lupus
Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease of unknown cause that can affect virtually any part of the body. The medical term for Lupus is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus or better known as SLE. With Lupus there is a malfunction in some of the cells of the immune system. "In Lupus, the body overreacts to an unknown stimulus and makes to many antibodies, or proteins directed against body tissue. Thus, Lupus is called an autoimmune disease. "# Reality: It is not contagious, it is not spread from person to person. Myth: It is uncommon in women to contact Lupus. Reality: "Between the ages of 15 and 45, close to 90% of diagnosed patients are women ." Myth: Caucasians are most apt to be diagnosed with Lupus. Reality: In the United States, African Americans, Latinos, and Asians have a greater incidence of SLE than Caucasians ." Reality: Lupus is controllable not curable. Myth: The most common initial complaint is fevers, weight loss and fatigue. Reality: The most common complaint is pain in joints or swelling followed by skin rashes. # Women are the most common to suffer fro
Treatment for Lupus is aimed at a suppression of the symptoms since there is no cure. The prognosis has improved over the last few decades. 80% to 90% of patients are surviving for ten years upon diagnosis. Lupus is a potentially fatal disease but not all patients will die from it. Patients should try to achieve a balance between exercise and rest. Often treatments with medications are not required at all. They should avoid the sun and take aspirin or other nonsteriodal antiflammatory drugs, for muscle and joint pain. 1. Wallace, D. The Lupus Book. Oxford University Press: New York, 1995 There are an incredible number of symptoms that you can have with Lupus. There are general symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, low-grade fever, generalized aching and chills. These symptoms are most evident when the patient is in a flare, but they may be experienced constantly during the illness. Joint pain is common in Lupus. Patients suffer from arthritis-like pain, swelling in the joints, redness and stiffness. These symptoms involve one or more joints. It may take several years for someone to be diagnosed with Lupus. There is no single laboratory test to determine whether or not someone has Lupus. Lupus is known as the great imitator, since there are so many symptoms; doctors may initially thing that another illness is still the problem.
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Approximate Word count = 1070
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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