Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease, that attacks the tissues in several parts of the body, which in turn leads to illness, and significant tissue damage.

Lupus is also known as systemic lupus erythematosus. It is hard to diagnosis as its signs and symptoms are similar to other diseases. These symptoms tend to commence in early adulthood. Both men and women can have it. There are people born with the likelihood of having it. This may be due to the use of medicine, exposure to sunlight, and infections.

Symptoms of Lupus

There are visible symptoms including lesions and skin rashes. They form a butterfly shape when they appear on both cheeks and cross over to the bridge of the nose. Lesions can appear after one has been exposed to sunlight or without cause. In some instances, they can occur before other symptoms manifest.

The most common skin rash aggravated by sunlight is called subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus. These lesions appear on the torso, legs, and arms.

The other type of rash causes blisters is called ‘bullous’ lupus rash. If these rashes appear on other body parts, they tend to cause lesions that do not itch. Since it is different in each person in terms of how it occurs, in some people it causes discoloration on the fingers and toes. This may occur during periods when one is stressed or when the weather is cold-they can turn white or blue.

Depending on the individual, one can develop nephritis-a condition of the kidney. Kidney inflammation makes the organ struggle to filter waste as well as toxins from the blood.

Indicators of kidney inflammation include darkened urine, a great urge to urinate during the night, the lower legs and feet get swollen, blood pressure becomes high, and lastly, but not least, there is the presence of blood in the urine. If lupus nephritis is not treated in time, it may lead to ESRD-end stage renal disease.

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