Lupus

Lupus

Definition of the Disease

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. ”#

Myth/Reality Statements

Myth: Lupus is contagious.

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 ."

Myth: Lupus is a curable disease.

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. #

Overview

Women are the most common to suffer from Lupus. Although men and

Children can get Lupus, 80% of Lupus patients are women ." There are three times as many black women as white women affected by this disease. During the first ten years of life, girls will have Lupus three to seven more times often than boys. Three are about 1,400,000 cases of Lupus diagnosed at the present time, but there can be up to 2 million unreported cases since the disease in extremely difficult to diagnose. "Only 10% of Lupus patients will have a close relative who already has or may develop Lupus. Only 5% of children born to individuals with Lupus will develop the illness ." #

The cause of Lupus is still unknown. Some doctors feel that there are some environmental and genetic factors involved. Some of the environmental factors include: infections, antibodies, especially those in the Sulfa and Penicillin groups, ultra violet light, extreme stress and certain drugs.

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 i...

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...ts 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.

Conclusion

I feel that Lupus is a very peculiar disease. It shares many similarities with HIV in the fact that there is multiple organ involvement and potentially life threatening episodes. I do not understand how Lupus is not always a fatal disease if it attacks the immune system. Without an immune system, other diseases can not be fought off by the antibodies, which can cause someone to become very ill. I feel as though there needs to be a lot more research done for Lupus. It is a disease of high occurrence and the cause is still unknown. The cause needs to be found so that a cure can be discovered so that patients and their families can find a relief from this disease.

Bibliography

1. Wallace, D. The Lupus Book. Oxford University Press: New York, 1995

2. Aldejem, Henrietta. Understanding Lupus. Charles Scribers Sons: New York, 1982.

3. Moore, Mary. Learning About Lupus. Mainline Desktop: Pennsylvania, 1991

4. Ferrante, C. 1995. Caring for Patients With Systemic Lupus Erythmatosus. Nursing 25: 66-7