Has anyone ever been told....

[Guest guest]

I was just wondering if anyone has ever been told their child might

have Lupus or some other kind or disease or syndrome down the road?

When my daughter was 4yrs old, she was a model and her manager has

Lupus, she is Okinawan (Japanese) and had all the symptoms as our

daughter did when she was a child. She saw all the flare ups our

daughter had. When we got to TX we were also told when she gets older

she might just have Lupus, and is just something to call it,

until further diagnosed.

Common signs and symptoms

The most common signs and symptoms of lupus, which usually develop at

intervals, rather than all at once, include the following:

Rash. Although it only affects about one in three people with lupus,

the skin problem most often associated with the disease is a

butterfly-shaped rash (malar rash) that develops across the cheeks

and bridge of the nose. A malar rash may be flat or raised and may be

blotchy or completely red in the affected areas. Some people with

lupus develop skin lesions (subacute cutaneous lesions) that

initially resemble small pimples but that eventually turn scaly and

itchy, whereas others have large, flat, itchy lesions with clear

centers. Both types of lesions usually appear after exposure to

sunlight. Still other people develop a crusty, red, raised rash

(discoid rash) on the face, neck, chest or scalp. A discoid rash is

usually thick and scaly, may last for days or years, and often leaves

hypopigmented or hyperpigmented scars. This rash is the only symptom

in people with the discoid form of lupus. In a small percentage of

cases, people with discoid lupus may go on to develop a mild version

of SLE.

Arthritis. Most people with lupus eventually develop joint pain,

stiffness and swelling, mainly in their fingers, hands, wrists and

knees. The pain may shift from one joint to another or affect the

same joint on both sides of the body. Lupus-associated arthritis can

come and go quickly and usually isn't deforming, although the pain

can be severe during a flare.

Kidney problems. People with lupus are especially vulnerable to

kidney damage — lupus can cause numerous types of glomerulonephritis,

a condition that affects the kidneys' ability to filter toxins,

leading to kidney failure. Although some people with kidney problems

may develop frothy or tea-colored urine, swelling in their ankles or

lower legs, or high blood pressure, kidney damage often occurs

without any warning signs or symptoms.

Sensitivity to sunlight (photosensitivity). People with lupus are

often highly sensitive to sunlight, frequently developing severe

rashes on sun-exposed skin. Sometimes even indoor lighting,

especially fluorescent lighting, can cause the same response.

Brain or central nervous system problems. Lupus can cause a range of

serious problems related to the brain or central nervous system,

including headaches, seizures, dizziness, vision problems, behavior

changes or stroke.

Heart problems. Lupus can affect all parts of the heart, including

the sac surrounding the heart (pericardium), the heart muscle

(myocardium) and the lining of the inside of the heart (endocardium).

Pericarditis, which occurs when the pericardium becomes inflamed, is

particularly common in people with lupus, causing shortness of breath

and sharp chest pain that may feel like a heart attack.

Lung problems. Lupus can cause a number of lung problems, the most

common of which is pleurisy, an inflammation of the chest cavity

lining that can produce sharp, stabbing chest pain. Less common lung

conditions include pleural effusion, which is the accumulation of

excess fluid in the pleural space between the lung and the chest

wall, and lupus pneumonitis, a lung inflammation. Occasionally,

people with lupus develop high blood pressure in the blood vessels in

the lungs (pulmonary hypertension).

Mucosal ulcers. These generally painless sores develop in the mouth,

especially the roof of the mouth or, less often, in the nose. You're

not likely to notice mucosal ulcers unless you eat spicy food or

experience recurring nosebleeds.

Blood vessel disorders. Inflamed blood vessels can affect blood

circulation. The inflammation may be mild and not require treatment

or it can be quite severe.

Other signs and symptoms

Other signs and symptoms also may occur that aren't specific to

lupus. These include:

Fatigue. The fatigue that accompanies lupus is not the same tiredness

you experience after a sleepless night or hard physical work.

Instead, it's an ongoing, extreme exhaustion that's usually not

relieved by rest.

Fever. An unexplained fever, especially a chronic fever higher than

100 F may be an early sign of lupus.

Raynaud's phenomenon. In this condition your fingers, toes, nose and

ears turn pale and numb when exposed to cold temperatures.

Swelling. You may have swollen glands or swelling in your legs or

around your eyes.

Digestive problems. These problems may include abdominal pain, weight

loss, nausea and vomiting.

Hair loss. Because lupus can affect the skin of your scalp, you may

experience some patchy hair loss.

Depression. People with lupus may also experience depression or

difficulty concentrating, either because of the disease itself or

because of the challenges of living with a chronic condition.

father to Jaelee age 11, diagnosed with 2002. (*update

Jaelee is getting FNA done tomorrow),