By: Ashmar Mandou

Lupus is a mysterious illness that often goes undiagnosed among Latinos. According to the Lupus Foundation of America, more than 1.5 million Americans have lupus which is caused by an unbalanced immune system that can be harmful to any major organ or tissue in the body. The disease is two to three times more common among African-Americans, Latinos, Asians, and Native Americans than among Caucasians. In honor of Lupus Awareness Month, the Lupus Foundation of America put together a list of facts and causes of Lupus to help raise awareness to the disease. The organization will also be hosting an array of seminars and workshops throughout the month of May and is open to anyone who is interested in learning more.

Last Friday, members and volunteers of the Lupus Foundation of America Illinois Chapter held a mob flash to honor Lupus Awareness Month in downtown.

• Lupus can attack the body for years before the disease is diagnosed. Symptoms of lupus mimic common illnesses and often are dismissed as nothing serious.
• Awareness of lupus is lowest among women 18-24 – the age group most likely to develop the disease.
• Lupus is a serious disease that can damage vital organs, such as the kidneys, heart, lungs, and brain. The disease can cause seizures, strokes, heart attacks, miscarriages, and organ failure leading to significant disability or death.

Causes of Lupus

• Researchers do not know the exact causes of lupus. However, lupus is not infectious.
• Researchers believe individuals with lupus have a genetic predisposition to the disease. However, it is also known that certain environmental factors play a role in triggering lupus. Environmental factors include: infections, antibiotics, ultraviolet light, extreme stress, and hormones. Hormonal factors may explain why lupus occurs more frequently in females than in males.
• The immune system normally makes proteins called antibodies to protect the body against viruses, bacteria, and other foreign materials. In lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. The immune system then makes antibodies directed against “self.”

Medications
Although there is no cure for lupus, treatment can minimize symptoms, reduce inflammation, and maintain normal bodily functions for the vast majority of people with the disease. Medications often are prescribed for people with lupus, depending on which organs are involved, and the severity of involvement. Commonly prescribed medications include:

• Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs) – These drugs, such as aspirin and ibuprofen, are usually recommended for muscle and joint pain, and arthritis.
• Antimalarials – These drugs, such as Plaquenil®, are prescribed for skin and joint symptoms of lupus. It may take months before these drugs demonstrate a beneficial effect.
• Biologic drugs – These drugs include agents that block the production of specific antibodies, like those against DNA, or act to suppress the manufacture of antibodies through other mechanisms.

If you have any questions or concerns, the Lupus Foundation of America encourages you to call 1-888-385-8787, or visit www.lupus.org.