Lupus is an auto-immune disease.
For an individual affected by this disorder, the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks its own healthy tissues and organs, affecting organs from the kidneys, skin, the brain and heart.
In lupus, something goes wrong with your immune system, a part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs.
Normally, a person’s immune system produces proteins called antibodies that protect the body from these invaders.
Auto-immune means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders (viruses, bacteria, germs) and your body’s healthy tissues, and creates auto antibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue.
These auto antibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.
According to statistics, an estimated 1.5 million people in the United States and about 5 million people worldwide live with lupus.
Statistics also show that 90% of cases occur in women between ages 15 to 44 years.
Other key facts about Lupus include:
1. It primarily affects women of childbearing age, but men and children can also develop it.
2. No two cases of lupus are alike — symptoms vary widely.
3. Common symptoms include fatigue, joint pain, skin rashes, and fevers.
4. Lupus can be life-threatening if it severely impacts vital organs like the kidneys, heart, or lungs.
5. There is no known cure, but medications and lifestyle changes can help manage it.
However, 10th of May every year is World Lupus Day, a day set aside to raise awareness about Lupus.
World Lupus Day serves to call attention to the impact that lupus has on people around the world, focusing on the need for improved patient healthcare services, increased research into the causes of and cure for lupus, earlier diagnosis and treatment of lupus, and better epidemiological data on lupus globally.
The day was first launched on May 10, 2004, by the Lupus Foundation of America and a coalition of patient groups across 13 countries.
The aim was to unite people globally and demand greater attention to the disease from healthcare policymakers and the public.
Since its inception, World Lupus Day has grown into a worldwide movement, with thousands of events, social media campaigns, walks, and awareness drives taking place annually.
Despite affecting millions of people globally, lupus remains largely misunderstood. Many patients often face delayed diagnoses, limited treatment options, and social stigma.
The theme of World Lupus Day 2025, is “Let’s Make Lupus Visible Together,” highlighting the need to shine a light on symptoms, patient experiences and scientific progress.
This theme emphasizes the importance of community support and the belief in a future where lupus is better understood and managed.
It’s a call to action for people to join together in raising awareness, advocating for patients, and supporting research into this auto-immune disease.
Mosope Kehinde is a Media and PR consultant, an award winning multimedia journalist, content creator and the publisher, newsarena.ng.
