What is Lupus?

About Lupus:

• It is an autoimmune disease that makes your immune system to damage organs and tissue throughout your body. 
• It causes inflammation that can affect your skin, joints, blood, and organs like your kidneys, lungs, and heart. 
• Causes: The cause of lupus is unknown.It’s thought to be the result of a mix of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors.
• Lupus is much more common among women than men.

There are several kinds of lupus:

• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is the most common type. It can be mild or severe and can affect many parts of the body.
• Discoid lupus causes a red rash that doesn't go away.
• Subacute cutaneous lupus causes sores after being out in the sun.
• Drug-induced lupus is caused by certain medicines. It usually goes away when you stop taking the medicine.
• Neonatal lupus, which is rare, affects newborns. It is probably caused by certain antibodies from the mother.

Symptoms: 

Lupus can have many symptoms, and they differ from person to person. Some of the more common ones are:

• Pain or swelling in joints
• Muscle pain
• Fever with no known cause
• Red rashes, most often on the face (also called the "butterfly rash")
• Chest pain when taking a deep breath
• Hair loss
• Pale or purple fingers or toes
• Sensitivity to the sun

Treatment: 

• There is no cure for lupus, but medicines and lifestyle changes can help control it.

Q1: What is the immune system? 

It is a complex network of cells, tissues, organs, and the substances they make that helps the body fight infections and other diseases. The immune system includes white blood cells and organs and tissues of the lymph system, such as the thymus, spleen, tonsils, lymph nodes, lymph vessels, and bone marrow.

Source:World-first discovery may enable an effective long-term lupus treatment