How is SLE diagnosed?
How is SLE diagnosed?
How is SLE diagnosed? SLE is diagnosed by a health care provider using symptom assessments, physical examination, X-rays, and lab tests. SLE may be difficult to diagnose because its early signs and symptoms are not specific and can look like signs and symptoms of other diseases.
What do doctors look for when diagnosing lupus?
These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body. A doctor who is considering the possibility of lupus will look for signs of inflammation which include, pain, heat, redness, swelling, and loss of function at a particular place in the body.
Do you need a doctor to treat lupus?
Most people with lupus will require care for their disease for the rest of their life, so it’s critical to find a health care team who you respect and trust. Playing an active role in your care and being your own advocate not only reduces the stress of living with lupus but may even make a difference in your outcome.
How old do you have to be to have lupus?
Studies show that lupus, an autoimmune disease, is most common in women from the ages of 15 to 44. [1] It primarily affects the organs, such as the brain, skin, kidneys, and joints. Its symptoms often masquerade as signs of other illnesses, so the condition can be difficult to diagnose.
What are the symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus?
Some of the first symptoms of SLE are extreme fatigue, malaise (a general feeling of illness), fever, weight loss, and appetite loss. 1 Most people with SLE will go on to develop joint pain on both sides of the body and muscle pain and weakness.
How do I find out if I have lupus?
One of the most visible symptoms of lupus is a butterfly-shaped rash that appears over the bridge of the nose and on both cheeks. About 50 percent of people with lupus have this rash. It can occur suddenly or appear after exposure to sunlight. Sometimes the rash appears just before a flare-up.
What are the 11 signs of lupus?
The list of signs and symptoms mentioned in various sources for Systemic Lupus Erythematosus, Susceptibility to, 11 includes the 44 symptoms listed below: Vague symptoms. Extreme fatigue. Malaise. Unexplained fever. Chills. Nausea. Vomiting.
What type of Doctor would I need to diagnose and treat lupus?
Typically, lupus is treated by rheumatologists. Rheumatologists are internists or pediatricians (or both) that specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other diseases of the joints, muscles, and bones, as well as certain autoimmune diseases, including lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
How do you get diagnosed for lupus?
To actually get a lupus diagnosis, the doctor will want to test your blood with something called an ANA test. ANA stands for Antinuclear Antibodies and in patients with lupus, the activity of the immune system leads to an increased number of them in the blood. So, a laboratory can test your blood to check if that’s the case for you.