Lupus (autoimmune disease)
Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body. Lupus is more common among women of childbearing age (ages 15 to 44 years).
Lupus occurs when an unknown trigger causes a person’s own immune system to attack their tissues, damaging the tissues and producing widespread inflammation. There is no known cause or cure for lupus; however, treatments are available.
Lupus symptoms
Lupus can affect almost any organ in your body. The symptoms of lupus also differ from person to person. For example, one woman with lupus may have swollen knees and fever. Another woman may be tired all the time or have kidney trouble. Someone else may have rashes. Over time, new symptoms can develop or some symptoms may happen less often.
Lupus symptoms also usually come and go, meaning that you don’t have them all of the time. Lupus is a disease of flares (the symptoms worsen and you feel ill) and remissions (the symptoms improve and you feel better).
Lupus symptoms include:
- Muscle and joint pain
- Fever
- Rashes
- Chest pain
- Hair loss
- Sun or light sensitivity
- Kidney problems
- Mouth sores
- Prolonged or extreme fatigue
- Anemia
- Memory problems
- Blood clotting
- Eye disease
(Source: CDC)