Lupus: An Introduction
Over 30,000 people have the disease in the UK, and just about
15,000 have been diagnosed in the Caribbean (of whom 90% are female). Men & young children can also be affected by
lupus, but as the ratio of
affected women to men indicates(9:1), these cases are far less frequent.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease, a type of self-allergy, whereby the
patient's immune system creates antibodies that attack the person's own body
tissues, instead of protecting the body
from bacteria & viruses . This causes
symptoms of extreme fatigue, joint pain, muscle aches, anemia, general malaise,
& can result in the destruction of vital organs. It is a disease with many
manifestations, & each person's profile or list of symptoms is different.
Lupus can mimic other diseases, such as multiple sclerosis & rheumatoid
arthritis, thus making it very difficult to diagnose.
Currently there is no single test that can definitely say whether a
person has lupus or not. Only by comprehensive examination and consideration of
symptoms and their history can a diagnosis be achieved.
Lupus is neither infectious
nor contagious.
For more information click on one of the links below:
Types
of Lupus
Triggers/Risk factors
Complications
Lupus and Genetics
Males with Lupus
Treatment
Lupus Fact Sheet
Frequently Asked Questions
Lupus Links for:
Support
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