ANA Titre (Immunofluorescence) Tips

Lupus (Skin Disease) - How To Identify It?

MD, House Job Certificate ( SKIN & STD) , MBBS
General Physician, Gurgaon
Lupus (Skin Disease) - How To Identify It?
Lupus, romantically named after the wolf, is a very dangerous disease that can often be fatal, and when it isn t, it makes the sufferers life pretty much unlivable. Lupus is an autoimmune disease wherein the body s immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks normal, healthy tissues, thereby causing symptoms like inflammation, swelling, and damage to the joints, skin, kidneys, blood, the heart and lungs.

Signs you are suffering from lupus!

Out of proportion and persistent fatigue: This is the most common sign of lupus. Almost 90% of patients experience it, according to research.
Slight to high fever: Low-grade fever due to no justifiable cause can be another sign of lupus. The fever usually comes and goes. Talk to your doctor if you experience this symptom as this could be a sign of inflammation, infection, or imminent flare-up of the disease.
Thinning of hair: Thinning of the hair is often one of the first signs of lupus due to inflammation of the skin and scalp. Some people have hair coming out in clumps while others just have a less alarming thinning of the hair symptoms. Lupus can make hair feel dry and brittle. Doctors call this lupus hair .
Unexplained skin rash called malar rash: Also called the butterfly rash, it appears on the cheek and the bridge of the nose. 50% of patients get this rash. It can appear suddenly or after exposure to the sun. Usually, it appears just before a flare-up of lupus.
Chest pain which increases with breathing: The lungs and the blood vessels in them become inflamed. This makes breathing difficult and can also cause chest pains when you breathe. The lung size can also shrink due to lupus, causing shortness of breath.
Painful, stiff or swollen joints: Inflammation due to lupus can cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in your joints, particularly in the morning.
Blood in urine: This happens due to inflammation of the kidneys or nephritis, which causes swelling in legs and feet and high blood pressure (BP). If lupus is not treated, you can also die of end-stage renal disease.
Persistent loss of appetite: Lupus causes acidity and indigestion and loss of appetite.
Thyroid problems: Patients develop an autoimmune thyroid disease which can cause both weight loss and gain. The thyroid helps control your body s metabolism and if it doesn t function properly, it can affect vital organs like your brain and heart.
Dry eyes and dry mouth: Some lupus patients develop Sjogren s syndrome, another autoimmune disorder. This causes malfunctioning of glands responsible for tears and saliva in our body, hence your eyes may feel dry and your mouth will also remain dry.
Lupus is unpredictable and patients often suffer flares, or active symptoms of the disease, followed by periods of normalcy. Because the signs of this disease are so general, it s easy to miss them; so, if you have been getting even three symptoms of lupus, it s time to see a doctor.
2499 people found this helpful

Know The Symptoms And Treatment Of Lupus (Skin Rash)!

MD - Skin & VD, Internship, MBBS
Dermatologist, Gurgaon
Know The Symptoms And Treatment Of Lupus (Skin Rash)!
Lupus is an inflammatory disease that is chronic in nature. It occurs when your tissues and organs are attacked by your body's own immunity system. The inflammation that this disease causes can affect the other parts of your body as well, like the joints, kidneys, skin, brain etc. It is often difficult to diagnose because it lacks distinct symptoms. However, one of the most identifiable symptoms of lupus is a ring-shaped rash on the face.

Lupus can be caused by a number of factors like:

Excessive exposure to sunlight
Susceptibility towards infections
Certain anti-seizure, blood pressure and antibiotic medicines
Symptoms
The symptoms are neither distinct nor regular. However, some common symptoms could be-

Fatigue and fever
Pain in the joints, stiffness and swelling
Ring-shaped facial rash
Skin lesions on exposure to the sun
Chest pain and shortness of breath
What else can lupus lead to?

Several complications may arise if lupus is left untreated. Some of them are-

Kidney damage and failure
Hallucination, seizures, strokes and several other problems associated with the brain and the central nervous system
Anemia, blood clotting, vasculitis etc.
Increased susceptibility to pneumonia
Increased risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases
Treatment
Lupus is a significantly dangerous disease and medical help should be immediately sought if you think that you have symptoms associated with it. Treatment depends on the signs and symptoms of individual patients.
2596 people found this helpful

Lupus - Ways It Can Be Treated!

