic dermatitis, that can be confused with lupus. Therefore, blood tests are one of the most useful tools for your doctor to confirm the diagnosis and determine the correct treatment.
Thus, the tests ordered by the doctor complete the information necessary to determine the diagnosis, in case of lupus. In these cases, changes that indicate the disease are:
In addition, your doctor may also order other diagnostic tests, such as chest x-rays or kidney biopsies, to identify if there are inflammatory lesions in your organs, which can be caused by lupus.
Lupus can occur at any time due to genetic factors and may be associated with environmental factors, such as exposure to ultraviolet rays, hormonal factors, smoking, viral infections, for example.
However, the disease is most common in women, people aged 15 to 40, as well as in patients of African, Hispanic or Asian descent.
Lupus is not contagious because it is an autoimmune disease, caused by mutations in the body itself that cannot be transmitted from one person to another.