Symptoms of Lupus
Lupus also called as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic inflammatory, which affects women especially of child bearing age. This autoimmune disease primarily targets the kidneys, joints, blood cells, heart, lungs and skin. Though the exact cause of lupus is not known, it is believed that lupus develops when the immune system attacks your body's own tissues and organs. This damage to the body's tissues and organs is considered to be responsible for symptoms of lupus.
The symptoms of lupus vary from person to person. No two people can have the same symptoms of lupus. The symptoms of lupus may range from mild to severe and may come suddenly or develop slowly depending upon the severity of the disease. Some people with lupus have symptoms of lupus that appear suddenly and are severe, while others have low-level symptoms of lupus, which may last for several years before a diagnosis of the disease. Some of the early symptoms of lupus include:
- Extreme fatigue
- Weight loss
- Unexplained fever
- Malaise
- Joint pain, swollen joints (Arthritis)
- Loss of appetite
- Muscle pain
- Skin rash, which can appear anywhere on face, nose, ears, cheeks, shoulder, arms, chest or hands
These were some of the early symptoms of lupus. With the progression of the disease the lupus symptoms may develop in almost every part of the body. The other symptoms of lupus that may develop in later stages may include:
- Kidney damage: Kidney problem is one of the symptoms of lupus and the people with lupus are more susceptible to kidney damage. Sometimes it may also lead to kidney failure. Some of the symptoms of lupus for kidney damage include high blood pressure, tea-colored urine or swelling in the ankles.
- Painful or swollen joints (Arthritis): People with lupus may experience pain, stiffness and swelling in the joints, fingers, wrists, hands and knees. This arthritis, which is associated with lupus isn't deforming and can come and go quickly.
- Red skin rash:A skin rash may develop across the cheeks and nose. The rash may also develop on the other parts like face, nose, ears, cheeks, shoulder, arms, chest or hands.
- Heart and lung problems: People with lupus can have heart and lung problems. Lupus may affect all parts of the heart and can cause various lung problems. The most common heart problem is pericarditis caused due to the inflammation of pericardium and the most common lung problem is pleurisy caused due to the inflammation of chest cavity.
- Extreme fatigue: Lupus associated fatigue is an extreme exhaustion, which is usually not relieved by rest.
- Unusual loss of hair: Since lupus can affect the skin of your scalp, you may experience unusual loss of hair.
- Unexplained fever: An unexplained fever like chronic fever may be the early symptom of lupus.
- Raynaud's phenomenon: Raynaud’s phenomenon is a condition in which your fingers and toes turn pale or purple and numb from cold and stress.
Other possible symptoms of lupus include:
- Mouth ulcers
- Sensitivity to the sun called photosensitivity
- Chest pain
- Anemia
- Muscle pain or soreness
- Headaches
- Depression
- Dizziness
- Seizures
- Abdominal pain
- Swollen glands
- Memory loss