BHMS
Homeopathy Doctor, Delhi
Lupus - Ways It Can Be Treated!
Lupus is an auto-immune disease which is chronic i.e. lasts for years or more than at least six weeks, and may affect any part or organ of the body. The immune system fights off viruses, bacteria and germs by producing proteins known as 'antibodies'. Auto-immune means that due to some defect, your immune system is unable to differentiate between the healthy tissues in your body and foreign invader that harms your body; thus creating antibodies that destroy the healthy tissues. This causes inflammation and damage to various parts of the bodies, leaving the sufferer in excruciating pain.


Symptoms:


1. Fatigue
Most of the people suffering from Lupus experience weariness and fatigue. People usually take afternoon naps to remedy this. However, this may lead to insomnia. Talk to a doctor to successfully cure this symptom.


2. Unexplained Fever
If you suffer from recurrent fever that hovers around 99 to 101 degrees Farhrenheit, visit the doctor as soon as possible since this is a sign of infection or inflammation.


3. Hair Loss
One of the most prominent symptoms of Lupus is hair loss or thinning of hair. You may find your hair looking brittle, thin and ragged, including the hair on your eyebrows, eyelashes and other parts of the body.


4. Lesions or Skin Rash
Another prominent symptom is the butterfly rash that covers both the cheeks and the bridge of the nose and appears right before a flare up. This rash may occur all of a sudden or when exposed to the sunlight. Lupus also causes lesions and discoloration on various parts of the body due to exposure to sunlight or artificial light.


5. Pulmonary Issues
Lupus causes pleuritic chest pain due to painful inflammation in the lungs as well as the areas surrounding it such as diaphragm and lung blood vessels. This affects the patient's breathing process. Moreover, Lupus is also known to decrease the size of the lung also called the "Vanishing Lung Syndrome" that is identified by shortness of breath and chronic chest pain.


6. Kidney Inflammation
Most individuals suffering from Lupus tend to develop nephritis i.e. inflammation in the kidneys. It is imperative to visit the doctor if you have symptoms of Nephritis as it may cause end-stage renal disease (ESRD) if untreated.
5 people found this helpful

Lupus Nephritis - What Lifestyle Changes Can Help In It?

DNB (Nephrology), MRCP (UK), MD - Medicine, MBBS
Nephrologist, Mumbai
Lupus Nephritis - What Lifestyle Changes Can Help In  It?
The inflammation of the kidneys as an effect of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is known as Lupus Nephritis. Like lupus, this is an autoimmune disease. Inflammation of the kidneys hinders kidney functioning by not allowing the kidneys to regulate the optimum amount and types of fluids in the body and restricts the removal of waste through urine. It can also cause the protein to leak out of the kidneys. If not managed in time, this can eventually lead to kidney failure by scarring the kidney tissue. However, this is a rare occurrence.

On an average, 6 out of 10 lupus patients suffer from lupus nephritis. In most cases, this disease develops within the first five years of lupus symptoms making their appearance. The symptoms of this disease are mild and can vary from person to person. Very often, the first signs of lupus nephritis become visible only in lab tests as the symptoms are similar to those exhibited by other kidney diseases.

Some of the common symptoms of this condition are:

Swelling of the feet, ankles and calves
High blood pressure
Weight gain
Frothy, dark urine
There are five stages types of this disease and hence, the first step to treating this disease is to identify its type. For this, your doctor will begin with a thorough physical examination and understand your medical history. He or she will also ask for a few tests including urine tests, blood tests, an ultrasound and a kidney biopsy to confirm the diagnosis.

Lupus nephritis is usually treated with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive drugs. Medication may also be prescribed to lower blood pressure and prevent the clotting of blood. However, in some cases, this treatment may not be enough to stop the progression of the disease and some kidney function may be lost. If both kidneys fail, dialysis is the next medical step. This involves the use of a machine in place of the kidneys to filter and removes waste products from the body. This may be followed by the need for a kidney transplant.

Since lupus patients are at a high risk of lupus nephritis, here are a few conscious lifestyle changes that can help prevent this condition:

Have a diet that is low in salt
Avoid smoking and alcohol
Exercise regularly
Avoid non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs("pain killers") and unproven alternative medications that can affect the kidneys.
2966 people found this helpful

Pleural Effusion - Everything You Must Know About It!

