Lupus would not necessarily be obvious, as its symptoms vary widely among individuals, can be vague and non-specific, and often mimic other illnesses. Some people have visible signs, while others have more "hidden" symptoms.
Lupus can be hard to diagnose because its symptoms often are like those of other illnesses. A common sign of lupus is a facial rash that looks like butterfly wings across both cheeks. The rash gets worse when in the sun. Many but not all people with lupus get this rash.
Joint pain, swelling and stiffness can be the main symptoms for some people with lupus. In most cases, lupus is unlikely to cause permanent damage or change the shape of joints.
You can have lupus for months to years without a diagnosis because it's known as "the great imitator," with symptoms mimicking other illnesses, coming and going, and varying greatly, with the average time to diagnosis being nearly six years from symptom onset. Diagnosis is challenging due to lupus's elusive nature, lack of a single test, and fluctuating signs, often requiring multiple doctor visits and extensive testing.
About 10% of all people with lupus will experience hives (urticaria). These lesions usually itch, and even though people often experience hives due to allergic reactions, hives lasting more than 24 hours are likely due to lupus.
Subacute cutaneous lupus is a rash with red, ring-shaped sores or scaly patches with distinct edges. The rash commonly occurs on the back, chest, and arms but sometimes extends to the buttocks. It does not affect the face or scalp very often.
Lupus and Sjogren's syndrome are both autoimmune diseases. Up to 5.5 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with lupus or Sjogren's syndrome. However, Sjogren's syndrome occurs up to three times more than lupus, but one-third of lupus patients also have Sjogren's syndrome.
Antinuclear antibody (ANA) test.
This test can show this type of antibodies, which attack the body's own tissues. Most people with lupus have a positive ANA test, but most people with a positive ANA do not have lupus. If you have a positive ANA test, you may need more testing.
Pre-lupus, also known as pre-systemic lupus erythematosus (pre-SLE), refers to a stage where individuals exhibit some signs and symptoms similar to lupus but do not meet the full criteria for a lupus diagnosis. This is considered a stage of early autoimmunity.
Swollen glands. Over time, people with lupus may get swollen lymph glands during a flare. Headaches. These are usually related to stress and tension but can be related to a lupus flare.
They're also common in autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis and lupus, where inflammation plays a key role. Night sweats can point to neurological issues such as autonomic neuropathy, which affects the body's temperature control.
Pain in the muscles (myalgia) is a common symptom in lupus patients. The upper arms and thighs are the most frequently involved areas. In some cases, the pain is accompanied by muscle weakness, which is known as myositis.
Most people with lupus show few truly noticeable signs of the illness. Some may have a rash that comes and goes; a very few may suffer arthritis that is noticeable (this rarely happens early on), and those who are on steroids for several weeks may acquire a puffiness to their face that they could live without.
The first symptoms of lupus usually occur somewhere between the teen years and the 30s and may be mild, severe, sporadic, or continual. Common general symptoms include fatigue, fever, and hair loss. Lupus can also affect individual organs and body parts, such as the skin, kidneys, and joints.
This is because by itself, the test has low diagnostic specificity for systemic lupus, but its value increases as a patient meets other clinical criteria. It is possible for people with lupus to have a negative ANA, but these instances are rare. In fact, only 2% of people with lupus will have a negative ANA.
You cannot "catch" lupus from someone or "give" lupus to someone. Lupus is not like or related to cancer. Cancer is a condition of malignant, abnormal tissues that grow rapidly and spread into surrounding tissues. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, as described above.
Tell your provider when you first noticed symptoms or changes in your body. Your provider will ask about your medical history, including conditions you have now and how you're managing them. Lupus can be tricky to diagnose because it can affect so many parts of your body. And it causes lots of different symptoms.
Many people who have (or suspect they have) lupus see a rheumatologist (or pediatric rheumatologist if a child or teen). This type of doctor specializes in diagnosing and treating diseases of the joints and muscles.
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or "lupus"), as described in medical papers, on the internet, and in public media, generally refers to the disease as seen at its peak onset ages: That is, lupus most often appears when a person is between 15 and 35 years of age – typically with symptoms of arthritis, rash, hair loss, ...
But your doctor can find out if you have lupus in other ways, including:
Pregnant women with lupus, especially those having a flare, are at higher risk for complications. These include: Miscarriage. Preterm delivery, especially with a lupus flare.
But essentially everyone with lupus is EBV-infected, studies have shown. An EBV-lupus connection has been long suspected but never nailed down until now.
People with mild lupus may have just a few symptoms, such as skin rashes or achy joints. In other cases, lupus can harm essential organs, including the kidneys and brain. “Diagnosis is one of the biggest challenges patients can face,” says Gourley.