SLE is called a “great mimic” as the symptoms of the disease vary from person to person and never persistent. They keep on coming and going and needs diagnosis. However, the common indicators or signs accompanying SLE are joint pain, fatigue, and skin rashes. Other symptoms include:
- Headache and hair loss.
- Eczema or skin problems.
- Arthritis.
- Anemia or low blood count.
- Rash on cheeks, often termed as butterfly-rash.
- Raynaud’s phenomena, in which fingers turn white and blue with a tingling cold sensation.
- Problems in blood clotting, especially after an injury.
Symptoms localise depending on the affected body part such as the digestive tract, skin, or heart. Patient suffering with systemic lupus erythematosus (later referred as Lupus) may at times feel chest pain with difficulty in breathing.
The localised symptoms are:
- Brain and nervous system: Headaches, pain, numbness, vision problems, and personality disorders.
- Kidney: Unexpected weight gain with swelling in the legs.
- Digestive tract: Abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
- Lung: Cough with blood and difficulty in breathing.
- Heart: Palpitations and abnormal heart rhythm.