Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
Systemic lupus erythematosus is a condition where your immune system mistakenly attacks your own healthy body tissues, causing widespread inflammation.
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Think of your immune system as a security guard meant to protect you from germs. In lupus, that guard gets confused and starts attacking your own healthy cells by mistake. This leads to inflammation, which is the body's way of reacting to injury, causing heat, swelling, and pain.
The word 'systemic' means it can affect many different parts of your body at once, such as your skin, joints, kidneys, or brain. Because it can target so many areas, it is a complex condition, but with the right care, most people manage it successfully.
Common Symptoms
- A butterfly-shaped rash that spreads across your cheeks and the bridge of your nose.
- Extreme tiredness, even after getting plenty of sleep.
- Joint pain, stiffness, and swelling, often in the fingers and wrists.
- Sensitivity to sunlight, where sun exposure causes rashes or other symptoms to flare up.
- Fever for no obvious reason.