Mahalalove.com | My life, living with Lupus.
What is Lupus?
HIV, AIDS, Breast Cancer, Alcoholism, Drug Addiction, etc…all "household" names of life threatening diseases. We have been educated and well aware of the warning signs that can lead to possible death. Autoimmune Disorder, Connective Tissue Disease, Inflammatory Diseases, etc…are common names connected to the silent disease named LUPUS. LUPUS which means "wolf" in Latin is a chronic autoimmune inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, kidneys, organs and blood. Reported as of the year 2000, it is estimated that 16,000 Americans develop LUPUS each year and 500,000 to 1.5 million Americans have been diagnosed.
LUPUS is two to three times more common among African Americans, Hispanics, Asians, and Native Americans. More people have LUPUS than AIDS. Men and women of childbearing age are diagnosed with this disease. About 5% of children born to individuals with LUPUS will develop the disease. There are three (3) different kinds of LUPUS that a person can be diagnosed with. Cutenaeous Discoid LUPUS - which affects the skin and can lead to permanent scarring of the skin and body. Drug-Induced LUPUS - caused by certain prescription medications, which will go away after a person stops taking the medication.