Medical Professional Corner

May is observed as Lupus Awareness Month. This month aims to raise awareness and educate the public about the health effects of lupus. Let us fight this invisible illness together and make lupus an international health priority.

Lupus is an autoimmune disease that is:

The immune system attacks the patient’s own tissues, in a process called autoimmunity “loss of self-tolerance”

Lupus is more frequent and severe with higher disease activity and more damage accrual in specific ethnographies

As no two cases of lupus are alike, the diagnosis of lupus remains a challenge

Around 10-15% lupus patients die prematurely due to complications from lupus

Conquest-Health-LUPUS-globally

At least 50,00,000 people
suffer from LUPUS globally

Conquest-Health-LUPUS-WOMEN

90% LUPUS patients ARE WOMEN

What are the types of Lupus?
Symptoms of lupus


Butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose


Lung problems such as stabbing chest pain or shortness of breath


Heart problems such as chest pain and an unexplained rapid or irregular heart beat


Kidney disease that leads to weight gain and swelling (edema)

Conquest-Health-Symptoms-Of-Lupus


Neurological problems includes headaches and difficulty with memory


Scaly disk-shaped rash. on face, neck, ears, scalp, chest


Sunlight sensitivity of the skin


Blood Problems Such As Anemia or Low White Blood Cell Count


Arthritis such as pain in joints


Butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose


Lung problems such as stabbing chest pain or shortness of breath


Heart problems such as chest pain and an unexplained rapid or irregular heart beat


Kidney disease that leads to weight gain and swelling (edema)

Conquest-Health-Symptoms-Of-Lupus


Neurological problems includes headaches and difficulty with memory


Scaly disk-shaped rash. on face, neck, ears, scalp, chest


Sunlight sensitivity of the skin


Blood Problems Such As Anemia or Low White Blood Cell Count


Arthritis such as pain in joints


Butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose


Neurological problems includes headaches and difficulty with memory


Lung Problems Such As Stabbing Chest Pain Or Shortness Of Breath


Scaly Disk-Shaped Rash. On Face, Neck, Ears, Scalp, Chest


Heart Problems Such As Chest Pain And An Unexplained Rapid Or Irregular Heart Beat



Sunlight Sensitivity Of The Skin


Kidney Disease That Leads To Weight Gain And Swelling (Edema)


Blood Problems Such As Anemia Or Low White Blood Cell Count


Arthritis Such As Pain In Joints

HOW TO DIAGNOSE LUPUS?

Patient symptoms

Medical history

Blood tests

Urine tests

Biopsies

Imaging tests

Treatment

The treatment goals include:

Common treatment options include:

Living With Lupus

Manage Stress
Prioritize-your-tasks-for-the-day

Prioritize your tasks for the day.

Ask-for-help-when-you-need-it

Ask for help when you need it.

Make-time-for-relaxing-activities

Make time for relaxing activities.

Manage-Stress
Manage Pain
Manage-Pain
Talk-with-doctor-about-taking-over-the-counter-pain-medicines

Talk with doctor about taking over-the-counter pain medicines.

Use-heat-or-cold-packs

Use heat or cold packs.

Try-relaxation-techniques-like-meditation-or-breathing-exercises

Try relaxation techniques like meditation or breathing exercises.

Watch - Outdoor Activity

Ask your doctor about acupuncture or acupressure.

PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ULTRAVIOLET(UV) LIGHT
Drink-a-lot-of-water

Drink a lot of water.

Watch - Outdoor Activity

Plan outdoor activities early morning or later in the evening.

Use-sunscreen-with-SPF-30-or-higher

Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher.

Sunglasses

Use sunglasses that block UV rays.

Hat

Wear long sleeves, pants, and wide brimmed hats.

PROTECT-YOURSELF-FROM-ULTRAVIOLET(UV)-LIGHT
PROTECT YOURSELF FROM INFECTIONS
Infection-Protection
Wash-Your-Hands-Often

Wash Your Hands Often.

People

Avoid Coming In Contact With People With Cold Or Other Illnesses.

Clean-And-Protect-Any-Cuts-Or-Wounds

Clean And Protect Any Cuts Or Wounds.

