LUPUSBy Sharmeen

Teen Health 4

Old Orchard Junior High 1999

LUPUS

An autoimmune disease that may affect organ systems including the skin, joints, and internal organs such as the brain, lungs, kidneys, and the heart.

What are the Types

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE)- This is the most common and dangerous type of lupus which attacks many internal organs as well as the skin.

Discoid Lupus Erythematosis (DLE)- A less dangerous type of lupus that affects only the skin.

Symptoms of Lupus

Loss of hair Mouth or nose ulcers High blood pressure Fatigue Enlarged lymph nodes Painful breathing Various eye problems Skin rashes

The Causes of Lupus

Lupus results when an unknown trigger causes your immune system to break down. Your immune system protects the body against cancers and infections by producing substances called antibodies, which attack harmful bacteria and viruses. In lupus, the immune system apparently produces antibodies that attack the person’s own healthy tissues.

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Causes

An antibody is a protein produced by the immune system in response to the presence of an antigen. Antigens are large molecules on the surface of cells, viruses, fungi, and bacteria.

Causes

Systemic lupus erythematosus may be caused by certain drugs. When this occurs, it is known as drug-induced erythematosus. If you stop taking the medicine for this, then it usually comes back.

Number of Cases

Throughout the United States, there are as many as 2,000,000 patients diagnosed with lupus.

Lupus affects women eight to ten times more frequently than men. It often appears in women from the ages of 18 to 45. Lupus can also affect small kids and elderly men. Continued…..

Number of Cases

Lupus can affect more than one member of a family, but that doesn’t mean that it’s inherited.

Prognosis for Lupus

Greatly improved over the last few decades with at least 80-90% of all patients surviving ten years.

People with lupus, that develop severe infections of the brain, lungs, heart, and kidney have the worst prognosis in terms of overall survival and disability.

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Prognosis for Lupus

1954 Survival afterfour years withlupus was 50%.

1999 Survival is morethan 90%.

Treatments

Treatment of lupus depends on which organs are affected and how severe the case is.

A person who has a mild case of lupus requires little therapy. Severe or life-threatening symptoms often require treatment by specialist in the specific area.

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Treatments

Certain types of dosage medications may help cure a lot of the symptoms. These medications are called immuno-suppressive medications. Aspirins and ibuprofens also help cure several symptoms.

There is no cure for systemic lupus erythematosus.

Lupus Highlights

Lupus Story

The small kid shown in this picture was diagnosed with lupus shortly before his death. He was one in about two million people living with lupus.

Overview of Lupus

Lupus is an autoimmune disease, causes a breakdown of your immune system.

More than 85% of lupus patients are women. 90% of of lupus patients experience fatigue

as one of their major symptoms. The prognosis of lupus has greatly

improved over the last few decades. 90% of lupus patients survive after being diagnosed with lupus for four years.

Bibliography

1. Lupus. Internet www page, at URL: http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Acres/7228/lupus.html (1999).

2. Lupus. Internet www page, at URL:

http://www.hamline.edu:80/~lupus

3. Lupus. Internet www page, at URL

http://www.bewell.com/hic/lupus/

4. Lupus. Internet www page, at URL

http://www.bewell.com/hic/lupus/index4.asp