MBBS, MD - Respiratory Medicine , Trained In Treating Sleep Disorder , Trained In Interventinal Bronchoscopy , Trained In Medical Thoracoscopy , Trained In Rigid Bronchoscopy
Pulmonologist, Delhi
Pleural Effusion - Everything You Must Know About It!
Thin membranes on the surface of lungs and inside of the chest cavity are known as Pleura. The space between them is known as Pleural space. Pleural Effusion is a common problem where fluid accumulates in the Pleural space. A person may have it if he or she has any heart or lung problems, such as Pneumonia, Tuberculosis, Pulmonary Embolism, etc. Other problems not related to lung or heart, such as Hypothyroidism, Nephrotic Syndrome, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Ovarian Tumours, etc. may also lead to Pleural Effusion.

Causes of Pleural Effusion

There may be a wide range of causes for Pleural Effusion. The most common causes are:

Leakage of fluid from organs: If someone has a Heart problem and it is not pumping blood properly, there may be accumulation of fluid in the body. This fluid may leak into the Pleural space. If the Liver or Kidney is not working properly, it may also give rise to accumulation of fluid. This fluid build-up may leak into the Pleural space.

Infections: Infections like Bacterial Pneumonia and Tuberculosis are major reasons for Pleural Effusion.

Autoimmune conditions: Autoimmune conditions like Lupus Erythematosus, Rheumatoid Arthritis, etc. may also cause such condition.

Pulmonary embolism: Embolism leads to blockage in Artery in one of the lungs. This can lead to Pleural Effusion.

Lung cancer: Lung Cancer often causes Pleural Effusion. Cancer spreading to the Lungs from other organs too can precipitate the condition.



Pleural Effusion Symptoms

Symptoms of this disease show up only when the fluid build-up is moderate or large. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fever, chest pain, aggravation during deep breathing, cough, etc. These are the most pronounced symptoms of this condition. One may also have chills and night sweats.

Treatment of Pleural Effusion

These are some of the common treatment steps for this disease:

The first stage in treatment is Chest X-ray or CT Scan to ascertain the dimension of fluid accumulation.
The doctor may then draw out a sample of the fluid to test it for infection. If an infection is detected, doctor may prescribe antibiotics.
If the fluid accumulation is less, the doctor may not consider it necessary to draw out the fluid.
If there is a Heart problem, the doctor may prescribe medicines for the same.
If the Effusion is large, a doctor would most likely perform a Thoracentesis to drain the fluid and ease the symptoms.
If the Effusion keeps coming back, the doctor may consider a Pleural Drain. A catheter is put into the Pleural space for a long time for that.
The doctor may also inject an inflammatory substance into the Pleural space. This inflames the Pleura and helps them bond with each other tightly. This is known as Pleurodesis and can heal the problem.

Pleural Effusion is a medical condition which is not to be taken lightly. One must consult an experienced doctor for its treatment, as it may worsen over time.
3118 people found this helpful

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus!

MD - Acupuncture, Diploma In Accupuncture, Advanced Diploma In Accupuncture
Acupuncturist, Delhi
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus!
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
This is an autoimmune disease and it affects the body in many ways. It is chronic in nature and you can manage the symptoms with proper treatment. It is one of the most common types of lupus and it usually causes anaemia and general weakness in the body coupled with joint pain and headaches. It is generally known to affect women than men as the estrogen hormone triggers this condition in many cases. As the symptoms of this condition are not specific to lupus, it is not an easy task to diagnose this condition. Once it is clear, doctors will begin proper treatment and you need to be watchful about the symptoms for a long time as this condition is chronic and there is no cure to this condition. You can, however, manage the symptoms by taking suitable medication. In rare cases, it can cause severe complications and this usually happens when you are suffering from this condition for a very long duration.

Symptoms of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- Some of the common symptoms of this condition include severe fatigue along with pain in the joints. It can also cause swelling of the joints and this will be very painful. You need to consider these symptoms seriously and get suitable treatment at the right time to avoid further complications.

- It can also cause a headache as the immune system works harder than required to counter the allergic reaction in the body. This can affect the normal breathing and the supply of oxygen to the brain will be reduced leading to severe headaches.

- It is also common for people suffering from this condition to experience rashes on the nose and cheeks. This condition is also generally termed as butterfly rashes and it is easily visible on the face.