Talk-With-Doctor-Before-Taking-Any-Antibiotics

Talk With Doctor Before Taking Any Antibiotics.

Consult-A-Doctor-If-You-Have-A-Fever-Over-100-°F

Consult A Doctor If You Have A Fever Over 100 °F.

Protect Yourself From Ultraviolet(UV) Light
Drink-a-lot-of-water

Drink a lot of water

Use-sunscreen-with-SPF

Use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher

Use-sunglasses-that-block-UV-rays

Use sunglasses that block UV rays

Plan-outdoor-activities-early-morning-or-later-in-the-evening

Plan outdoor activities early morning or later in the evening

Wear-long-sleeves-pants-and-wide-brimmed-hats

Wear long sleeves, pants, and wide brimmed hats

Protect Yourself From Infections
Wash Your Hands Often

Wash your hands often

Consult-A-Doctor-If-You-Have-A-Fever-Over-100

Consult a doctor if you have a fever over 100 °F

Clean-And-Protect-Any-Cuts-Or-Wounds

Clean and protect any cuts or wounds

Talk-With-Doctor-Before-Taking-Any-Antibiotics

Talk with doctor before taking any antibiotics

Avoid-Coming-In-Contact-With-People-With-Cold-Or-Other-Illnesses

Avoid coming in contact with people with cold or other illnesses

HOW LUPUS AFFECTS KIDNEYS?

A disease involving inflammation of the kidneys caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In lupus nephritis, the kidneys fail to remove waste from the blood and control the amount of fluids in the body.

How-Lupus-Affects-Kidneys
Managing Lupus Nephritis
Eating-right-for-better-kidney-health

Eating right for better kidney health

Stay-hydrated

Stay hydrated

Improve-your-sleep

Improve your sleep

Regular-Exercise

Exercise regularly

Practice-meditation

Practice meditation

Kidney

Consult Nephrologist regularly

HOW LUPUS AFFECTS KIDNEYS?

A disease involving inflammation of the kidneys caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In lupus nephritis, the kidneys fail to remove waste from the blood and control the amount of fluids in the body.

Develop-Kidney-Failure-Within-15-Years-Of-Diagnosis

10%-30% develop kidney failure within
15 years of diagnosis

9-Out-Of-10-People-Still-Showed-Signs-Of-Kidney-Disease

One study found that after 24 weeks
of treatment, 9 out of 10 people still showed
signs of kidney disease

HOW LUPUS AFFECTS KIDNEYS?

A disease involving inflammation of the kidneys caused by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). In lupus nephritis, the kidneys cannot function properly to remove waste from the blood and control the amount of fluids in the body.

Develop-Kidney-Failure-Within-15-Years-Of-Diagnosis

10%-30% develop kidney failure within 15 years of diagnosis

9-Out-Of-10-People-Still-Showed-Signs-Of-Kidney-Disease

One study found that after 24 weeks of treatment, 9 out of 10 people still showed signs of kidney disease

Who Develops It?
50%-Of-People-With-Lupus-Will-Go-On-To-Develop-Lupus Nephritis

About 50% of people with lupus will go on to develop lupus nephritis

About-One-third-Have-Lupus-Nephritis-At-Diagnosis

About ONE-THIRD have lupus nephritis at DIAGNOSIS

Signs and Symptoms

High blood pressure

Weight gain

Foamy or frothy urine

Fatigue

Swelling, usually in legs, feet, or ankles

Key Feature of Lupus Nephritis:


Higher than normal levels of PROTEIN IN THE URINE (a condition known as proteinuria)

Care Management


Consult doctor
regularly


Get plenty of rest


Reduce stress


Avoid sunlight


Eat a healthy diet


Learn more about
lupus

CONSULT DOCTOR REGULARLY

GET PLENTY OF REST
REDUCE STRESS
AVOID SUNLIGHT
EAT A HEALTHY DIET

LEARN MORE ABOUT
LUPUS

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Source: www.lupusresearch.org, www.lupus.org, www.niams.nih.gov, www.cdc.gov