What Is Lupus Disease?

What is Lupus disease? If you are a regular viewer of House, M.D., you may know that it is never Lupus.  Okay, there was one time when it actually was lupus on the show, but that was the exception rather than the rule. Treating this subject lightly belies the fact that lupus is a serious condition that can result in death.

What Does Lupus Disease Entail? Lupus attacks the skin, joints, kidneys and other organs. Lupus, and other immune condition cause the body incorrectly identifies its own tissues as  a pathogen. The condition can be managed through steroids and other medication.  

Who is Most Affected by Lupus? As with many other autoimmune conditions, Lupus affects more women than men. Over 90% of the people diagnosed with the condition are female. Medical science does not yet know why women, in general, suffer from autoimmune conditions more than men do.  

What are the Symptoms of Lupus?  Lupus may manifest with fever, fatigue, hair loss, sensitivity to sunlight, mouth sources, skin rash and swollen nymph nodes. The part of the body where symptoms occur. Headaches, blood in the urine, numbness and pain can help a  doctor determine which part of a patient’s body are affected.  

Treatment and Prognosis. No cure exists for most autoimmune conditions. Doctors treat patients by managing their symptoms. Pain relievers, and corticosteroids are the most common treatments. 85% of patient with lupus will survive longer than ten years. Women with lupus can have children with few ill effects as long as lupus disease does not affect the patient’s liver.