- It can also cause significant hair loss due to the overworking of the immune system and this can also become permanent hair loss when suitable treatment is not provided in a timely manner.

- Some people also experience issues with clotting of blood due to this condition. It can also cause anaemia and you will feel general weakness.

- Apart from that, there can be many other symptoms depending on which organ is affected by this condition. When it affects the heart region, symptoms like chest pain and other things are very common.

- When it starts affecting the skin, it can create rashes or another sort of inflammation as an allergic reaction. In the same manner, when the digestive tract gets affected due to this condition, it can cause diarrhoea and other related symptoms in the body.

Causes of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- The exact cause of this condition is not yet established and some factors are considered to trigger this condition in many individuals.

- Even though it is not a genetic disorder, it is likely to affect people having a family history of autoimmune disorders. If anyone in your family is suffering from this condition, you need to be careful about the symptoms and get suitable treatment.

- You will be surprised to know that exposure to UV light can also trigger such a condition in many people and some sensitive people develop this even after exposure for a few minutes. You should avoid getting outside during the peak sunlight period and stay away from trouble when you are allergic to such conditions.

- Similarly, taking certain medication can trigger this condition when it causes any side effects. If you notice such symptoms, you can talk to your doctor to get an alternate prescription to treat your problem.

- Exposure to certain viruses can also cause this condition and you have to treat such issues at the earliest to avoid further complications in future.

- When you are physically stressed too much, the immune system will work hard to bring it back to normal condition and this can sometimes cause this condition. In the same way, even emotional stress can mess up with the hormonal activity in the body and affect the immune system leading to this condition.

- Even trauma can induce such conditions in many individuals even though this will usually be a temporary reaction in most cases.

- Women are more likely to get affected with this condition and the estrogen hormone is known to trigger this condition. If you notice such symptoms during the monthly cycle, you need to take suitable medication to treat the issue. This condition is also common during pregnancy and the symptoms will usually last for a short duration in this case.

Diagnosis of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- The first step in diagnosis begins with a physical examination of the symptoms and this will give the doctors some idea about the overall nature of the problem. In this situation, the symptoms like sun rashes along with ulcers will give a clear indication of the problem. Some people may also experience hair loss and even show signs of hair loss and improper heartbeat.

- After this is done, further blood tests will be suggested as this will provide some clarity about the working of the antibodies in the body. When the immune system overreacts to certain situations, it can create more antibodies and this will be clearly understood after getting the results of blood tests.

- The kidneys will not be able to remove all the unnecessary proteins from the body in this case and you can get to know such abnormalities in the Urine test. This will also show the clear overworking of the immune system and doctors will begin suitable treatment based on the results of this test.

- Along with that, an X-ray of the chest region will also help to notice any inflammation in this area. This will also give a clear indication of any improper functioning of the lungs and heart and doctors can prescribe suitable medication to treat the condition.

- It can also be due to various autoimmune diseases and you need to discuss your medical history in a detailed manner with the doctors to aid them in the diagnostic process. Remember that a series of tests may be required before they identify the exact problem in this situation.

Prevention of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- You can take suitable precautionary measures to avoid this condition in the future. Remember that you need to be watchful about the symptoms and analyze what is causing them in your body. If it happens after you eat some food or after you are exposed to some environment, make sure to avoid them in the future.

- Remember that exposure to UV light can also trigger this condition in many individuals and you should note the changes in your body after you are exposed to sunlight. If you notice any rashes or other inflammation on the skin surface, you need to be careful next time and use suitable protection to avoid UV rays. You can use some creams and lotions that will protect your exposed skin from UV radiation.

- In the same manner, you can also avoid stress to a large extent and this will help you to prevent this condition in future. It is also important to engage in a limited physical activity as overloading your body can also trigger the immune system and it can overreact in some situations.

- Also, make sure that you eat a healthy and nutritious diet as this will keep your immune system functioning in proper order. You should also note that having certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies in the body can lead to problems with bones and joints and this can get inflammation easily at a later stage. On the other hand, when you exercise and eat a healthy diet, you will be able to avoid such complications.

Treatment for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- There is no specific way to treat this condition and only the symptoms have to be managed by choosing some medication. In this situation, it is important to know about the affected region in the body so that proper treatment can be given to providing some relief.

- When it comes to treating joint pain and other related issues due to this condition, some anti-inflammatory medication may be used as this will reduce the inflammation in the body.

