Lupus Treatment - What Options Are Available?

Options for lupus treatment depend on the kind of lupus one has. Lupus is the name given to a group of autoimmune diseases that can appear together.

The most common and serious of these diseases is Systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE. It is commonly just called lupus. The SLE interferes with the immune system so that it no longer works properly hence not doing its work of protecting the body against germs, viruses and bacteria.

Instead the immune system releases antibodies that attack healthy body tissues all over the body. It can affect the skin, lungs, kidneys blood vessels, muscles and joints and makes them inflamed.

SLE has periods that are worse than others, where less symptoms show or more symptoms show. The other types of lupus are discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE) and subacute cutaneous lupus (SCLE).These two have skin rashes and sun sensitivity as symptoms and there is really attack on internal organs But people who have these two types should know that they are at risk of developing SLE in the future.

Lupus manifests itself as pain in the muscles and joints of the hands, arms, shoulders, feet, knees, hips or jaw, fever and loss of appetite, Low energy and fatigue, skin rashes, often on the face. Sometimes the rash is across the cheeks and bridge of the nose. This is called a butterfly rash. Sometimes the rash is red and scaly and appears on the face, scalp, ears, arms or chest.

Mucosal ulcers, that are painless sores in the mouth or nose, sensitivity to light, swelling of the feet and legs, high blood pressure, generalized hair loss, sudden and unexplained weight loss or gain, increase in the number and severity of headaches, chest pain when lying down or taking deep breaths.

The exact cause of lupus is unknown. As it occurs more often in women of child bearing age between 15 to 45 years it is often thought to have something to do with hormones but there is no conclusive study to show this. It is thought to be triggered by certain medications, viruses, stress and sun exposure.

Lupus is incurable but can be managed to maintain a reasonable level of normal quality of life for the patient. Drugs are prescribed to control the symptoms, depending on the area affected. Cytotoxin drugs are used to improve the immune system and also to control the inflammation. Painkillers containing acetaminophen are given for the pain and oral cortisone can be given for the inflammation. Anti-malarial drugs are used to control the rashes, fatigue and joint pain.

Exercise is recommended in order to combat stress and to strengthen your body. It is important to take breaks when doing tasks that put a strain on your joints so as to keep them strong against any attack. A good diet cannot be emphasized too much.

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