Signs of Lupus
Symptoms of Lupus
The list of medical symptoms mentioned in various sources
for Lupus may include:
List of 121
Lupus Symptoms
Note that Lupus symptoms usually refers to various medical symptoms known to a patient,
but the phrase Lupus signs may often refer to those signs
that are only noticable by a doctor.
Signs or Symptoms of Lupus:
NINDS Neurological Sequelae Of Lupus Information Page: NINDS (Excerpt)
Typical features of lupus include a butterfly shaped rash over the
cheeks, a skin rash appearing in areas exposed to the sun, sores in the
mouth and nose, arthritis involving one or more joints, kidney
inflammation, neurological disorders such as headaches, personality
changes, organic brain syndrome, peripheral neuropathies, sensory
neuropathy, psychological problems including paranoia, mania, and
schizophrenia, seizures, transverse myelitis, and paralysis and stroke.
Fever, weight loss, hair loss, poor circulation in the fingers and toes,
chest pain when taking deep breaths, and abdominal pain may also
occur.
(Source: excerpt from NINDS Neurological Sequelae Of Lupus Information Page: NINDS)
The Many Shades of Lupus: NIAMS (Excerpt)
The signs of lupus differ from person to person. Some people
have just a few signs; others have more.
Common signs of lupus are:
- Red rash or color change on the face, often in the shape of a
butterfly across the nose and cheeks
- Painful or swollen joints
- Unexplained fever
- Chest pain with deep breathing
- Swollen glands
- Extreme fatigue (feeling tired all the time)
- Unusual hair loss (mainly on the scalp)
- Pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress
- Sensitivity to the sun
- Low blood count
- Depression, trouble thinking, and/or memory problems
Other signs are mouth sores, unexplained seizures
(convulsions), "seeing things" (hallucinations), repeated miscarriages,
and unexplained kidney problems.
What Is a Flare?
When symptoms appear, it's called a "flare." These signs
may come and go. You may have swelling and rashes one week and no
symptoms at all the next. You may find that your symptoms flare after
you've been out in the sun or after a hard day at work.
Even if you take medicine for lupus, you may find that
there are times when the symptoms become worse. Learning to recognize
that a flare is coming can help you take steps to cope with it. Many
people feel very tired or have pain, a rash, a fever, stomach
discomfort, headache, or dizziness just before a flare.
(Source: excerpt from The Many Shades of Lupus: NIAMS)
Handout on Health Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: NIAMS (Excerpt)
Although people with the disease may have many different symptoms, some
of the most common ones include extreme fatigue, painful or swollen
joints (arthritis), unexplained fever, skin rashes, and kidney problems.
(Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: NIAMS)
Handout on Health Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: NIAMS (Excerpt)
Each person’s experience with lupus is different, although
there are patterns that permit accurate diagnosis. Symptoms can range
from mild to severe and may come and go over time. Common symptoms of
lupus include painful or swollen joints, unexplained fever, and skin
rashes, along with extreme fatigue. A characteristic skin rash may
appear across the nose and cheeks--the so-called butterfly or malar
rash. Other rashes occur elsewhere on the face and ears, upper arms,
shoulders, chest, and hands.
Other symptoms of lupus include chest pain, hair loss,
sensitivity to the sun, anemia (a decrease in red blood cells), and pale
or purple fingers and toes from cold and stress. Some people also
experience headaches, dizziness, depression, or seizures. New symptoms
may continue to appear years after the initial diagnosis, and different
symptoms can occur at different times.
|
Common Symptoms of Lupus
- Painful or swollen joints and muscle pain
- Unexplained fever
- Red rashes, most commonly on the face.
- Chest pain upon deep breathing
- Unusual loss of hair
- Pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress
(Raynaud's phenomenon)
- Sensitivity to the sun
- Swelling (edema) in legs or around eyes
- Swollen glands
- Extreme fatigue
|
In some people with lupus, only one system of the body
such as the skin or joints is affected. Other people experience symptoms
in many parts of their body. Just how seriously a body system is
affected also varies from person to person. Most commonly, joints and
muscles are affected, causing arthritis and muscle pain. Skin rashes are
quite common.
