What is Lupus?

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system becomes overactive and attacks healthy tissue. Lupus can cause inflammation in various body parts, including the skin, joints, blood cells, kidneys, heart, brain and lungs. It is often regarded as the "disorder of a thousand faces." Lupus is hard to detect because its symptoms and signs are often similar to those of other illnesses. A facial rash that resembles butterfly wings happening right across both cheeks is the most distinctive symptom of lupus. This rash appears in many but not all instances of lupus. In this article, you will be learning about causes, symptoms and health effects of lupus.

What causes Lupus?

Human immune system is made up of complex network of various organs, cells and tissues.  It defends the body against foreign invaders like viruses, fungi, bacteria and toxins. It also removes any dead or malfunctioning cells. The immune system produces antibodies, known as Y-shaped proteins that protect the body. These antibodies either neutralise or signal other cells to eliminate a threat. These antibodies are made by B lymphocytes, which are specialised white blood cells.

When an individual has an autoimmune disease like lupus, their immune system is unable to distinguish between harmful substances and normal body tissue. In error, the body misidentifies itself as a foreign substance. As a result, antibodies are directed against both normal tissue & antigens by the immune system. Pain, swelling and tissue damage occur as a result of this. This is one of the Major lupus causes. Lupus is most likely caused by a combination of genetics and environmental factors. People who have an inherited genetic tendency to lupus might very well develop the disorder if they come in contact with a trigger in the environment. For most cases, however, the cause of lupus is unknown. Here are a few examples of possible triggers:

●    Sunlight: In people with lupus, exposure to the sun can cause skin problems and trigger an internal response.

●    Infections: Infections can trigger lupus or trigger a recurrence in some people.

●    Medications: Certain anti-seizure medications, blood pressure medications, and antibiotics can all cause lupus. When people with drug-induced lupus stop taking the drug, their symptoms usually improve. Symptoms can sometimes last even after the treatment is stopped.

Lupus symptoms

Lupus can cause various symptoms, which vary from one person to another. Symptoms may appear and disappear. It's referred to as a flare when you're experiencing symptoms. The severity of flares can vary from mild one to severe one. Some of the lupus symptoms are:
●    Fatigue
●    Muscle aches
●    Chest pain
●    Fever
●    Joint pain
●    Mouth sores
●    Sensitivity to sunlight
●    Malar lupus rash
●    Raynaud's disease
●    Memory problems
●    Headaches
●    Atypical hair loss

How Lupus affect human body?

Lupus can affect various parts of the body. It can cause pain and discomfort, as well as vital organ complications. Lupus is an autoimmune disorder, which means it makes your body attack itself. Over time, this can cause organ damage. The blood, skin, kidneys, joints, heart, brain, and lungs are all parts of the body that can be affected by lupus.

Kidneys

Lupus disease can severely damage the kidneys, and the failure of the kidney is the most common cause of death among lupus patients.

The central nervous system and the brain

If your brain is affected by lupus, you may experience dizziness, headaches, vision problems, behavioural changes, and even strokes or seizures. Many people with this disease have memory issues and may find it difficult to express themselves.

Blood vessels and blood

Lupus disease can cause blood related issues, such as anaemia (low red blood cell count) and a higher risk of blood loss and blood coagulation. It can also lead to blood vessel inflammation.

Lungs

If you have lupus, you're more likely to develop a problem with the lining of your chest cavity, which might make breathing difficult. Pneumonia and bleeding into the lungs are also possible complications.

Heart

Lupus disease can irritate your heart muscle, arteries, or cardiac membrane, causing inflammation. In addition, the risk of heart disorder & heart attacks rises dramatically.

Other problems caused by Lupus

Infection
Infections that are common include:
●    UTI or urinary tract infection
●    Yeast infection
●    Infections in the lungs
●    Herpes
●    Shingles
●    Salmonella

Death of bone tissue
This happens when a bone's blood supply is cut off, causing small breaks to form. This can eventually result in the bone collapses.

Pregnancy complications
Pregnancy loss, premature births, & preeclampsia, a condition characterised by high blood pressure, are all more common in people with lupus.

Types of Lupus

Lupus can occur in a variety of ways. The most common type is systemic lupus erythematosus. Other lupus types include:

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus

Cutaneous lupus erythematosus is a type of lupus that affects the skin. The term "cutaneous" means "skin." Skin problems such as sun sensitivity and rashes are common in people with cutaneous lupus erythematosus. This condition can also cause hair loss as a symptom.

Drug-induced lupus

This type of lupus is brought on by taking certain medications. Many of the symptoms of drug-induced lupus are similar to those of systemic lupus erythematosus, but they are usually only temporary. When you stop taking the medication that's causing your lupus, it usually goes away.

Neonatal lupus

Neonatal lupus is indeed a rare form of lupus that affects infants shortly after birth. Not every child born to a lupus mother will develop the disease. People born with neonatal lupus possess antibodies passed down from their mother, who may or may not have had lupus at the time of conception or later in life.

Lupus rashes

Lupus manifests itself in a variety of ways. Signs and symptoms can appear suddenly or gradually, be severe or mild, and last for a short time or be permanent. A red, butterfly-shaped rash over your nose and cheeks is a common lupus symptom that appears after sun exposure.

Conclusion

I hope you found this article on Lupus helpful. Though Lupus directly does not lead to mortality, it can be fatal in some cases. Lupus is not infectious and can’t spread from person to person through contact, sneezing, or coughing. It is developed by malfunctioning of immune system.

Note: The article is meant for general awareness of the readers. The information can’t be used as a substitute to a medical prescription or diagnosis by a medical professional. In case you experience above or related symptoms, kindly consult a registered medical professional.

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