Is it Lupus?
Lupus doesn t have a clear set of signs that people can see. You may know that something s wrong, even though it may take a while to be diagnosed. Lupus may be hard to diagnose. It s different for every person who has it. It can look like different diseases. Lupus is often mistaken for other diseases. For this reason, lupus has been called the great imitator. The signs of lupus differ from person to person. Some people have just a few signs, others more. Common Signs Common signs of lupus are: • Red rash or color change on the face, often in the shape of a butterfly across the nose and cheeks • Painful or swollen joints • Unexplained fever • Chest pain with deep breathing • Swollen glands • Extreme fatigue (feeling tired all the time) • Unusual hair loss (mainly on the scalp) • Pale or purple fingers or toes from cold or stress • Sensitivity to the sun • Low blood count • Depression, trouble thinking, and/or memory problems Other signs are: • mouth sores • convulsions (unexplained seiz
