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What are the symptomps of SLE?
The most common symptoms of lupus, which are the same for females and males, are:
- extreme fatigue (tiredness)
- headaches
- painful or swollen joints
- fever
- anemia (low numbers of red blood cells or hemoglobin, or low total blood volume)
- swelling (edema) in feet, legs, hands, and/or around eyes
- pain in chest on deep breathing (pleurisy)
- butterfly-shaped rash across cheeks and nose
- sun- or light-sensitivity (photosensitivity)
- hair loss
- abnormal blood clotting
- fingers turning white and/or blue when cold (Raynaud's phenomenon)
- mouth or nose ulcers
SLE Statistics
About 90% of SLE sufferers are women while about 10% are men and children.
About 90% of women with SLE are in their childbearing years, within the range of 15 to 50 years old.
Ratio of SLE sufferers :
In the West, among Afro-Carribeans 1 in 250-500 people
USA – 1 in 2,000 people
China – 1 in 1,000 people
In Malaysia, it is estimated that more than 10,000 people have been diagnosed with SLE over the past 30 years. However, this number may be only the tip of the iceberg. The Malaysian SLE Association believes that there are many more SLE sufferers in Malaysia who have not been diagnosed.
Reference: http://www.lupusmalaysia.org/en/what-is-sle