- In the same manner, inflammation on the skin surface can also produce rashes and use steroids as medication or cream will provide suitable relief in this situation.

- It is also possible to slow down the immune system on a temporary basis by using some medication. However, this cannot be continued for a long duration and you need to choose this treatment only as a temporary solution.

- It is also noticed that using drugs that are used to treat malaria can give effective results in this situation.

- Apart from that, you should also make suitable changes to your diet and lifestyle as this can have a significant impact on your overall health condition. It is necessary to reduce stress and eat a healthy diet to keep your immune system in proper order.

Complications of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
- The complications of this condition are many as this can affect various organs of the body in no time and cause severe damage when proper treatment is not provided at the right time.

- When it normally causes blood clots along with inflammation of the blood vessels in the body, it can lead to complications like vasculitis in many individuals.

- In extreme cases, it can even lead to a heart attack as it can cause inflammation of the heart region due to the autoimmune disorder.

- When this affects the brain region, it can cause a stroke in many cases. Many individuals also report seizures on a frequent basis when they are suffering from this condition.

- It is also known to impact the memory functioning of the brain and this can affect the overall ability of the person to handle various tasks in everyday life.

- It can also cause certain behavioural changes all of a sudden without any other health conditions. This should be noticed carefully as the person suffering may not be able to distinguish this as a symptom and other people in the family should identify such symptoms.

- When it affects the lining of the lungs region, it can lead to inflammation in that area and this causes shortness of breath and other complications in the long run.

- It can put a lot of pressure on the kidney as the body reacts aggressively to normal substances and produces antibodies in large quantities. In this situation, the overall functioning ability of the kidney can get reduced to a large extent and it can even lead to inflammation of this region or complete failure of the organ in extreme cases.

- You should be very careful about this condition during pregnancy as this can lead to various complications and even affect the newborn baby. In extreme stages, it can even cause miscarriage or other complications during delivery.

Myths about Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Myth #1: This condition can be cured:

There is no cure for this condition and you should only manage the symptoms in the long run. Whenever you notice any symptoms, you need to treat them and there is no way of completely avoiding them in the future.

Myth #2: It cannot be caused by stress:

Most people do not realize the importance of leading a stress-free life and take it for granted. However, you need to understand that emotional, as well as physical stress, can trigger such conditions in the body and you will have to suffer a lot for a long duration. It is a good idea to relax once in a while to reduce the stress levels in the body.

Conclusion
You should understand that this is a chronic condition and there is no way to treat this permanently. However, the symptoms can be easily managed and you need to reduce the overactive immune system during this phase. It can be easily controlled with proper medication and you should try to avoid things that can trigger them in your body. If you notice that any medication is causing this condition, you can speak to your doctor to get some alternative medicine to treat the underlying issues.
4 people found this helpful

Fibromyalgia!

MD - Acupuncture, Diploma In Accupuncture, Advanced Diploma In Accupuncture
Acupuncturist, Delhi
Fibromyalgia!
What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia is a common and chronic disorder. It is characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues.

Symptoms of Fibromyalgia-

Pain all over
Fatigue
Sleep disturbances
Anxiety and Depression
Muscle knots, cramping, weakness
Digestive disorders
Headache
Balance problems
Burning skin
Causes of Fibromyalgia-

Genetics
Infections
Physical or emotional trauma
Risk factors of Fibromyalgia-

More in women than in men
Family history
Rheumatoid arthritis or lupus
Complications of Fibromyalgia-

Inability to function at home or on the job
Depression and health-related anxiety

Diagnosis of Fibromyalgia-
There is no lab test to confirm a diagnosis of fibromyalgia but your doctor may want to rule out other conditions that may have similar symptoms. Blood tests are recommended which may include complete blood count, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and thyroid function tests.

