1. NonContagious: You cannot 'catch' Lupus, through any type of contact, including sexual. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webartic...
2. Classification: An autoimmune disease
3. It is believed that 5 million people throughout the world have a form of lupus. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webartic...
4. Cause: There is currently no known cause for Lupus. http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webartic...
5. Dangers: Sun exposure, stress, injury, ultra violet light, lack of sleep, certain medications

With proper treatment, mild cases of Lupus respond well, and the patient can lead a near normal life and life expectancy. However, more serious cases of Lupus can cause complications that are life threatening.

• Extreme fatigue
• Unexplained Persistent fever
• arthritis
• Unexplained Joint/Muscle Pain
• Skin rashes
• Widespread inflammation
• Secondary Fibromyalgia

• Malar rash
• Discoid rash
• Photosensitivity
• Oral ulcers
• Serositis
• Kidney disorder
• Neurological disorder
• Blood disorder – anemia, leukopenia, *lymphopenia, thrombocytopenia
• Abnormal antinuclear antibody (ANA)

If you experience three or more of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Lupus can cause damage to internal organs that cannot be repaired, but the damage can often be prevented if caught early enough.

Only a qualified healthcare professional can make a Lupus diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.

There is a new drug on the horizon, Benlysta, that might be available to Lupus patients in the near future, but the cost of the medication, at $20,000 per year or more, is prohibitive to most patients. It is not known yet whether insurance companies will cover the cost of this medication. http://www.hgsi.com/BENLYSTA.html