Abstract
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the human immune system is overactive. Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and can last up to several years (Lupus Foundation of America, 2014). Autoimmune means the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign invaders and healthy tissues within the body. Therefore, the body attacks itself by creating auto-antibodies that destroy the remaining healthy tissue (Lupus Foundation of America, 2014). Currently there are an estimated 1.5 million Americans diagnosed with some form of Lupus, and more than 16,000 new cases are reported annually across the country (Lupus Foundation of America, 2014). There are four known types of Lupus that an …show more content…
This form is most commonly seen when a mother with Lupus gives birth and the baby contracts Lupus from her. This form of Lupus can cause skin rashes, anemia, liver problems, and some babies are even born with serious heart defects (Lupus Foundation of Minnesota). In most cases of neonatal Lupus, symptoms go away after a few months and do not cause permanent damage to the child (Lupus Foundation of Minnesota).
The fourth and final form of Lupus is drug induced lupus or DIL. A person can contract DIL from taking certain types of medications, and can show the same signs as SLE. A benefit of this form of Lupus is that it is not permanent. It will usually go away after six months of the discontinuation of the medication that caused it. However, the antinuclear antibody (ANA) test may stay positive for years (Lupus Foundation of …show more content…
Because of the severe side effects each medicine could have on a person, (such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight gain, thinning of bones, and even eye pigment changes), each individual, along with their doctor, should create a personalized treatment plan. For example, people with Systemic Lupus Erythematous need more rest during active periods of the disease (Shiel, W., Stroppler, M., & Driver, C., 2014). It is very common that some doctors will try several combinations of medications until a cocktail is found that causes the least amount of side effects and discomfort in the patient. However, in some cases, medication would not be prescribed at all. For example, patients with mild symptoms may not need or receive any treatment or only sporadic doses of anti-inflammatory medication. On the other hand, severe cases may require high doses of corticosteroids as well as other medications to help keep the immune system from attacking healthy tissues (Shiel, W., Stroppler, M., & Driver, C.,
Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the human immune system is overactive. Chronic means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and can last up to several years (Lupus Foundation of America, 2014). Autoimmune means the immune system cannot tell the difference between foreign invaders and healthy tissues within the body. Therefore, the body attacks itself by creating auto-antibodies that destroy the remaining healthy tissue (Lupus Foundation of America, 2014). Currently there are an estimated 1.5 million Americans diagnosed with some form of Lupus, and more than 16,000 new cases are reported annually across the country (Lupus Foundation of America, 2014). There are four known types of Lupus that an …show more content…
This form is most commonly seen when a mother with Lupus gives birth and the baby contracts Lupus from her. This form of Lupus can cause skin rashes, anemia, liver problems, and some babies are even born with serious heart defects (Lupus Foundation of Minnesota). In most cases of neonatal Lupus, symptoms go away after a few months and do not cause permanent damage to the child (Lupus Foundation of Minnesota).
The fourth and final form of Lupus is drug induced lupus or DIL. A person can contract DIL from taking certain types of medications, and can show the same signs as SLE. A benefit of this form of Lupus is that it is not permanent. It will usually go away after six months of the discontinuation of the medication that caused it. However, the antinuclear antibody (ANA) test may stay positive for years (Lupus Foundation of …show more content…
Because of the severe side effects each medicine could have on a person, (such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, weight gain, thinning of bones, and even eye pigment changes), each individual, along with their doctor, should create a personalized treatment plan. For example, people with Systemic Lupus Erythematous need more rest during active periods of the disease (Shiel, W., Stroppler, M., & Driver, C., 2014). It is very common that some doctors will try several combinations of medications until a cocktail is found that causes the least amount of side effects and discomfort in the patient. However, in some cases, medication would not be prescribed at all. For example, patients with mild symptoms may not need or receive any treatment or only sporadic doses of anti-inflammatory medication. On the other hand, severe cases may require high doses of corticosteroids as well as other medications to help keep the immune system from attacking healthy tissues (Shiel, W., Stroppler, M., & Driver, C.,