Does lupus erythematosus transmit through living and eating together?

Written by Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
Updated on November 21, 2024
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Lupus erythematosus is not contagious through sharing meals or living together. It is an autoimmune disease, not an infectious one, hence it cannot be transmitted to others by living or eating together. The exact mechanism of lupus is currently unclear, but it may be related to various factors such as sex hormones, genetics, infections, and physical and chemical factors, and it is more commonly seen in females. Clinically common symptoms include fever, rash, joint pain, oral ulcers, hair loss, etc. The clinical manifestations vary depending on the affected target organ. If lupus nephritis occurs, symptoms such as edema can appear. If the lungs are involved, it can promote pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, and in severe cases, patients may experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties.

Other Voices

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Written by Zhang Lin
Rheumatology and Immunology Nephrology
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Can lupus be treated without steroids?

Hormones are currently the first choice of drugs for treating lupus erythematosus, and there are no other drugs that can replace them temporarily, so we still recommend using hormones for treatment. Hormones can quickly and effectively suppress the immune response, reducing the damage to the patient's body from the inflammatory substances released during the immune response. This kind of immune-suppressive and anti-inflammatory action is a protective therapeutic effect on the body. Although long-term use of large doses of hormones has certain side effects, it can quickly block the development of the disease and alleviate the condition. The function of hormones cannot be replaced by any other drug at present, so, no matter what stage the lupus erythematosus patients are in and regardless of the type of damage, hormones are the first choice of drugs. Hormones have many side effects, therefore, we need to use hormone drugs for treatment rationally and standardized under the guidance of a doctor, and should not take them arbitrarily to avoid serious consequences.

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Written by Yan Xin Liang
Pediatrics
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Symptoms of childhood lupus

Childhood systemic lupus erythematosus generally presents similarly to adults. It is a relatively common systemic autoimmune disease, more commonly seen in girls than boys. It involves multiple autoantibodies primarily including antinuclear antibodies and widespread small arteriole pathology, affecting multiple systems. Clinically, it can manifest with fever, skin lesions, such as butterfly rash on the face, as well as damage to the joints, kidneys, liver, heart, serous membranes, and a reduction in all blood cells. Generally, the ratio of females to males ranges from about 6:1 to 9:1. The prognosis of this disease is generally poor.

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Written by Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
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What happens if someone with lupus occasionally drinks alcohol?

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease that can affect multiple systems and organs throughout the body and is more commonly seen in women, particularly during their childbearing years. Clinically, it is mainly characterized by fever, rash, joint pain, oral ulcers, and hair loss. In terms of diet, it is recommended to eat light and avoid spicy and irritating foods. It is crucial to strictly abstain from smoking and drinking, avoid excessive fatigue, and direct sun exposure. Importantly, patients should strictly follow medical advice regarding medication and have regular check-ups.

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Written by Zhang Lin
Rheumatology and Immunology Nephrology
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Lupus erythematosus taking steroids side effects

Patients with lupus mainly use steroid treatment, but steroids have many side effects during their application, such as increased blood pressure, inducing or exacerbating infections, inducing or aggravating peptic ulcers, necrosis of the femoral head, osteoporosis and vertebral compressive fractures, delaying wound healing in injured patients, increasing blood sugar, etc. Additionally, steroids can cause nervous sensitivity, agitation, insomnia, emotional changes, and even apparent mental symptoms, inducing seizures such as epilepsy. Some patients may also have suicidal tendencies. Therefore, it is necessary to use medication rationally under the guidance of a doctor, reduce the dosage timely, and effectively prevent and treat to minimize the occurrence of side effects. Taking steroids can also lead to weight gain; hair loss is relatively less common. The occurrence of side effects varies among individuals and should be tailored to the patient's specific condition.

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Written by Liu Li Ning
Rheumatology
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What does the early rash of lupus look like?

The early characteristic rash of lupus erythematosus is typically a butterfly-shaped rash on the face. Other common presentations include palm and periungual erythema, discoid rash, nodular erythema, and livedo reticularis. If the rash is not notably itchy, it generally indicates lupus erythematosus. If there is significant itching, it may suggest the possibility of an allergic factor active in the disease. After immunosuppression, itchy rashes should be monitored for possible fungal infections. The specific pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus is still unclear. If a patient exhibits the typical butterfly-shaped rash on the face, systemic lupus erythematosus should be highly suspected. Testing for antinuclear antibodies, and specifically for anti-Sm and double-stranded DNA antibodies, which represent a variety of autoantibodies, can diagnose systemic lupus erythematosus.