World Lupus Day 2023: What is Lupus?

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World World Lupus Day 2023

Every year on May 10, the world celebrates World Lupus Day to raise awareness about this serious ailment that necessitates a thorough understanding, support for each person affected, and more funding for additional research.

On this day, a variety of national and local groups, communities, patient advocates, and healthcare workers get together for a day of action to raise awareness of the disease and encourage people to learn more about it and take action to combat it.

When the immune system assaults its own tissue, it results in lupus, a chronic autoimmune disease that causes discomfort and inflammation in the body tissues. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), cutaneous lupus erythematosus (CLE), drug-induced lupus, and neonatal lupus are the four different kinds of lupus, with SLE being the most prevalent. Lupus is frequently referred to be a “invisible disease” since its symptoms can change and resemble those of other illnesses, including fever, joint pain, skin rashes, and problems with internal organs (the kidney, heart, lungs, and brain). This can cause lupus to be misdiagnosed.

What is Lupus?

Lupus is a disease that occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs (autoimmune disease).Lupus-related inflammation can impact a variety of body systems, including your joints, skin, kidneys, blood cells, brain, heart, and lungs.

Because of how frequently its signs and symptoms resemble those of other illnesses, lupus can be challenging to diagnose. In many but not all cases of lupus, the most recognisable lupus symptom—a face rash that looks like butterfly wings expanding across both cheeks—occurs.

Some people are predisposed to lupus from birth, which can be brought on by illnesses, medications, or even sunshine. Lupus has no known cure, however medicines can help manage symptoms.

World World Lupus Day-History

In order to raise awareness of the illness, which may have devastating impacts on both those who have it and their loved ones, Lupus Canada established World Lupus Day in 2004. 13 lupus advocacy groups banded together to speak out against their various governments in an effort to raise more money for lupus research, better patient care, greater incidence data, and public awareness. Since then, the day has become an annual celebration in an increasing number of countries in Africa, Asia, Australia, North and South America, and Europe.

Importance of World Lupus Day

Anyone can have lupus, although it’s usually diagnosed in people between the ages of 15 and 44, and women are more likely to get it than men are. As oestrogen hormones are known to control cytokine production and play a part in the pathogenesis of lupus, they may have an impact on the immune system. According to studies, lupus affects at least 50 lakh people worldwide, with 34 lakh (68%) of those affected having SLE, with an estimated prevalence of 43.7 (15.87 to 108.92) per 1,000 persons. Even though lupus is a complex, crippling disease that can be fatal, there is little any public awareness of it.

The symptoms of the disease can be managed, and the danger of organ damage can be decreased, with early detection and attentive medical care. The objectives of World Lupus Day are to increase public awareness of the illness, educate people about its seriousness, generate money for comprehensive research, and offer emotional support to all lupus sufferers and their families.