What are symptoms of lupus erythematosus?
There is no uniform pattern of symptoms at the onset of lupus. Fever, weakness, fatigue, or weight loss may be among the first signs of illness. A skin rash may appear on the face, neck, or arms. When this rash involves the nose and cheeks, it is called a butterfly rash. In people who are very sensitive to ultraviolet light, the rash may appear or get worse after exposure to the sun. Sometimes the fingers are unusually sensitive to cold and will turn blue on exposure. This color change is called Raynaud’s phenomenon. Another early sign of lupus may be joint pain in the hands, wrists, elbows, knees or ankles. Although the joints may become red, warm or swollen, the development of deformities is very uncommon. A feeling of stiffness in the joints and muscles upon awakening in the morning may accompany the joint pains, or may even occur without joint pain. Other common symptoms of the illness include muscle aches, swollen glands, lack of appetite, low grade temperature, hair loss, and nau
