Lupus symptoms in women are generally the same as men. The most common symptom is a facial rash that resembles a butterfly wing and is sometimes accompanied by pain. However, there are still many symptoms of lupus in women that need to be known.
Lupus is an autoimmune disease that can cause inflammation throughout the body. This condition is more common in women of childbearing age (15–44 years). The hormone estrogen is thought to play an important role in causing lupus symptoms in women.
This condition is often confused with other diseases because initially it does not cause symptoms. However, symptoms of lupus in women will appear when the disease starts to get worse or gets worse.
Some Lupus Symptoms in Women
Not all people with lupus have the same symptoms because lupus can affect different parts of the body. Lupus symptoms in women are influenced by increased levels of the hormone estrogen. This is also what causes lupus to occur more frequently in women during their childbearing years. At that time, the level of the female hormone estrogen is at its highest level.
The following are the most common symptoms of lupus in women:
1. Muscle and joint pain
Pain and stiffness in the muscles and joints can be a symptom of lupus in women. Joint pain is usually caused by lupus itself or due to complications from treatment or disorders of other joints. Muscle pain and swelling usually occurs in the neck, thighs, shoulders, and upper arms.
2. Fever
Fever is a symptom of various medical conditions, one of which is lupus in women. Lupus sufferers may experience fever as a form of inflammatory response.
Although not dangerous, these symptoms are often accompanied by other complaints and interfere with activities. Because of that, taking fever-reducing drugs, such as ibuprofen or paracetamol, is often used to reduce fever while reducing inflammation, which will reduce fever.
3. Facial rash
The facial rash experienced by people with lupus occurs as a reaction to exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light. The exact mechanism for the formation of this rash is still unknown, but some researchers believe this condition is related to the response of the immune system in the skin when exposed to sunlight.
One of the most common symptoms of lupus in women is the appearance of a red rash on the nose and cheeks that resembles a butterfly. Apart from that, the rash can also appear on other parts of the body exposed to the sun, such as the arms and hands.
4. Hair loss
Hair loss is indeed a common condition. However, this condition can also be a symptom of lupus in women.
Lupus can make the sufferer's scalp more sensitive to sunlight. Even if the scalp is exposed to very little sunlight, it can trigger a massive autoimmune response that causes hair loss.
5. Sensitive to sun exposure
Most people with lupus also become more sensitive to sun exposure (photosensitivity). Excess UV exposure experienced by lupus sufferers will cause rashes, fever, fatigue, or joint pain.
6. Thrush
Lupus symptoms in women also include canker sores in the mouth or on the lips. Canker sores in lupus sufferers are not always painful, sometimes they can be accompanied by dry mouth.
This condition occurs due to an inflammatory reaction due to lupus which reduces saliva production, so that the mouth becomes drier and more prone to canker sores.
7. Prolonged or extreme fatigue
Lupus sufferers will usually feel tired more easily, even when they have had enough sleep. This condition occurs due to the inflammatory response that occurs due to lupus. Fatigue, which is a symptom of lupus in women, becomes more severe during a lupus attack or lupus flare.
8. Memory decline
Lupus fog or lupus fog is almost always complained of by lupus sufferers. This term refers to a condition in which people with lupus forget more quickly, become confused, and even lose their memory.
Lupus symptoms in these women may recur or persist, making it difficult to study or work. In severe cases, lupus fog can even limit the sufferer's daily activities.
9. Blood clots
About a third of women with lupus have antibodies that can cause blood clots, interfere with placental function, and result in miscarriage. Therefore, women who experience recurrent miscarriages need to be aware of this as a symptom of lupus and check with their obstetrician to be screened for antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL).
Women with a history of miscarriages who have aPL can plan a pregnancy under the supervision of a doctor to prevent recurrent miscarriages.
Lupus symptoms in women can lead to other complications that affect different parts of the body. Some complications can even cause kidney, bone, or heart problems.
Although there is no treatment that can cure lupus, treatment still needs to be done as early as possible to relieve lupus symptoms and prevent recurrences. Treatment and routine control are also needed to prevent complications from lupus.
If you experience symptoms of lupus in women, don't hesitate to see a doctor to get an examination and treatment as early as possible. That way, the risk of complications can be prevented.