Lupus: What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Lupus: What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment. In addition, Lupus is a chronic  inflammatory  disease of autoimmune origin, that is, there is an excessive production of antibodies against the body’s own cells or against proteins  existing in the cell nucleus. There are two main types: cutaneous lupus , which is restricted to the skin , and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), which also affects other organs . So, check out  Lupus: What it is, Causes, Symptoms and Treatment.

Causes of Lupus:  Lupus occurs when the immune system attacks and destroys some healthy tissues in the body. It is not known exactly what causes this abnormal behavior, but research indicates that the disease  is the result of a combination of factors, such as genetics and environment.

These same studies show that people with a predisposition to lupus can develop the disease  by coming into contact with some element of the environment capable of stimulating the immune system to act in the wrong way. What science still doesn’t know is what all these components are. The researchers, however, have a few hunches:

Sunlight: Exposure to sunlight can initiate or worsen pre-existing inflammation to develop lupus .

Medications : Lupus can also be related to the use of certain antibiotics , medications used to control seizures and also for high blood pressure. People with lupus -like symptoms usually stop having symptoms when they stop using it.

Symptoms of Lupus:  Not all people manifest lupus in the same way, as the symptoms vary according to the stage in which the disease is (activity or remission) and the place where the inflammation occurs . But it is common for SLE patients to experience tiredness, discouragement, fever and weight loss during periods when the disease  is active. In addition, the following are common:

• Joint pain  and swelling  (especially in the hands)
• Red spots on the skin , especially on the cheekbones, which worsen when sunbathing;
• Swelling or difficulty urinating due to inflammation  in the kidneys ;
• Pain  in the chest or breathing due to inflammation  in the membranes covering the lungs and heart ;
• Neurological problems such as seizures and psychosis – due to impairment of the central nervous system.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Lupus : The diagnosis of lupus is a little difficult, as there is no test that detects the disease with 100% certainty  . When reporting the symptoms presented to the doctor, the patient can be referred to urine tests, blood and a test called ANA (antinuclear factor or antibody), in order to look for signs of the disease  .

Treatment for lupus must be given throughout the patient’s life, as the disease  has no cure. Treatment aims to control symptoms and provide patients with quality of life. Mild -stage disease  can be treated with  nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory  drugs for pleurisy and arthritis , corticosteroid ointment for skin lesions  , and sunscreen to prevent the lesions from enlarging.