How common is lupus and who does it affect? The
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), also known as lupus, is a disease of the immune system, which is estimated to affect more than 20,000 people in Australia and New Zealand. Symptoms can be vague and vary between people, and therefore diagnosis can be difficult.
Approximately 1.5 million Americans have a form of lupus. Systemic lupus erythematosus cases: 70% of total lupus cases. Of individuals diagnosed with lupus, 90% are women. Eighty percent of people develop lupus between 15 and 45 years of age.
The most common type, systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), affects about 200,000 US adults. Anyone can develop SLE, but it is more common in Black and Latina women and women of childbearing age (15–44 years). The causes of SLE are unknown but are thought to be related to genetic, environmental, and hormonal factors.
No two cases of lupus are exactly alike. Signs and symptoms may come on suddenly or develop slowly, may be mild or severe, and may be temporary or permanent.
Symptoms and diagnosis occur most often between the ages of 15 and 44. Symptoms of lupus will occur before age 18 in only 15 percent of the people who are later diagnosed with the disease.
Common triggers include:
Being out in the sun or having close exposure to fluorescent or halogen light. Infection. Injury. Stopping your lupus medicines.
Lupus flares can be mild to serious, and they do not follow a pattern. However, with treatment, many people with lupus can manage the disease. Anyone can get lupus, but women are more likely to get the disease than men are.
Lupus is known as "the great imitator" because its symptoms mimic many other illnesses. Lupus symptoms can also be unclear, can come and go, and can change. On average, it takes nearly six years for people with lupus to be diagnosed, from the time they first notice their lupus symptoms.
With close follow-up and treatment, 80-90% of people with lupus can expect to live a normal life span. It is true that medical science has not yet developed a method for curing lupus, and some people do die from the disease. However, for the majority of people living with the disease today, it will not be fatal.
Age: Lupus can occur at any age, but most are diagnosed in their 20s and 30s. Race: Lupus is two to three times more common in African-American women than in Caucasian women. It's also more common in Hispanic, Asian, and Native American women.
Kidneys About one half of people with lupus experience kidney involvement, and the kidney has become the most extensively studied organ affected by lupus. Lungs About 50% of people with SLE will experience lung involvement during the course of their disease.
Yes, lupus can cause death. But, thanks to new and better treatments, most people with lupus can expect to live long, healthy lives. The leading causes of death in people with lupus are health problems that are related to lupus, such as kidney disease, infections, and heart disease.
It can cause aches and pains, as well as serious complications to your major organs. Because lupus is an autoimmune disease, it causes your body to attack itself. This can lead to organ damage over time.
Is Autoimmune disease a disability that qualifies for financial help in Australia? Autoimmune disease is a disability that qualifies for financial help in Australia.
Common symptoms include fatigue, hair loss, sun sensitivity, painful and swollen joints, unexplained fever, skin rashes, and kidney problems. There is no one test for SLE. Usually, your doctor will ask you about your family and personal medical history and your symptoms. Your doctor will also do some laboratory tests.
Whole-body symptoms — Most people with lupus experience fatigue, fever, and weight changes at some point in their illness. Fatigue — Fatigue is the most common symptom of lupus and can be debilitating.
While you do not have to stop drinking altogether, limiting alcoholic beverages will ensure that your medications work as they should. Alcohol interferes with some medications, including popular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) like ibuprofen and naproxen.
Fatigue is one of the most common lupus symptoms that may affect your day-to-day quality of life. Lack of sleep can cause inflammation in the body and make your pain, stress, or fatigue worse. To keep your energy levels in check, make sure you get 7 to 9 hours of restful sleep each night.
Antibody blood tests
The test you will hear about most is called the antinuclear antibodies test (the ANA test). 97% of people with lupus will test positive for ANA.
There is no known cause for lupus, but it's likely that lupus results from several factors interacting with each other. For example, we know that genetics, environmental exposures (such as certain medications or severe exposure to ultraviolet rays) and hormones all likely contribute to the development of lupus.