What Is Systemic Lupus?
3. Symptoms
Because systemic lupus erythematosus can affect multiple areas of the body, symptoms can vary widely. The most characteristic symptom of SLE is a rash that spreads across the bridge of the nose and the cheeks. The condition was given the name “lupus,” meaning “wolf” in Latin, because the rash resembles the markings on a wolf’s face. The rash is also sometimes referred to as a butterfly rash because it resembles such an insect with its wings outstretched. Only about half of SLE patients have this distinctive rash, although they may have other skin lesions.
Most patients with SLE report joint pain and swelling, mostly in the upper extremities. Other common symptoms include headache, fever, fatigue, and a general feeling of illness or discomfort called malaise.
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