It was announced on Sunday 10th May that whilst our lockdown will not be lifted there are steps in place easing the restrictions from today. Whilst lockdown is becoming a bit boring and repetitive and some can’t wait to have more freedom, the lockdown is still necessary and essential.
The lockdown helps slow the spread of the virus meaning those who are vulnerable, and others, are at less of a risk of contracting Covid-19; one group of people who are more vulnerable are those who suffer with the chronic illness of Lupus.
May 2020 is the Lupus Awareness month and so this post is all about Lupus, an illness very close to my heart.
So, what is Lupus?
Lupus is a chronic illness that causes the immune system to attack any part of the body. It is mainly suffered by females and is incurable.
What are symptoms of Lupus?
The two main symptoms: joint and muscle pain and extreme fatigue (that won’t go away no matter how much you rest)
Rashes, depression, anaemia, feverishness, headaches, mouth ulcers and possible hair loss are all symptoms as well.
Whilst the two main symptoms are invariably present, symptoms do vary greatly from person to person.
What are the four types of Lupus?
There are four types of the illness, and these are: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus, Drug-Induced Lupus Erythematosus and Neonatal Lupus.
SLE: this is the most common form and it can be mild or severe.
Cutaneous Lupus Erythematosus: this form is limited to affecting the skin, and causes rashes and lesions; the two most common types of rashes are the discoid rash (raised, red and scaly) and the butterfly rash (over the cheeks and bridge of nose).
Drug-Induced Lupus: this is a lupus-like illness that is caused by certain prescription drugs, and it rarely affects major organs.
Neonatal Lupus: this technically isn’t a true form of Lupus; it’s very rare and it is when the antibodies of the mother act upon the infant in the womb.
How is Lupus diagnosed?
There isn’t a specific test that determines whether or not you have Lupus and the disease is very difficult to diagnose because it shares symptoms with other diseases such as arthritis and diabetes. However, complete blood tests (CBC), urine tests, antibody tests, complement tests and blood clotting tests as well as family history can all help to making a diagnosis.
What is the treatment?
As Lupus is incurable, there is no permanent treatment, however, there are medications that can help ease symptoms and dampen the effects of the disease. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatories, anti-malarials, steroids and immunosuppressants are some of the key medications that are used to help treat Lupus.
One of the main drugs taken is the anti-malarial hydroxychloroquine – due to the current circumstances and the speculation around hydroxychloroquine being used to treat the Coronavirus, there is a shortage of the drug; this is worrying for Lupus sufferers as they rely on this to manage the illness.
The reason for this blog is because May is Lupus Awareness month and with the worrying and scary situation of the world, I felt it a necessity to inform others of the disease.
Some of you may already know a bit about Lupus, others you might not, but at the end of the day this provides you with some knowledge about Lupus and the effect Covid-19 is having on the sufferers.
Until next time…
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