(Source: excerpt from Handout on Health Systemic Lupus Erythematosus: NIAMS)
Understanding Autoimmune Disease: NIAID (Excerpt)
Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
most commonly experience profound fatigue, rashes, and joint pains. In severe
cases, the immune system may attack and damage several organs such as the
kidney, brain, or lung. For many individuals, symptoms and damage from the
disease can be controlled with available anti-inflammatory medications. However,
if a patient is not closely monitored, the side effects from the medications can
be quite serious. (Source: excerpt from Understanding Autoimmune Disease: NIAID)
Connective Tissue Diseases: NWHIC (Excerpt)
Fever,
weight loss, hair loss, mouth and nose sores, malaise, fatigue,
seizures and symptoms of mental illness. Ninety percent of
patients experience joint inflammation similar to rheumatoid
arthritis. Fifty percent develop a classic "butterfly" rash on the
nose and cheeks. Raynaud's phenomenon (extreme sensitivity to cold
in the hands and feet) appears in about 20 percent of people with
SLE.
(Source: excerpt from Connective Tissue Diseases: NWHIC)
Lupus Fact Sheet: NWHIC (Excerpt)
Lupus is characterized by periods of illness (flares) and periods of wellness
(remission). It is difficult to diagnose because it is often mistaken for other
diseases. The following are some common symptoms of lupus:
- Extreme fatigue
- Painful or swollen joints (arthritis)
- Unexplained fever
- "Butterfly" rash across the nose and cheeks that is characteristic to
lupus
- Skin rashes on other parts of the body
- Chest pain or pleurisy (inflammation of the pleura, the membrane that
covers the lungs)
- Kidney problems
- Unusual loss of hair
- Pale or purple fingers from cold or stress
- Sensitivity to the sun
- Low red blood-cell count
- Seizures
- Mouth or nose ulcers
- Cardiovascular disease
Some people also experience headaches, dizziness, or depression. New symptoms
may continue to appear years after the initial diagnosis, and different symptoms
can occur at different times.
How Is Lupus Diagnosed?
Early diagnosis and treatment are needed to improve health and reduce tissue
damage. Diagnosing lupus can be difficult, however, because it may take months
or even years for doctors to piece together the symptoms to make an accurate
diagnosis. Giving the doctor a complete, accurate medical history is critical to
the process of diagnosis. This information, along with a physical examination
and the results of laboratory tests, helps the doctor rule out other diseases
that may mimic lupus. Reaching a diagnosis may take time and occur gradually as
new symptoms appear.
What Are the Treatments for Lupus?
Because each person's symptoms are different, doctors treat lupus on an
individual basis. Once lupus has been diagnosed, the doctor will develop a
treatment plan based on the patient's age, gender, health, symptoms, and
lifestyle. Tailored to the individual's needs, this plan may change over time.
In developing a treatment plan, the doctor has several goals: to prevent flares,
to effectively treat them when they do occur, and to minimize complications. The
doctor and patient should reevaluate the plan regularly to ensure that it is as
effective as possible.
Treatment for lupus includes physical and emotional rest, protection from
direct sunlight, a healthful diet, exercise, prompt treatment of infections,
avoidance of known allergens and aggravating factors, and medication when
necessary. The medication the doctor chooses is based on the patient's
individual symptoms and needs. For people with joint pain, fever, and swelling,
drugs that decrease inflammationCnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs)Care often used. Antimalarials are another type of drug commonly used to
treat lupus. They may be used alone or in combination with other drugs to treat
fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, and inflammation of the lungs. Corticosteroid
hormones are the mainstay of lupus treatment. Related to cortisol, which is a
natural anti-inflammatory hormone, corticosteroids work by rapidly suppressing
inflammation. Because they are potent drugs, the doctor will seek the lowest
dose with the greatest benefit.
Working closely with the doctor helps ensure that treatments for lupus are as
successful as possible. Because some treatments may cause harmful side effects,
it is important to promptly report any new symptoms to the doctor.
It is also important not to stop or change treatments without talking to the
doctor first. With early diagnosis and the correct treatment and medication,
most people with lupus can maintain an overall high quality of life.
SOURCES: National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, NIH Publication No. 93-3219; Lupus Foundation
of America.
