Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disorder in which the immune system incorrectly attacks a healthy part of the body. Although lupus most commonly affects adults, children and teenagers can also suffer from lupus. When the disease occurs in children, it is generally termed childhood lupus. The immune system in a child with lupus can affect the child’s skin, joints, kidneys, nervous system and others. It can often take time for a diagnosis of lupus to be made in a child as its symptoms may resemble that of other diseases.
One of the difficulties of lupus in children is that many of the symptoms can be confused with more common childhood complaints. Fatigue, pain in joints, and fevers may be dismissed by parents and doctors alike as childhood aches and pains, viruses or school pressures.
It can be very difficult for children to articulate the nature of the symptoms and their feelings, which makes it even more difficult to diagnose childhood lupus in the early stages, hence the importance of awareness.
Extreme tiredness that can not be relieved by rest is another common symptom that often manifests as a lack of energy and is noted when the child can not keep up with school and play or appears to need more sleep than ever.
One of the more frequently noted initial signs is that the child has pain, stiffness or swelling of the joints (most often in hands, knees and wrists). The child complains of aching or shows a disinclination to engage in physical pursuits that they formerly enjoyed.
Persistant Fatigue
One of the first and most frequent symptoms experienced by a child with lupus is fatigue. This is a type of tiredness that goes beyond ordinary fatigue, and is experienced as a deep exhaustion, which does not go away even after resting. Your child may have difficulty making it through the school day, and become disinterested in activities he once enjoyed.
The CDC indicates that the fatigue a person with lupus experiences may be a result of an active, chronic inflammatory process and immune system activity that interferes with normal function.
Joint Pain and Swelling
Other initial symptoms include joint ache, stiffness and swelling-usually in the fingers, wrists and knees. Symptoms in children can manifest as complaint of ache or resistance to engage in activity. The rash associated with lupus is often a malar (butterfly-like) rash across the cheeks and bridge of the nose. Rashes in other parts of the body also exist and may worsen with exposure to sunlight. The sensitivity of a lupus rash to light or photosensitivity to UV light is a key feature of a lupus rash as reported by the American Academy of Dermatology.
Frequent Fevers
Another initial symptom is intermittent, unexplained low-grade fevers. Fevers often arise unexpectedly and then resolve without known reason; these fevers are usually indicative of a general inflammation within the body. Johns Hopkins Medicine indicates fevers in lupus patients occur not because of an infection, but because of the dysregulation of the immune system.
Many children with lupus suffer from sunlight sensitivity-photosensitivity. Even the shortest periods in the sun will produce rashes, tiredness or other symptoms. The Lupus UK notes studies where UV light activates people with lupus’ immune system, producing an inflammatory reaction, increasing fatigue and bringing on flare ups.
Difficulty Concentrating (Brain Fog)
Some patients can experience symptoms of the cognitive type such as memory loss, lack of concentration and disorientation-this can be known as ‘brain fog’. These types of symptoms may have a negative impact on students’ performance at school and daily routines. It is natural for your child to feel sick from time to time, but constant or recurrent illness cannot be dismissed. If your child displays a combination of various symptoms (like fatigue, joint pains, rashes and fevers) you should consult a doctor.
The NHS advises patients to consult their GP if their symptoms persist or become worse, particularly if they cannot be explained by illnesses such as the common cold. A symptom diary may prove beneficial, documenting the times and durations that your child’s symptoms occur, along with potential causes may help a doctor to diagnose their illness correctly.
When Should Parents Be Concerned?
Children are bound to fall sick at some point, but if symptoms keep recurring, then something needs to be done about them. Symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, rash, and fever in a child are indications that you must consider seeking medical advice.
According to the NHS, there is a need to visit the GP if your symptoms persist and are becoming worse without being able to be attributed to common diseases. A symptom diary can be very useful in keeping track of what happens regarding the symptoms, and how they appear.
How Lupus is Diagnosed in Children
Lupus diagnosis can be a difficult one in children and usually requires many tests and tests to confirm the diagnosis. Medical professionals may order blood tests, urine tests, and/or a physical examination to help determine if their patients have the disease.
The Mayo Clinic explains there is no single test that identifies Lupus and it is based on physical findings in addition to lab results over a period of time.Some symptoms vary greatly so doctors may continue monitoring children for some time before they are certain of the diagnosis.
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