Sponsored Ads
A New Free Report - What Is Lupus?
This fascinating new report from UK-based publishing house Health Research Today answers some of the most-asked questions about this baffling disease :
- What is the medical definition of lupus?
- What are the symptoms of lupus?
- What tests are there for lupus? How do you get a diagnosis?
Fill in this form and we will send you the report immediately, which you are welcome to send on to friends or family!
The Symptoms of Lupus
This article is an extract from the ebook Freedom From Lupus!
CNS Vasculitis
CNS vasculitis occurs when the main blood vessels become inflamed due to lupus. Approximately 10 percent of lupus patients develop the condition. It is one of two syndromes (psychosis is the other) that fulfill the ACR criteria for the diagnosis of lupus. CNS vasculitis is more prevalent early on in the disease, as 80 percent of cases occur within the first five years of diagnosis.
CNS vasculitis symptoms include high fevers, seizures, and a meningitis-like stiffness in the neck. There may also be signs of psychosis or bizarre behaviors. Without treatment the condition can progress to stupor and then coma. CNS vasculitis is diagnosed via angiogram, MRI, and spinal tap.
Mouth Ulcers
Mouth ulcers affect 20 percent of lupus patients, and some patients report that this is the first symptom that shows up during a lupus flare. They are characterized by soreness, swelling around the ulcer, difficulty chewing, and visible sores in or on the mouth.
The lesions look very similar to herpes lesions or cold sores, so they are often misdiagnosed. They can be solitary or crops of lesions on the tongue or any other part of the mouth. When looked at under a microscope the lesions are lupus-like, so treatment can be appropriate.
Doctors will often prescribe buttermilk gargles or peroxide dilutions to treat the lesions. Also, common treatments include steroid or antimalarials. Stress and infection can make mouth ulcers worse, though mouth ulcers are often a mild symptom of lupus. It is important to keep the mouth clean and use good oral hygiene to prevent the spreading of the sores.
Read the rest of this article in Freedom From Lupus!
© Health Research Today
