lupus - strange name for an illness isn't it?
Yes - it's the Latin word for wolf. Lupus vulgaris, a severe facial rash rarely seen now, was once thought to resemble a wolf's bite.
so what is lupus?
It's an incurable immune system illness, probably genetic in origin and mainly suffered by females. Some 50,000 are now thought to have lupus in the UK - it's systemic, in that it can affect any part of the body and that's the danger.
and what is the danger?
Lupus can produce many symptoms and family doctors often fail to recognise it. Meanwhile, a number of major organs can be damaged in an irreversible way.
which major organs are liable to damage?
Principally the kidneys and the skin, also the heart, lungs and brain.
so what are the symptoms to look out for?
The two major symptoms are joint and muscle pain and an extreme tiredness that won't go away no matter how much you rest.
