When your body FIGHTS ITSELF

Lupus

Lupus affects around five people in 100,000, often in midlife. It’s five times more common in women, and often triggered by hormonal changes during puberty, childbearing and the menopause. Other factors may include bacterial or viral infections, smoking and medication. There’s a genetic (family) component, too, and people of Asian/ Caribbean origin are more at risk. Lupus can also overlap with other immune-system disorders.

The symptoms

These often start with severe fatigue and joint pain/ swelling, especially in hands and feet. You may get red scaly skin rashes including a ‘butterfly’ rash across your nose and cheeks (worsened by sunlight), mouth ulcers or hair loss. You may also notice a fever, swollen neck, groin or armpit glands, breathlessness, or chest/ tummy pain. It can also affect the