The condition in which the immune system of the body becomes hyperactive and attacks healthy tissues is known as lupus. It’s a long-term autoimmune disease. When one is suffering from lupus, symptoms like swelling, inflammation, and damage to skin, joints, lungs, heart and blood starts occurring. There can also be symptoms like weight loss, fatigue, swollen glands, swelling around the eyes, unusual hair loss, mouth ulcers etc. This disease is commonly known as the disease of 1000 faces as the symptoms are of a wide variety and can completely vary from one person to another.

90% of time Lupus affects women and it affects people in the age group of 15-44 years. People started talking about this disease more, after popular singer Selena Gomez revealed that she had been diagnosed with lupus when she was in her teens and for which she had to undergo treatment. The best part is that lupus cannot be passed from one person to another either sexually or in any other way. There have been some rare deliveries though; in which a pregnant mother suffering from lupus has given birth to a baby who has developed lupus.  If there are twins, it's not necessary that both will develop lupus or would get borned with lupus. Even if one of the two might have it, the other would have just 25% chances of developing it.

Lupus Categories 

1.Systemic lupus erythematosus – This is one of the most common forms of Lupus. The impact is on the overall body and that is why its impact is more severe. Either skin, joints, heart, kidney, blood or a combination of these get affected by it. 

2.Neonatal lupus – Women with Systemic lupus erythematosus might give birth to babies who develop lupus. However, there is just 1% chance of this. Babies born with neonatal lupus may suffer from not only rashes on the skin but also anaemia and liver problems. Some new-borns might suffer from congenital blockage in the heart to an extent that they may need a pacemaker. 

3.Discoid lupus erythematosus – this is a form of lupus that affects only the skin. There can be rashes on the neck, face or scalp which can result in scars. The problem is that the rashes continue to appear for several days and can be there for years. Its recurring in nature. 90% of the time lupus does not affect internal organs. There are 10% of chances of it to develop in systemic lupus erythematosus.

4.Drug-induced lupus – As the name suggests, this is a reaction to certain drugs. Research says that there are about 80 drugs that can cause lupus. Oral contraceptive pills and some of the drugs that are used to treat high blood pressure, thyroid, fungal infections, seizures etc. come under this category. The problem ends if the drug is stopped. 

5.Subacute cutaneous lupus erythematosus – This occurs on the parts of the body which is exposed to the sun. There is no scarring and staying away from direct sun might be helpful. 

Reason behind Lupus

Our immune system helps the body to fight against antigens like germs, bacteria and viruses. This is done through proteins referred to as antibodies. Lupus occurs when our body’s immune system is not able to identify the difference between healthy tissues and the antigens and works against not only the antigens but the healthy tissues as well causing healthy tissue damage, pain and swelling. 

Lupus Treatment

There is hardly any cure for lupus but there are treatments focusing on the quality of life by control of the symptoms and minimizing flare-ups in the condition through sun protection, diet and lifestyle modifications. Depending upon the severity, there are medications like steroids, anti-inflammatories etc. which get prescribed by the doctors after examination of individual cases.