Lupus is a chronic disease that can cause pain to any part of the body. It is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system kills healthy tissue rather than fighting infections. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect your skin, joints, blood cells and internal organs like your kidneys, brain, lungs and heart.

The cause of lupus is unknown. Scientists believe that the condition is caused by a combination of genetic, environmental and hormonal factors.

Types of lupus:

• Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is the most common form of lupus.
• Cutaneous lupus affects the skin.
• Drug-induced lupus is caused by a reaction to medicines. Symptoms may go away once you stop using the drug.
• Neonatal lupus is a rare condition that affects both a mother and her baby.

Lupus affects everyone differently. Some people experience mild symptoms, while others suffer from severe life-threatening symptoms. 

Signs and symptoms include:

• Joint pain, swelling and stiffness
• Fatigue
• Sensitivity to sunlight
• Rash in areas exposed to the sun or a butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and nose/li>
• Headache
• Skin and hair problems are common. Symptoms are visible and show up in various ways.
• Sores in the mouth or nose
• Fingers and toes that turn white or blue when a person is cold (Raynaud's disease).

Lupus diagnosis

Diagnosing lupus is hard. Lupus has many symptoms that can be confused with those of other diseases. It can take weeks or months to get a diagnosis. Currently, there is no single test that can identify if a person has lupus. 

Your doctor will ask about your medical history and symptoms. To help determine if you have lupus, your doctor may request a variety of tests. Blood tests, urine tests and biopsies play an important role in lupus diagnosis. 

Treatment

There is no cure for lupus, but treatment can help with your symptoms. If you or someone you know has lupus, know that many people with the disease live happy lives. You are not alone. 

Sources:

https://www.lupus.org/resources/what-causes-lupus

https://www.cdc.gov/lupus/basics/diagnosing.htm#:~:text=Corticosteroids%20(prednisone)%20may%20help%20reduce,quickly%20to%20these%20powerful%20drugs

https://www.lupus.org/resources/what-is-lupus

https://www.cedars-sinai.org/health-library/diseases-and-conditions/l/systemic-lupus-erythematosus-lupus.html