Can lupus occur in children and adolescents?

Lupus is an autoimmune disorder. In this disorder, the immune system cannot distinguish healthy body cells from infection-carrying germs.

As a result, the immune system can attack healthy cells in the body.

According to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, about 25,000 children and adolescents are known to have lupus. This disease most commonly affects those who are 15 years old.

This disease is called mimic disease because the initial symptoms of the disease are almost often found in other diseases. For example, fever, weakness, and no appetite.

In addition, the symptoms that appear can also disappear and arise so that most people think they are cured of the disease.

Lupus that occurs in children and adolescents has different symptoms. However, generally they will experience several symptoms, including:

Fever more than 37º Celsius
The body is tired and the appetite decreases
Weight loss
Muscle pain and swelling of the joints
Hair loss and fingers and toes turning white or bluish
A rash appears on the nose and cheeks that is shaped like a butterfly, called malar.
The rash appears after sun exposure
There are sores in the mouth or nose

Compared to adults, lupus in children and adolescents tends to have more frequent problems with vital organs, especially the kidneys and brain.

If you have attacked this vital organ, your child may experience symptoms, such as:

Dark urine accompanied by swelling of the feet, legs and eyelids. This indicates that the disease has caused inflammation of the kidneys (nephritis).
Shortness of breath and chest pain when the lungs or lining of the lungs (pleura) become inflamed.
Headaches, memory problems, and seizures when inflammation attacks the brain (cerebritis)

Causes of lupus in children and adolescents

Source: Youtube Image

Lupus is not contagious, like measles. The cause why children get this disease is also not known with certainty.

In fact, parents with this disease are only at risk of 5-10% to reduce lupus in their children.

Meanwhile, researchers believe that lupus in children is caused by several factors, including:

Family history.Children born with certain genes, may be at risk of developing lupus.
Environment.The environment plays an important role in the spread of infection, exposure to UV rays, extreme pressure, and levels of the hormone estrogen in the body which can put children at high risk of developing lupus.

To get a proper diagnosis, a child with lupus must undergo a series of tests, from checking a medical history, physical examination, and imaging.

Tests to diagnose lupus in children in general, include:

Blood tests and urine tests test for antibodies and assess kidney function.
Complementary tests to determine the levels of blood complement and protein in the blood.
X-rays (X-ray scan) to determine the condition of vital organs, internal tissues and bones.
C-reactive protein (CRP) test to determine the level of inflammation in the body.
Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) test to measure the speed at which red blood cells clot

Can lupus in children and adolescents be cured?

Until now, there is no medicine that can cure lupus. However, several treatments can help relieve lupus symptoms.

Treatment will usually be adjusted according to the severity of the lupus and the body systems that are affected.

Pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen, may be prescribed to children with lupus. Some of them were given malaria drugs to treat rashes on the skin and joint pain.

In addition, the pediatrician will also prescribe anti-inflammatory steroids to treat fever and fatigue.

Children will also be asked to adopt a healthy lifestyle, such as eating nutritious foods, getting enough sleep, and avoiding stress.