finished

well im done. well, i got most of my information from: http://www.lupusnsw.org.au/lwlupus.html

and also microsoft encarta.

FIN.

statistics

90% of lupus sufferers are women. 90% of the women get lupus during their reproductive years. Lupus also affects you depending on where you live. eg the US, African Americans, Latinos and Asians are more commonly affected than Caucasians, and lupus in the Philippines and China is more common than in Japan.

Although it is a serious disease, lupus is only fatal in a small percentage of cases. It all depends on your age, genes, race, where you live and how serious it is. but because there is no cure for lupus, there is no cure rate.

while lupus affects women mostly in their reproductive years, men dont have a risk period but usually have a more serious case of lupus.

http://www.lupusnsw.org.au/lwlupus.html

how is it treated?

treatment wont cure lupus, but it used to reduce the imflammed tissue and to control the abnormal immune system. every lupus patient never has the same symptoms as another, so doctors tailor the treatment. to treat lupus, you need to take drugs. the four main ones are:

-Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs

these are for pain relief. they might work great on some people, while others might not get an effect. this drug doesnt modify the disease, only lessens the imflammation, pain and some symptoms like arthritis and muscle aches.

- Anti-malarial drugs

while malaria doesnt have anything to do with lupus, the treatment is used to reduce the symptoms. these include skin rashes, mouth ulcers, hair loss and joint swelling. patients are advised to get their eyes checked very six months though, as the drug may affect your sight.

- Corticosteroids

this is a hormone that acts like a steroid. it is very effective against the symptoms of lupus but it also has many short and long term side effects similar to steroids.

- Immunosuppressants

the name is the same as it's actions, it surpresses the immune system. it is used when the immune system is over-active. it is effective too, but has serious side effects like anaemia, hair loss and even cancer. it is only used in severe cases of lupus when other drugs arnt enough to control the disease.

the best thing to do is to check if you have lupus eariler than later. you wont need to take multiple drugs and it will be less serious. there are also natural and herbal treatments you could try.

http://www.lupusnsw.org.au/lwlupus.html

causes of lupus

There isnt actually a known cause of lupus but scientists have found that hormonal, genectic and environmental factors contribute to it.



Some triggers include:

- Hormones

- Certain medications

- Dietary factors

- Viruses and bacteria

- Stress

- Genetics

- Pregnancy

- Exposure to UV light

http://www.lupusnsw.org.au/lwlupus.html

link to wolves

i found the link to wolves! well, one reason they called it lupus was because of the butterfly rash you might get. apparently it was like the markings on a wolf. the other was because it looked like a hungry wolf eating a person who has ulcers' face.

if you look under its eyes, its like the rash.

how does it affect the body?

Lupus affects most parts of the body including the skin, joints, organs and the immune system. patients may feel tired and weak.

SKIN - two-thirds of patients get a rash. some might get the 'butterfly' rash on their nose and cheeks or mouth sores. you can also get hives or altered skin colouring. one third of patients get Raynaud’s phenomenon which is when the fingers go white then blueish when exposed to stress, cold or vibration.

JOINTS - nine out of ten patients experience joint pain and imflammation in their hands, wrists and feet. it is usually most painful in the morning and eases out during the day.

HAIR - sometimes hair loss will occur. it is usually temporary and can be cured with a variety of remmedies.

MUSCLES - muscle ache, or myalgia, occurs in two thirds of patients. the pain is experienced between the neck and elbow and the knee and hip.

HEART - a quarter of people with lupus get an imflammation of the heart sac called pericarditis. they ease the pain by bending forward.

BLOOD - Lupus affects the cells of blood, resulting in blood not clotting and not enough blood cells (anaemia)

IMMUNE SYSTEM - a disease called lymphadenopathy can sometimes occur. it is when the lymph nodes become swollen.

http://www.lupusnsw.org.au/lwlupus.html

what is lupus??

ok, so it isnt a blood disease, more of the immune system. Lupus or Lupus Erythematosus is when the immune system treats the body's tissue as foriegn or bad and creates antibodies to fight it off, like self destruction.

anyway, if you have lupus or Lupus Erythematosus symtoms include a butterfly-like rash on your face, headaches, fatigue, arthritis joint disease, heart disease, excetra.

There are two types of Lupus, Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and Discoid lupus.
-SLE can affect almost any organ or system. Most patients suffer minor lupus which only affects the skin and joints, but more serious cases include the kidneys, heart, lungs, blood vessels and/or the brain.
-DL is the mild case of SLE and symtoms include sunburn-like rashes on the face and skin.

where i got this from: "Lupus Erythematosus." Microsoft® Student 2009 [DVD]. Redmond, WA: Microsoft Corporation, 2008.

http://www.lupusnsw.org.au/lwlupus.html