Know-Well About Lupus

Not only Mother's Day, May 10 is celebrated as World Lupus Day.

Have you ever heard of lupus? Lupus is an autoimmune disease that arises because the immune system attacks the tissues and organs in the body itself. This disease involves various organs, including the skin, joints, kidneys, lungs, central nervous system, and hematopoiesis (blood formation).

The exact cause of lupus is unknown. This disease causes inflammation or inflammation in connective tissue, such as cartilages (soft bones) and blood vessel walls. Connective tissue plays a role in providing strength and flexibility to various structures in the body.

Is it true that Lupus is contagious?

Lupus cannot be spread either by air, direct contact, or human body fluids. Thus, assumptions about infectious lupus can be broken. However, genetic factors are known to play a role in the occurrence of this disease. Monozygotic twins have 10 times the risk of lupus compared to dzigot twins.

In addition, the risk of lupus is also 8-20 times greater if you have siblings who also experience this disease. Genetic variations that cause mutations in certain genes also play a role in lupus.

Not everyone with a genetic predisposition will experience lupus. Lupus results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Environmental conditions play an active role in stimulating the occurrence of this autoimmune disease.

The existence of genetic susceptibility and environmental stimulation causes excessive activation of the body's immune cells, as well as disrupting the body's tolerance mechanism. This condition causes the body to produce autoantibodies. The immune system will recognize the body's cells as foreign matter, then form an immune complex. This process destroys cells that bind to antibodies.

Environmental factors that affect lupus include: exposure to ultraviolet light, especially ultraviolet B, infections, and toxins can trigger the onset and exarsebation of lupus disease.

Exposure to excessive ultraviolet light will increase the amount of antigen exposure to the immune system resulting in abnormal cell death. Infection with the Epstein Barr virus is also thought to play a role in stimulating lupus. Infection in individuals who have a genetic predisposition will activate the body's autoantibodies.

Hormonal changes at puberty also affect. Lupus is known to be more common in women than men. Therefore, there is a suspicion that estrogen and other sex hormones cause lupus manifestations. The hormone estrogen plays a role in prolonging the autoreactivity of lymphocyte cells (white blood cells). The X chromosome is also known to mutate in lupus.

The symptoms

Every lupus sufferer has different symptoms and signs. Some appear suddenly or slowly, lightly or heavily, and temporarily or permanently. However, the general symptoms that lupus sufferers encounter are as follows:

• Fatigue.
• Fever.
• Pain in the joints, stiff or swollen.
• Red rash on the face or other body parts.
• Lesions (abnormal tissue) on the skin if exposed to sun exposure.
• Your fingers and toes turn pale or blue when exposed to cold air or stress (Raynaud's phenomenon).
• Shortness of breath.
• Chest pain
• Eyes feel dry.
• Headache, senility, and confusion.

Complications

Pain caused by lupus can affect your body's performance, including:

• Kidney. Some cases of kidney damage and kidney failure are the cause of death for most people with lupus.
• Brain and nervous system. If you get lupus, you may experience headaches, confusion, and convulsions. Some people also experience memory damage or have difficulty expressing their feelings or thoughts.
• Blood and blood vessels. Lupus can cause blood problems, including anemia and an increased risk of bleeding or blood clots. In addition, lupus can also cause inflammation of blood vessels (vasculitis).
• Lungs. Lupus sufferers may experience pleurisy, which causes difficulty in breathing. Bleeding to the lungs and pneumonia may also occur.
• Heart. Lupus can cause pain or inflammation in the heart muscle, arteries or heart membranes (pericarditis). Thus, the risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attack increases.

Discovery of lupus

Someone should suspect the existence of lupus if three symptoms are found in the form of fever, muscle aches, and red spots, especially in women. In addition, clinical symptoms plus a family history of autoimmune disease also increase suspicion of lupus.

Symptoms of lupus can appear suddenly, generally between the ages of teens to the age of 30 years. This symptom is often followed by a period of remission. Lupus symptoms can mimic the symptoms of other diseases. Therefore, if the initial symptoms are found in your child, further tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis of the disease.

Lupus is a disease that is at high risk of causing damage to vital and non-vital organs. Early discovery of lupus is useful in preventing morbidity and death from lupus.

Three major complications in lupus that need attention are kidney disorders, heart attacks, and coronary heart disease. In addition, the incidence of lupus can also increase the risk of malignancy (cancer).

Treatment of Lupus

Treatment of children with lupus is done by suppressing the immune system using steroids. This medicine can relieve the symptoms of lupus and prevent organ damage. However, strict control is needed by the doctor because of the various side effects that can be caused, such as for example infection.

Until now, there are no medicines that can cure lupus completely. However, this disease can be controlled and reduce pain due to symptoms, depending on the patient. Medications commonly used include:

• Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Several NSAID drugs are sold freely on the market including naproxen sodium and ibuprofen used to relieve pain, swelling, and fever caused by lupus. Strong NSAIDs are also available by prescription.
• Anti-malaria medicine. Medications commonly used to cure malaria, such as hydroxychloroquine, affect the immune system and can reduce the risk of developing lupus. Side effects caused by abdominal pain and damage to the retina of the eye (rare).
• Corticosteroids. Prednisone and other types of corticosteroids can cure pain caused by lupus. High doses of steroids such as methylprednisolone are used to control serious diseases including kidney and brain.
• Immunosuppressants. Medications that suppress the body's immune system can help in serious cases of lupus. Examples include azathioprine, mychopenolate mofetil, and methotrexate.
• Biological. A different type of medication, belimumab given intravenously, also reduces the symptoms of lupus in some people. Side effects are dizziness, diarrhea and infection.
• Rituximab can be useful in some cases of lupus. Side effects are allergic reactions through infusion and infection.

World Celebrity, Selena Gomez apparently has this disease. Let's check, who are the artists who suffer from this autoimmune disease (Click on the link below or click in here)
https://princesscantikbanget.blogspot.com/2020/05/5-world-celebrities-with-lupus.html

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