Department of Health and Human Services Activities on Lupus
Office on Women's Health (OWH) within the Department of
Health and Human Services (DHHS) is the Federal government's focal point for
women's health issues. OWH works to improve women's health by coordinating
women's health research, health care services, policy, and public and health
care professional education across the agencies of the DHHS; and collaborating
with other government organizations, and consumer and health care professional
groups.
Phone: (202) 690-7650;
Web: http://www.4woman.gov/owh/about/index.htm
National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC), a
service of OWH, is a national resource for information on women's health.
Through NWHIC, the public and health professionals can access the vast array
of Federal and other sources of women's health information.
Phone:
1-800-994-WOMAN (1-800-994-9662);
Web: http://www.4woman.gov/
National Institutes of Health (NIH) is the Federal focal
point for biomedical research in the United States. The goal of NIH is to
acquire new knowledge to help prevent, detect, diagnose, and treat disease and
disability. Within NIH, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal
and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) and the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)
conduct and support research on lupus.
Phone: (301) 496-4000;
E-mail: nihinfo@od.nih.gov;
Web: http://www.nih.gov//
NIAMS of the NIH leads the Federal medical research effort
in arthritis and musculoskeletal and skin diseases. NIAMS supports research
and research training throughout the United States as well as on the NIH
campus in Bethesda, MD. The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NAMSIC) is a public service sponsored by
NIAMS that provides health information.
Phone: (301) 495-4484; TTY: (301)
565-2966;
Web: http://www.nih.gov/niams/
NIAMS has recently produced a manual entitled LUPUS: A Patient Care Guide
for Nurses and Other Health Professionals to help health professionals who
work with lupus patients to improve their care and quality of life. The guide
covers symptoms and diagnosis, advances in lupus research, lab tests for
diagnosis and evaluation, lupus medications, health care interventions for
general and system-specific manifestations of lupus, psychosocial aspects, and
information resources.
National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR), a component
of NIH, supports research and research training in universities, hospitals,
research centers, and at NIH in areas related to health promotion and disease
prevention, managing the symptoms and disabilities of illness, and improving
the environment in which patient care is delivered. Chronic diseases, such as
lupus and arthritis, are among the six major areas of emphasis for the
Institute.
Phone: (301) 496-0207;
Web: http://www.nih.gov/ninr/
(Source: excerpt from
Lupus Fact Sheet: NWHIC)
Lupus: NWHIC (Excerpt)
The signs of lupus vary and may have periods of exacerbation and
remission. Some people have just a few signs of the disease; others have
more. Many people with lupus look healthy. Lupus may be hard to diagnose
and is often mistaken for other diseases. For this reason, lupus has often
been called the "great imitator." Common signs of lupus include red rash
or color change on the face, often in the shape of a butterfly across the
bridge of the nose and the cheeks; painful or swollen joints; unexplained
fever; chest pain with breathing; unusual loss of hair; pale or purple
fingers or toes from cold or stress; sensitivity to the sun; and low blood
count. These signs are more important when the occur together. Other signs
of lupus can include mouth sores, unexplained fits or convulsions,
hallucinations or depression, repeated miscarriages, and unexplained
kidney problems. (Source: excerpt from Lupus: NWHIC)
More Symptoms of Lupus:
More detailed symptom information may be found on the symptoms of Lupus article.
In addition to the above medical information, to get a full picture
of the possible signs or symptoms of this condition
and also possibly the signs and symptoms of its related medical conditions,
it may be necessary to examine symptoms
that may be
caused by:
Medical articles on signs and symptoms:
These general reference articles may be related
to medical signs and symptoms of disease in general:
What are the signs of Lupus?
The phrase "signs of Lupus" should, strictly speaking,
refer only to those signs and symptoms of Lupus that are not readily apparent to the patient.
The word "symptoms of Lupus" is the more general meaning; see symptoms of Lupus.
The signs and symptom information on this page
attempts to provide a list of some possible signs and symptoms of Lupus.
This medical information about signs and symptoms for Lupus has been gathered
from various sources,
may not be fully accurate,
and may not be the full list of Lupus signs or Lupus symptoms.
Furthermore, signs and symptoms of Lupus may vary on an individual basis for each patient.
Only your doctor can provide adequate diagnosis of any signs or symptoms and whether they
are indeed Lupus symptoms.
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