Another autoimmune disease. Inflammation caused by lupus can affect many different body systems — including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs

Symptoms

„ Difficult to diagnose as symptoms are mild. No two cases of lupus are alike

„ Signs and symptoms may come on suddenly or develop slowly, may be mild or severe, and may be temporary or permanent

„ Most distinctive sign is a butterfly-shaped rash that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose or rashes elsewhere on the body. Not all cases of lupus have this sign

„ Fatigue, fever, skin lesions that appear or worsen with sun exposure, fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during stressful periods, shortness of breath, chest pain, dry eyes, headaches, confusion and memory loss