Autoimmune diseases are among the most mysterious types of diseases, which baffle scientists and doctors in their mechanism of action. Among these diseases is a disease lupus erythematosus What are its symptoms and causes and can it be treated? Follow us.

What is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?

It is a chronic autoimmune disease Autoimmune diseases also called The red wolfIn which the immune system malfunctions so that it attacks healthy body cells instead of foreign bodies and germs, and it can affect many organs of the body such as the skin, joints, brain, kidneys, and other body systems, so it is called Systemic lupus SLE.

The most susceptible people are women than men, according to statistics, it can affect one man in every 10 women, and it can occur at any age, but it is more prevalent among young women between the ages of 15 to 44 years.

Symptoms of lupus erythematosus

This disease is considered a deceptive disease, because its symptoms can vary and change from time to time, so it is difficult to diagnose it sometimes, as its symptoms are similar to the symptoms of many other diseases, but its general symptoms include the following:

Other symptoms can also appear depending on the system affected by the disease, such as:

Causes of lupus erythematosus

Until now, science has not reached a specific and clear reason with which it is possible to know what happens in the body to contract this disease, but as we mentioned, it is a defect in the immune system that secretes antibodies in the body so that they attack healthy cells and tissues of the body, but there are several genetic, hormonal and environmental factors that can That combine together to increase the risk of infection, and include:

• Having another disease or infection in the body.
• Excessive exposure to sunlight.
• Hormonal changes such as those that occur during puberty.
• smoking.
• Take some medications.

Complications of lupus erythematosus

There are several complications that a lupus patient should beware of, including:

Diagnosis of lupus erythematosus

As we mentioned, this disease is one of the diseases that are difficult to diagnose, as there is no single analysis that helps to diagnose the disease, so several laboratory analyzes must be done together to discover and identify the disease because it is similar to many other diseases.

Lupus erythematosus analysis

Other examinations

The doctor may also perform some other tests on the organs of the body to determine the extent of damage to them and the effect of the disease on them, such as:

Lupus erythematosus treatment

Unfortunately, so far, there is no definitive treatment for lupus of all kinds. However, treatment options depend on relieving symptoms and preventing seizures. Treatment also depends on the severity of the disease and the degree of its impact on the organs of the body. Treatment options may include the following:

• Anti-inflammatory drugs to treat joint stiffness and pain.
• Topical steroid creams to treat rashes.
• Corticosteroid medications to control immune system responses.
• Antimalarials for skin and joint problems too.
• Immunosuppressants.

And because some medicines can have side effects, it is necessary to follow the doctor’s instructions and follow up with him regularly, for example, some medicines such as steroids can cause osteoporosis in the long term.

The doctor can also develop a plan for you to live with the disease in order to avoid what triggers the emergence of symptoms, whether from foods or different habits that you do daily, and we remind you of the need to always consult a doctor with lupus erythematosus because its symptoms can develop and vary without you realizing it.

Questions and answers about lupus erythematosus