Kemi Afolabi: 7 Facts You Need Know About Lupus

Kemi Afolabi’s announcement might be the first time they would hear of the disease called Lupus.

Read Also: Sexual Benefits Of Alligator Pepper

Lupus is a common disease in Nigeria with over 100,000 cases diagnosed per year, according to the College of Medicine, University of Ibadan.

Here are 7 facts you should know about lupus:

AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE

Although no one knows what causes lupus, doctors do know that the symptoms appear when your immune system isn’t functioning properly. Your immune system cells, which are designed to protect you from pathogens, begin to treat normal, healthy cells as invaders, fighting them and creating flare-ups that can impact your joints, kidneys, and practically any other body system.

DIAGNOSED AT ANY AGE

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, women of childbearing age (between 15 and 44) are at the highest risk of developing lupus, however the disease does not affect only children. According to a study published in Nature Reviews Rheumatology, between 10% and 20% of persons with systemic lupus are identified before the age of 18, and adults can develop “late-onset” lupus after the age of 50.

Lupus symptoms differ from person to person in terms of intensity and body parts affected. Rheumatologists say rash and joint pain are two of the most prevalent symptoms of lupus. Fatigue, hair loss, oral sores, and fever are all possible symptoms.

WOMEN ARE AT A HIGHER RISK

Most studies find that about 90 per cent of lupus patients are women, according to a review in Seminars in Arthritis and Rheumatism.

The study also found that men tend to have more damage earlier in the disease and have lower survival rates. Hormones might play a role in sex differences, but studies have not found a conclusive answer.

DIAGNOSIS BASED ON SYMPTOMS AND TESTS.

Without a single blood test to clinch a lupus diagnosis, rheumatologists need to look at the whole picture. When rheumatologists suspect an autoimmune problem, they will take your symptoms into account while looking at X-rays, blood tests, and biopsies to see if results match what they’d expect from lupus, or if it is more likely a different disease.

Other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, and Lyme disease share symptoms with lupus. Without a specific blood test pointing to lupus or other autoimmune conditions, it can sometimes take trial and error for rheumatologists to pin down the right diagnosis.

THERE IS NO CURE

Scientists have not yet discovered a cure for lupus. Despite the fact that it is a chronic disease, it is not fatal. According to a study published in the Internal Journal of Immunopathology and Pharmacology, lupus mortality rates have improved over time as a result of new medications, and life expectancy for women with lupus-related kidney inflammation is nearly on par with women of similar age groups in the general population. A rheumatologist will be able to determine which therapy option is optimal for a given patient.

THE ILLNESS IS PRESENT IN SOME NEWBORNS.

A mother with lupus or antibodies associated to it might sometimes transfer those antibodies on to her newborn, resulting in neonatal lupus. According to him, the effect is typically lupus-like skin lesions that fade after a few months when the babies begin to produce their own antibodies.

In rare situations, a child born to a mother who has such antibodies will develop congenital heart block, but expectant mothers with lupus shouldn’t be concerned. According to a study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology, only 2 to 5% of kids whose moms have such antibodies would have congenital heart block.

These issues can be diagnosed during pregnancy by ultrasound, and kids can be treated soon after birth by having a pacemaker put to assist control their heart’s electrical activity.

CAN DAMAGE THE KIDNEYS AND INCREASES CARDIOVASCULAR RISK

Inflammation that runs rampant in the body can cause major consequences if left untreated. The kidneys are a major concern for people with lupus. According to a study published in Nature Reviews Nephrology, 40 to 70% of lupus patients have kidney inflammation, making renal failure one of the most common complications.