Symptoms of Lupus
Causes | Symptoms | Types | Testing | Treatment | Other Illnesses | Quality of Life
What are the symptoms of lupus?
The most common symptoms of lupus are achy and swollen joints and frequent fevers of more than 100ºF. Other symptoms are listed below.
| Symptoms | Percentage of Cases |
|---|
| Achy joints (arthralgia) |
95% |
| Arthritis (swollen joints) |
90% |
| Frequent fevers of more than 100º F |
90% |
| Prolonged or extreme fatigue |
81% |
| Skin rashes |
74% |
| Anemia (iron deficiency) |
71% |
| Kidney problems |
50% |
| Pain in the chest on deep breathing (pleurisy) |
45% |
| Butterfly-shaped rash across the cheek and nose |
42% |
| Skin sensitivity to light (photosensitivity) |
30% |
| Hair loss |
27% |
| Abnormal blood clotting problems |
20% |
| Fingers turning white and/or blue in the cold (Raynaud's phenomenon) |
17% |
| Seizures |
15% |
| Mouth or nose sores |
12% |
Each person with lupus has slightly different symptoms and experiences them in different ways. You can see some symptoms, such as skin rashes. Other symptoms, such as kidney problems you cannot see and may not be able to feel until permanent damage is done. Symptoms can range from mild to severe to life-threatening. Symptoms can affect any part of the body or many parts at once.
Do symptoms change over time?
Yes. Different symptoms of lupus can occur at different times and change over time. New symptoms may continue to appear years after lupus is diagnosed.
At times, symptoms may disappear entirely. When that happens, the disease is in remission. The reappearance or sudden worsening of symptoms is known as a flare. It is possible to have a flare and not know it. Even if the disease is in remission or not causing problems, people with lupus should keep their scheduled appointments with their doctors.
Are there skin rashes unique to lupus?
Rashes and other skin problems are very common among people with lupus. Some skin rashes also occur with other diseases. One rash has been specifically identified with lupus. That is the rash over the nose and cheeks. This facial rash may be permanent or come and go. It can range in color from a faint pink to red and is very sensitive to light.
Because of its shape, this rash is sometimes called a "butterfly rash." This facial rash was once thought to resemble the bite of a wolf and is responsible for the term lupus erythematosus. (The word lupus means wolf and the word erythematosus means redness.)
Written 12/07
