Living with a chronic illness such as lupus can be challenging and unpredictable, with the condition changing daily. Knowing its early signs and symptoms is an important part of living with this disease since it allows for better management. This article will discuss nine common symptoms of lupus. Read on to explore the warning signs, from skin rashes to joint pain, and get in touch with a healthcare professional if you identify any of them.

What is lupus?
Lupus, also known as systemic lupus erythematosus, is a complex autoimmune disease affecting the body’s immune system, which normally protects it against foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. It is a chronic disorder in which the body’s immune system attacks its healthy tissues and organs. It can cause inflammation throughout the body, but mostly in joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, the brain, and other organs. Lupus can affect people differently; its symptoms range from mild to life-threatening.
Systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosis often involves an assessment of a patient’s overall health history, physical exams, laboratory tests, and imaging studies like X-rays or ultrasounds. If you experience any of the symptoms detailed below, visiting your physician at the earliest is advisable.

9 early symptoms of lupus

Light sensitivity
Light sensitivity with lupus occurs when the skin breaks out in rashes or blisters in certain areas as a reaction to sunlight. While everybody may experience mild skin reddening after prolonged exposure to the sun, people with lupus experience much more severe symptoms, such as itching and burning sensations. Such reactions can be even more severely heightened when using tanning beds or under other forms of artificial light sources.

Fever
In people with lupus, fever often appears as sudden periods of high temperature followed by sudden returns to normal body heat. The cause of the fever during a lupus flare is believed to be due to inflammation, triggered when the body’s immune system inappropriately attacks itself.