In healthy people, the immune system functions to protect the body against infection by destroying bacteria or other pathogens. If your immune system abnormally attacks the healthy tissues or cells in your body, you may be diagnosed with a condition called lupus. Lupus (systemic lupus erythematosus) is a disease that most frequently affects Hispanic, Asian, African American or Native American women and can cause damaging symptoms to arise throughout the body. Within the United States, it is estimated that between 160,000 to 322,000 adults have this condition, reports the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you have questions regarding lupus disease and symptoms, talk with your doctor.
Joint or Muscle Pain and Fatigue
General sensations of pain or discomfort can develop throughout the body as a symptom of lupus. You may notice that your joints are persistently achy and appear swollen or enlarged, explains the Lupus Foundation of America. Muscle and joint symptoms can also contribute to sensations of weakness or increased fatigue, which may significantly interfere with your ability to complete your daily activities. These symptoms may be so uncomfortable that you are unable to get out of bed in the morning.
Skin Discoloration or Sensitivity
Women and men with lupus can develop unusual skin discoloration or increased skin sensitivity symptoms of this disease. Certain patients develop a red or purple butterfly-shaped rash that extends across the nose and cheeks, explains the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. You can also develop random patches of red, irritated skin across your body, which may become dry, itchy or irritated. Increased sensitivity to sunlight due to lupus can increase your risk of developing sunburn when exposed to the sun. Lupus can also cause certain patients to develop unusually white- or blue-colored fingers when exposed to cold temperatures, reports the Lupus Foundation of America.
Facial, Leg or Lymph Gland Swelling
Lupus can cause symptoms of fluid retention throughout the body. As a result, you may notice that your legs, feet, arms or hands appear puffy or swollen. The facial tissue around your eyes and the lymph glands within your neck may also appear enlarged, warn health officials at the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS), a division of the National Institutes of Health.
Oral Skin Lesions
Painful skin lesions can develop within the mouth as a symptom of lupus, which can be uncomfortable. In certain lupus patients, ulcers may also develop within the nose, explains the Lupus Foundation of America.
Chest Pain
You can experience unusual chest pain as a symptom of lupus. Sensations of pain within the chest may increase when you inhale normally, reports the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. If you experience any type of chest pain, seek emergency medical care immediately as these symptoms can be indicative of an alternate medical condition, such as a heart attack.
Fever or Headache
Patients with lupus can develop a persistent, unexplainable fever as a symptom of this disease, explain officials at Medline Plus, an online medical encyclopedia provided as a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Fever symptoms are typically low-grade and may be accompanied by headache, sweating or chills.
