Lupus erythematosus - what kind of disease is it. Causes, symptoms, treatment
Lupus erythematosus is one of the most complex diseases, which is characterized by an attack of the body's immune system on its own cells. Diagnosis of lupus is usually not difficult, the difficulty is that the pathology affects the skin, joints, and kidneys.
Reasons of development
The exact causes of the disease are still unknown. Doctors lean towards the hereditary factor. History knows many examples when the disease affected all members of the same family. But this does not mean that the pathology is contagious and dangerous for the environment - no infectious or viral etiology was found.
Official medicine singles out two causes of lupus in women - hormonal disorders and long-term stress. These two factors can appear during pregnancy and after childbirth, in the climacteric period, against the background of frequent abortions and in case of miscarriage. There is an opinion that lupus is a disease of women, because, according to statistics, it is most often diagnosed in women aged 20 to 50 years.
Symptoms of lupus
There are two forms of the disease:
- discoid lupus is a chronic pathology that affects only the skin;
- systemic - inflammation of most internal organs.
If the first form of pathology manifests itself only on the skin, then the systemic one has a negative effect on the general state of health - the patient becomes weak, loses weight sharply, apathy towards the world around him and his own problems appears. Symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus:
- red rashes in the shape of a butterfly appear on the face, back of the hands and neck;
- small ulcers form in the oral cavity;
- joint swelling and stiffness of movements.
As the disease progresses, urination problems (kidney damage), convulsions for no apparent reason (central nervous system damage) and other body malfunctions appear. The signs of lupus in children are identical.
This disease always proceeds in a chronic form with periods of exacerbation and remission. Progressing, the pathological process covers all internal organs and systems. A person can completely lose hair, teeth, scales appear on the skin.
Diagnosis of lupus erythematosus - comprehensive measures. The patient donates blood for tests, sometimes a biopsy of the skin and kidneys is required. Specific treatment is prescribed only after receiving the results of the examination, and until then symptomatic therapy is carried out.
General principles of therapy
It is impossible to cure lupus, but supportive therapy prolongs a person's life and makes it full. Treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus involves an individual selection of drugs. Most often, doctors prescribe:
- cytostatic immunosuppressants;
- glucocorticosteroids;
- nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs;
- biological means.
Periodically, the patient undergoes detoxification of the extracorporeal type, constantly - symptomatic treatment. If the patient's condition worsens and it is not possible to stop the progression of the pathology, a decision is made to transplant stem cells.
Prevention of lupus erythematosus
There are a number of provoking factors that can lead to a failure in the immune system and cause the development of lupus erythematosus. These include saunas, baths, solariums, and direct sunlight. Therefore, preventive measures are limited to:
- avoid prolonged exposure to the sun;
- do not sunbathe in the solarium;
- do not allow severe overheating in the bath or sauna;
- monitor the diet and avoid hyperallergenic products.
If there is a patient with lupus erythematosus in the family, it is necessary to consult a doctor as soon as possible. Control by doctors will help detect the beginning of the pathological process in time and protect internal organs and systems from rapid destruction.
Doctors believe that playing sports, avoiding alcoholic beverages, and having a proper daily routine will help reduce the negative impact of autoimmune processes.
On the pages of our site https://dobrobut.com/ you will find out what kind of disease lupus erythematosus is and which doctor to contact for help .
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