The body’s immune system is a group of cells and tissues responsible to protect body from foreign organism like bacteria, viruses and fungi. Antibodies, one of the cells that recognize these foreign organism and will destroy them (Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine : The Gale Group, Inc., 2008). Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that recognize the body’s own tissues as foreign invaders. Autoimmune disease is a disorder in which the immune system fights the body’s own cells causing inflammation and organ damage (William C. Shiel Jr., 2016). Inflammation includes swelling, redness, increased blood flow and tissue destruction. This disease usually involves skin, joints, kidneys, blood cells and nervous system (William C. Shiel
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In addition, the Lupus Foundation of America estimates prevalence to be at least 1.5 million cases. Worldwide, the prevalence of SLE varies, which the highest rates have been reported were in Italy, Spain, Martinique, and United Kingdom Afro-Caribbean population. Based on race, the occurrence of SLE is much higher in black women than women of any other race, followed by Asian women and then white women. In United States, black women are two to four times more likely to have SLE than white women. On the other hand, we can say that more than 90% of cases of SLE occur in women, frequently starting at childbearing age. Interestingly, in man, SLE is much more common in those with Klinefelter syndrome. Therefore, this supporting a hormonal hypothesis. In addition, prevalence of SLE is the highest in women aged 14 to 64 years. Actually, SLE does not have an age preference in males. This effect is likely due to loss of estrogen in older women. (Christie M Bartels, 2016). We can conclude that most people who vulnerable to get this disease are African women aged 14 to …show more content…
The common symptoms of SLE are painful or swollen joints and muscle pain, unexplained fever, red rashes (butterfly rashes) which usually on the face, chest pain upon deep breathing, unusual loss of hair, pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress (Raynaud’s phenomenon), sensitivity to the sun causing the skin to become seriously irritated, swelling (edema) in legs or around eyes, mouth ulcers, swollen glands and extreme fatigue. However, SLE’s symptoms mostly include painful joint, unexplained fever and extreme fatigue. New symptoms may continue to appear years after the initial diagnosis (Handout on Health:Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, 2016). As mentioned in the information above, SLE’s symptoms can be ranged from mild to severe. For mild SLE, the patient might have joint and/or skin symptoms with tiredness. These are unpleasant but are not too serious or life-threatening. Then, in moderate SLE will include some inflammation of other parts of body apart from joints and skin. This may include pleurisy, pericarditis or mild kidney inflammation. Lastly, for severe SLE, in some cases, severe inflammation develops which can cause damage to organs such as the heart, lungs, brain or kidneys. This can even be life-threatening. (William C. Shiel Jr.,
In addition, the Lupus Foundation of America estimates prevalence to be at least 1.5 million cases. Worldwide, the prevalence of SLE varies, which the highest rates have been reported were in Italy, Spain, Martinique, and United Kingdom Afro-Caribbean population. Based on race, the occurrence of SLE is much higher in black women than women of any other race, followed by Asian women and then white women. In United States, black women are two to four times more likely to have SLE than white women. On the other hand, we can say that more than 90% of cases of SLE occur in women, frequently starting at childbearing age. Interestingly, in man, SLE is much more common in those with Klinefelter syndrome. Therefore, this supporting a hormonal hypothesis. In addition, prevalence of SLE is the highest in women aged 14 to 64 years. Actually, SLE does not have an age preference in males. This effect is likely due to loss of estrogen in older women. (Christie M Bartels, 2016). We can conclude that most people who vulnerable to get this disease are African women aged 14 to …show more content…
The common symptoms of SLE are painful or swollen joints and muscle pain, unexplained fever, red rashes (butterfly rashes) which usually on the face, chest pain upon deep breathing, unusual loss of hair, pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress (Raynaud’s phenomenon), sensitivity to the sun causing the skin to become seriously irritated, swelling (edema) in legs or around eyes, mouth ulcers, swollen glands and extreme fatigue. However, SLE’s symptoms mostly include painful joint, unexplained fever and extreme fatigue. New symptoms may continue to appear years after the initial diagnosis (Handout on Health:Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, 2016). As mentioned in the information above, SLE’s symptoms can be ranged from mild to severe. For mild SLE, the patient might have joint and/or skin symptoms with tiredness. These are unpleasant but are not too serious or life-threatening. Then, in moderate SLE will include some inflammation of other parts of body apart from joints and skin. This may include pleurisy, pericarditis or mild kidney inflammation. Lastly, for severe SLE, in some cases, severe inflammation develops which can cause damage to organs such as the heart, lungs, brain or kidneys. This can even be life-threatening. (William C. Shiel Jr.,