SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DISCOID LUPUS

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DISCOID LUPUS

A chronic skin condition involving sores, inflammation and scars over the face, ears and other body parts, is known as Discoid Lupus Erythematous or DLE. It is clearly identifiable by red swollen crusty patches. This is a polygenic autoimmune disease which leads to autoantibody and t-cell dysfunction. It usually occurs in genetically predisposed people. The highest presence of this disease is found in ages 40 to 60 years. It occurs 2 to 3 times more in women than in men. Many experience pain or a burning sensation and disfigurement from the scars that develop due to this ailment. The prime goal of treatment is to improve the appearance of a patient that has this ailment by reducing scarring and controlling lesions. Treatment starts with the use of sun protective clothing, sunscreens and behavior alteration. Sometimes make up and wigs maybe suggested to cover up memories of this disease. 

Treatment also includes topical corticosteroids, intraregional corticosteroids and antimalarial. Patients might be advised to stay away from sunlight till late afternoon. Patients are advised to stay away from tan beds which are an artificial source of light.  There might be changes in blood count, blood clots might appear, and hair loss and other skin problem slowly come in the later stage of this disease.

Signs and symptoms of Discoid lupus are quite common though in some rare cases the symptoms might differ from person to person. This disease is usually diagnosed at first by the visualization of medical experts. Some might have few symptoms while some might have too many obvious ones. This disease may affect any or all parts of the body; hence there are many different symptoms. 

However some of the common symptoms are as follows:

 
  • ·         Rash in the shape of a butterfly across the cheek or nose appears at the early stage of this disease.
  • ·         There can be loss of hair leading to baldness due to lack of nutrition in the hair growth and the number of the WBC,RBC as well as platelets decreased significantly in the body of the patient suffering from this disease.
  • ·         Patients become sensitive to sun and light.
  • ·         Tremendous amount of joint pain all over the body may be experienced by the person who is affected by this disease but the severity of the symptom varies from person to person.
  • ·         High rise in body leading to fever (more than 100°F) which is sometimes followed by cardiac problem as well lung problem too.
  • ·         Extreme tiredness and fatigue is one of the mostly seen symptom of this disease which some time followed by arthritis which is very painful and troublesome.
  • ·         Swelling and fluid accumulation occurred in the body of the affected person.
  • ·         Breathing problems and gasping for breath.
  • ·         Seizure attack might occur which can be fatal from which patients might not even recover.
  • ·         Sores on tender body parts like the nose or mouth make it very difficult to eat or even breathe.
  • ·         Pale fingers Due to cold and stress might be observed.

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