Understanding Lupus in Children: Symptoms, Triggers, and Treatment

TRIBUNLAMPUNG.CO.ID – Lupus is a chronic inflammation of various body organs caused by an autoimmune condition, that is the failure of the immune system to recognize itself, causing the production of antibodies that attack itself.

A member of the Immuno-Allergy Coordination Unit (UKK) of the Indonesian Pediatric Association (IDAI), Dr. in pediatric patients.

“For children, lupus is found more often in girls, especially teenagers, with the peak age of experiencing lupus between 11 and 12 years,” said Dr. Reni in an IDAI media seminar, Tuesday (7/ 5/2024).

Lupus is affected by age and genetics, as well as ethnicity.

That is why lupus is usually found in patients with genetic vulnerability, and is triggered by environmental factors, one of which is the sun, or disease.

“You need to know that sunlight can trigger lupus and make it worse,” said Dr. Reni.

Lupus in children usually has signs and symptoms that are more severe than lupus in adult patients.

Symptoms of lupus in children include weight loss, fatigue for no apparent reason, fever, hair loss, morning stiffness or body aches and stiffness, as well as joint and muscle pain.

Lupus can also cause symptoms of nerve problems, stroke, seizures, mental disorders, fever, fluid accumulation in the lung cavity and heart cavity, as well as inflammation of the heart lining and heart muscle.

Other symptoms are a decrease in red blood cells or anemia, white blood cells and platelets, enlarged lymph nodes, delayed childbirth, growth disorders, hair loss, baldness, thyroid hormone disorders, enlarged liver and spleen, kidney disease, fluid build-up in the stomach. cavities, joint swelling, and joint stiffness.

In addition, lupus can cause painless symptoms with mouth sores, which usually occur in 17-22 percent of lupus patients.

Next are the symptoms of hair loss, which can affect all areas of the head without signs of inflammation on the skin.

There are also signs of a malar rash, which is a typical rash in lupus that has a butterfly shape on the cheeks and nose, without affecting the smile lines.

The symptoms of discoid spots are dog-shaped spots with firm borders, red color, usually found on the skin in different parts of the body, and it seems that they peel smoothly on it.

Source: Lampung Tribune