Precautions & Prevention of Fibromyalgia-

Reduce stress
Get enough sleep
Limit your caffeine intake
Eat healthy foods
Exercise regularly
Treatment of Fibromyalgia-

Homeopathic Treatment of Fibromyalgia
Acupuncture & Acupressure Treatment of Fibromyalgia
Psychotherapy Treatment of Fibromyalgia
Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Fibromyalgia
Surgical Treatment of Fibromyalgia
Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Fibromyalgia
Other Treatment of Fibromyalgia

Treatment of Fibromyalgia-

Homeopathic Treatment of Fibromyalgia-

Homeopathy provides safe, natural and lasting cure of fibromyalgia. Homeopathic treatment for fibromyalgia depends on the person s physical, emotional, and psychological makeup. It strengthens the vital force of the body that balances many functions and provides protection from illness. Some of the remedies for fibromyalgia are:

Rhus tox
Arnica
Bryonia
Calcarea carb
Causticum
Acupuncture & Acupressure Treatment of Fibromyalgia-

Acupuncture and acupressure helps to relieve pain symptoms caused by fibromyalgia. The acupuncture needles helped to increase blood flow in fibromyalgia patients to a much greater degree than in the healthy controls. This increases the blood circulation helped to reduce the number of tender points and increase muscle health.

Psychotherapy and Hypnotherapy Treatment of Fibromyalgia-

Anxiety and stress have a negative impact on fibromyalgia patients. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one type of psychotherapy. It helps to ease pain symptoms. it can also help you to take control of the extent to which pain, tiredness, or other symptoms interfere with your life. Hypnotherapy quickly relives deep psychological issues causing or aggravating fibromyalgia. It also helps by working on pain tolerance.

Conventional / Allopathic Treatment of Fibromyalgia-

Conventional or allopathic treatment can help reduce the pain of fibromyalgia and improve sleep. Analgesics, Antidepressants and Anti-seizure drugs are prescribed by the doctors. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) or naproxen sodium are also recommended.

Dietary & Herbal Treatment of Fibromyalgia

Eat a high-fiber diet
Drink eight glasses of pure water daily
Avoid processed foods
Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and sugar

Lupus Nephritis - Know It Effects On Kidney!

FISN, FISPD, MD - General Medicine, MBBS, DM
Nephrologist, Delhi
Lupus Nephritis - Know It Effects On Kidney!
Most people believe kidneys to be organs solely responsible for the filtration of blood and production of urine. But the truth is that the kidneys perform a host of vital functions in the body which include regulation of blood pressure, blood volume, and blood Ph. Around half of the individuals affected by lupus suffer from kidney problems, and the most affected part is the glomerulus whose function is filtering substances from the blood.

Effects of lupus nephritis on the kidneys

Lupus itself doesn t lead to kidney infection or inflammation. But lupus nephritis, which is the Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) that affects the kidneys and the medications used for treating the condition tend to suppress the immune system. It makes the person affected with lupus vulnerable to the infections of various types. It is one of the most severe conditions of that could be encountered by a person wherein the immune system starts attacking various parts of the body as they would tackle a disease.

Lupus nephritis makes the kidney unable to remove the waste materials effectively from the blood. This leads to loss of control over the amounts of fluids regulating in the body. As a result, an abnormal amount of waste can build up in the blood resulting in edema or swelling.

When left untreated, these conditions can cause scarring along with permanent damage to the kidneys and end-stage renal disease. When a person has end stage renal disease, he or she needs regular filtering of the waste products of the body with the help of a machine. In severe cases, a kidney transplant may be required to ensure that at least one kidney is working properly.

Individuals who are susceptible to developing lupus nephritis:

A person with lupus may see the symptoms of lupus nephritis within 5 years and the people aged between 20 and 40 years are most vulnerable to it. In some common instances, it is seen that lupus nephritis is leading to unexplained weight gain along with swelling and puffiness in different parts of the body such as ankles, hands, eyelids, legs, and feet. During the first stages, these symptoms are often ignored which causes worsening of the condition. The urine may also become frothy or foamy with a reddish tinge in it. It is estimated that about 40 percent of children having lupus would develop kidney complications. Lupus nephritis may also cause increased urination, blood in the urine and elevated blood pressure.

If you have lupus, it is imperative to consult with a nephrologist. Testing a sample of the urine can help in showing the problems in the functioning of the kidneys. Your doctor will advise you about the diagnostic tests that can help in determining whether the disease has progressed to severe levels and start with the treatment process accordingly.
2673 people found this helpful

Lupus (Skin Rash) - How Can It Be Treated?

MBBS, DNB - Dermatology & Venereology
Dermatologist, Mumbai
Lupus (Skin Rash) - How Can It Be Treated?
Lupus is an inflammatory disease that is chronic in nature. It occurs when your tissues and organs are attacked by your body's own immunity system. The inflammation that this disease causes can affect the other parts of your body as well, like the joints, kidneys, skin, brain etc. It is often difficult to diagnose because it lacks distinct symptoms. However, one of the most identifiable symptoms of lupus is a ring-shaped rash on the face.

