Lupus Health Feed

What you need to know about the ring-shaped rash called lupus

Lupus is an inflammatory disease that is chronic in nature. It occurs when your tissues and organs are attacked by your body's own immunity system. The inflammation that this disease causes can affect the other parts of your body as well, like the joints, kidneys, skin, brain etc. It is often difficult to diagnose because it lacks distinct symptoms. However, one of the most identifiable symptoms of lupus is a ring-shaped rash...more

ANA is a type of antibody test usually positive in auto immune disorders some types of arthritis, vasculitis etc. But the titre of the test makes it significant. It can be positive in low titres like 1: 40 or 1: 80 in the general population without any disease as well. So the report has to be clinically corelated and cause for positivity has to be found out to treat it.

The inflammation of the kidneys as an effect of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is known as Lupus Nephritis. Like lupus, this is an autoimmune disease. Inflammation of the kidneys hinders kidney functioning by not allowing the kidneys to regulate the optimum amount and types of fluids in the body and restricts the removal of waste through urine. It can also cause the protein to leak out of the kidneys. If not managed in time, this can eventually lead to kidney failure by scarring the kidney t...more

Lupus vulgaris is a common type of reinfection TB. Diagnosis is made on skin biopsy with AFB stain which may or may not be positive. IF the afb stain is positive then diagnosis is confirmatory. If the afb stain is negative then a combination of clinical findings and serological tests like Mantoux test would be used by the referring clinician to start combination therapy for TB.

Some diseases like chicken pox, measles etc. have definitive symptoms that make it easy to diagnose. However, others like lupus affect each person in a different way making them complex diseases that may take longer to diagnose. Lupus attacks the immune system and causes the antibodies that would normally fight infection to react against the body s own cells and tissues. There are two main forms of lupus; systemic lupus that affects any part of the body and cutaneous lupus that affects the skin....more

Lupus, romantically named after the wolf, is a very dangerous disease that can often be fatal, and when it isn t, it makes the sufferers life pretty much unlivable. Lupus is an autoimmune disease wherein the body s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissues, thereby causing symptoms like inflammation, swelling, and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, blood, the heart and lungs.

Signs you are suffering from lupus!

Out of proportion and persistent fat...more

Lupus is an inflammatory disease that is chronic in nature. It occurs when your tissues and organs are attacked by your body's own immunity system. The inflammation that this disease causes can affect the other parts of your body as well, like the joints, kidneys, skin, brain etc. It is often difficult to diagnose because it lacks distinct symptoms. However, one of the most identifiable symptoms of lupus is a ring-shaped rash on the face.

Lupus can be caused by a number of factors like:...more

Can't be cured, but treatment may help. Requires a medical diagnosis
Lab tests or imaging always required. It is Chronic: meaning it can last for years or be lifelong
Lupus (SLE) can affect the joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart and lungs.
Symptoms vary but can include fatigue, joint pain, rash and fever. These can periodically get worse (flare up) and then improve.
While there's no cure for lupus, current treatments focus on improving quality of life through contro...more

Some diseases like chicken pox, measles etc. have definitive symptoms that make it easy to diagnose. However, others like lupus affect each person in a different way making them complex diseases that may take longer to diagnose. Lupus attacks the immune system and causes the antibodies that would normally fight infection to react against the body s own cells and tissues. There are two main forms of lupus; systemic lupus that affects any part of the body and cutaneous lupus that affects the skin....more

Arthritis is a disorder that is characterized by inflammation of the joints. This disorder usually develops after the age of 65; however, it does not mean that people from other age groups aren t at any risk whatsoever. Obesity is one of the major triggers of this condition.

Arthritis can be of two types:

Osteoarthritis: Osteoarthritis is a condition that is characterized by inflammation and stiffness in the joint caused due to injury, age or obesity.
Rheumatoid Arthritis: ...more