The phrase Lupus is a Latin phrase which means “wolf” and this phrase was coined as a result of the rash in a affected person with Lupus resembles the chew of the wolf! Lupus is a Chronic Auto-Immune Disease the place the physique’s autoimmune system as an alternative of serving its regular protecting operate, varieties antibodies which begin attacking healthy tissues and causes inflammation.

In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Dr Kaushik Bhojani, Head of Rheumatology Services at Fortis Hospitals in Mumbai, defined, “Normally these antibodies are meant to fight outside infections such as bacteria and viruses. However, in Lupus, the body loses its ability to differentiate between these foreign invaders (antigens) and our normal healthy tissues. Hence the body’s own immune system begins to fight against its own “self”. The antibodies then mix with the self-antigens and varieties immune complexes inside tissues which trigger irritation inside the organs. This can generally trigger main well being points and may even be life threatening!”

He added, “Quite often, in our country, this disease is diagnosed late because the patient reaches the Rheumatologist late. By this time, the inflammation has spread to involve multiple organs and then the disease becomes life threatening. Young lives have often been lost by the time this disease is diagnosed.”

CAUSES:

According to Dr Kaushik Bhojani, the causes of Lupus are many and generally fairly obscure the place Lupus happens in a genetically vulnerable one that is uncovered to a set off and a few well-known triggers are:

• Sunlight and ultraviolet publicity
• Bacterial or viral infections
• Hormonal remedies containing Estrogens can set off a flare
• Some medication may also set off a flare
• In identified instances, overexertion, stress, emotional upheaval is understood to trigger flares
• Pregnancy can set off a flare of lupus therefore, sufferers having Lupus should plan their being pregnant solely when the illness is properly managed and seek the advice of their Rheumatologist who will do an in depth workup earlier than the couple plans their being pregnant

However, most frequently, one just isn’t capable of determine a trigger for the set off.

SYMPTOMS:

A key symptom, as per Dr Kaushik Bhojani, is a pores and skin rash involving the face, significantly the cheeks bones – referred to as ‘Malar Rash’. This is often within the form of butterfly wings and therefore can be known as a ‘butterfly rash’. Other signs embrace:

• Sun sensitivity
• Painful swollen joints
• Frequent mouth ulcers
• Excessive hair loss
• Persistent Anemia
• Prolonged fever and no clear proof of an infection wherever
• Fingers turning white or bluish on publicity to chilly
• Excessive fatigue
• Kidney an infection within the younger with out obvious trigger – resembling swelling in legs, frothy urine
• Chest ache and breathlessness on exertion

When there’s a mixture of a couple of symptom current, it’s simpler to suspect this sickness.

SEEK HELP:

Dr Kaushik Bhojani highlighted, “Usually, it is common for a patient to consult his or her family physician in case of fever, generalised body ache etc and if the onset of illness is with joint pains, usually a patient first consults a nearby Orthopedic surgeon. However, if the patient has a ‘Plus Syndrome’, meaning that there are symptoms affecting different aspects of the patient’s body, then the patient must not lose time. If the patient has joint pains and hair loss or the patient has a low-grade fever and joint pains or for that matter a skin rash along with hair loss and joint pains, then it is important to realise that this is not an ordinary illness and needs a specialist consult.

TREATMENT:

Dr Kaushik Bhojani suggested that the management of Lupus involves three major aspects:

a) Arriving at the diagnosis correctly and quickly. Some autoimmune disease can look similar and a correct diagnosis is essential. A detailed history, with a thorough clinical evaluation, is non-negotiable. This is followed by laboratory tests to confirm the diagnosis. The tests range from routine haematology tests upto Immunological tests like an Antinuclear Antibody test (ANA). This ANA is followed by in depth Immunological testing along with tests for internal organ affection basis clinical signs.

b) Assessing the degree of involvement: A detailed clinical evaluation from head to toe is important because lupus can involve one or many organs. The treatment will depend on the extent of the Lupus and the intensity of organ inflammation.

c) Monitoring of disease control: At each visit, answering a detailed questionnaire, evaluation, along with lab testing for assessing internal organ function, is required to keep this disease well under control.

Basis the above three parameters, the treatment and intensity of treatment is to be determined. However, it is very important to remember that there is no permanent cure for Lupus, and treatment will need to be continued indefinitely even after the patient feels that he/she is well.

PREVENTION:

Dr Kaushik Bhojani recommended the following preventive measures:

a) The patient must avoid going out in the sun between 9.00AM to 5.30PM

b) If unavoidable, then covering up well using long sleeved dresses, using caps and sunglasses are essential. In addition, use of sunscreens with a high SPF of greater than 40 is essential

c) Avoid going for picnics to seashores or riverside as a result of the solar rays mirrored from the water are much more harmful triggers. Going swimming within the daylight is solely out of the query

d) Avoidance of hormonal drugs containing Estrogens is important, Hence even for contraception, solely Progesterone drugs are safer.

e) When consulting different docs, they should be knowledgeable hand that you’ve got Lupus and you could contact your rheumatologist to make sure that there isn’t a danger with the remedy prescribed by them

f) Before present process any deliberate surgical procedure, you could seek the advice of your rheumatologist and ideally have your surgeon discuss to your Rheumatologist

g) Importantly, being pregnant planning should be prevented in lively illness.