Lupus symptoms vary from person to person, and may come and go. Since no two cases of lupus are exactly alike, there is a wide range of symptoms that are known to affect many parts of the body. Sometimes symptoms develop slowly or appear suddenly; they can be mild, severe, temporary, or permanent. Most people with lupus experience symptoms in only a few organs, but more serious cases can lead to problems with kidneys, the heart, the lungs, blood, or the nervous system.
Lupus episodes, or flares, are usually noted by a worsening of some of the following symptoms:
- Aching joints, arthritis, and swelling joints, especially in wrists, hands, elbows, knees, and ankles
- Swelling of the hands and feet due to kidney problems
- Increased fever of more than 100 degrees F (38 degrees C)
- Fatigue
- Skin lesions or rashes, especially on the arms, hands, face, neck, or back
- Butterfly-shaped rash (malar rash) across the cheeks and nose
- Anemia (oxygen carrying deficiency of red blood cells)
- Pain in the chest on deep breathing or shortness of breath
- Sun or light sensitivity (photosensitivity)
- Hair loss or alopecia
- Abnormal blood clotting problems
- Raynaud’s phenomenon: fingers turn white and/or blue or red in the cold
- Seizures
- Mouth or nose ulcers
- Weight loss or gain
- Dry eyes
- Easy bruising
- Anxiety, depression, headaches, and memory loss
| Symptom | Where? | When did you first notice? | How often? | Recent dates? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Example: rash | face and chest | 2 years ago | Once or twice a month | 9/17, 10/8, 10/23, 11/15 |
| Red rash or color change | ||||
| Painful or swollen joints | ||||
| Fever with no known cause | ||||
| Feeling very tired | ||||
| Trouble thinking, memory problems, confusion | ||||
| Chest pain with deep breathing | ||||
| Sensitivity to the sun | ||||
| Unusual hair loss | ||||
| Pale or purple fingers or toes | ||||
| Sores in mouth or nose | ||||
| Other |