World Lupus Day is observed each year on May 10 to raise awareness about Lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that can cause damage to virtually any part of the body.
In an autoimmune disease, the immune system malfunctions. It cannot tell the difference between pathogens and healthy tissue and creates antibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. This disease is also known as systemic lupus erythematosus or SLE.
The most common signs and symptoms include of Lupus disease are:
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Joint pain, stiffness and swelling
- Butterfly-shaped rash on the face or rashes elsewhere on the body
- Fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during stressful periods
- Shortness of breath
- Chest pain
- Dry eyes
- Headaches, confusion and memory loss