Lupus can be caused by a number of factors like:

Excessive exposure to sunlight
Susceptibility towards infections
Certain anti-seizure, blood pressure and antibiotic medicines
Symptoms
The symptoms are neither distinct nor regular. However, some common symptoms could be-

Fatigue and fever
Pain in the joints, stiffness and swelling
Ring-shaped facial rash
Skin lesions on exposure to the sun
Chest pain and shortness of breath
What else can lupus lead to?

Several complications may arise if lupus is left untreated. Some of them are-

Kidney damage and failure
Hallucination, seizures, strokes and several other problems associated with the brain and the central nervous system
Anemia, blood clotting, vasculitis etc.
Increased susceptibility to pneumonia
Increased risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases
Treatment
Lupus is a significantly dangerous disease and medical help should be immediately sought if you think that you have symptoms associated with it. Treatment depends on the signs and symptoms of individual patients.
5319 people found this helpful

Interstitial Lung Disease

MBBS, MD - Respiratory Medicine , Trained In Treating Sleep Disorder , Trained In Interventinal Bronchoscopy , Trained In Medical Thoracoscopy , Trained In Rigid Bronchoscopy
Pulmonologist, Delhi
Play video
Hi All,

I am Dr. Rakesh Chawla, pulmonologist. Today I will talk about a very common disease. It is interstitial lung disease. It has got 150 varieties of the disease. IPF is very common. Lung me jala aana shuru ho jata hai. Ye dheere dheere lungs ko khane lgta hai. Lekin kuch bimariyon me jaale ki progression ko kam kia ja skta hai. Kuch bimariyon me jala puri trha se thik bhi ho skta hai. Isko fibrosis bola jata hai. Lungs me scarring ho jati hai.

Lungs pure khul nhi pate and oxygen puri Nhi mil pati hai. Patient ko saans fulne ki problem ho jati hai. Diagnosis is problem ka bhut important hai. Ye bimari smokers ko ho jati hai. Smoke krne se lung cancer, COPD, tuberculosis. Aise hi IPS bhi iski vjha se hota hai. Jo log cement or chemical industry me kaam krte hain unhe bhi ye problem ho skta hai quki vo lambe samay tak inhale krte rehte hain. ILD and IPF ki kya presentation hai. Patient ko breathlessness ka problem ho jata hai normal activities me. Frequent attacks of the lung infection, chest infection, wheezing hona, ye sab symptoms aane shuru ho jate hain. Advance stage me ungliyon ka neela hona oxygen ki kami darshata hai.

Poor appetite, weight loss, cough these symptoms remain same. Is problem me lungs pe kya effect aata hai. Lungs me scarring ho jati hai. Lungs ke septum me scarring ho jati hai jhan se carbon dioxide release hota hai. Pulmonary function test, lung function test, spirometry tremendously reduce ho jata hai. Lung function kafi decrease ho jata hai. CT scan ki ek variety HRCT kia jata hai or us se check kia jata hai ki patient ko ILD ka kitna extend hai.

Ye type bhi bta deta hai ILDL ka. Lung biopsy se isko diagnose kia ja skta hai. Ye ek safe procedure hai and hum open lung biopsy bhi krte hain which has got lot of morbidity. Isko treatment kaise dia jata hai. IPF ke lia kewal 2 medicines hi hain jo fibrosis ki progression ko reduce krti hain but khtm nhi kar skti. Jaise hi breathlessness shuru ho aap pulmonologist ko dikhao. IPF can be treated at the initial stage. And non-IPF is also treatable. Is se related jo infections hain, unke lia vaccines are available. Pneumonia, influenza ka vaccine available hai. Pulmonary function test har 6 mahine or 1 saal me krna chaiye. Agar patient ki history hai asthma or COPD ki to uska treatment initial stage pe hi jruri hai.

Patient should get a good nourishing diet. Invisible toxins we are inhaling day in and day out. Agar patient ki problem early stage pe diagnose ho gyi to patient can live a normal life. Sometimes patient stops responding to the medicine when they are at the crucial stage. So, you always must report earlier to solve your problem. We look forward for a healthy life. We want clean air, water to avoid diseases which are prevalent in our country.

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