Indore, May 10, 2024.In today's world, many types of diseases have been identified, and the general public is aware of them. Unfortunately, this is not entirely true in the case of rheumatological diseases, as many sufferers lack awareness. One such disease is Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE), sometimes simply known as lupus. To increase awareness about SLE and dispel misconceptions among people, "World Lupus Day" is celebrated every year on May 10th. The entire month of May is observed as "Lupus Awareness Month" for early detection and treatment. Additionally, Lupus Day is also celebrated to support and commend those who are continuously fighting against this disease and have never surrendered to it. According to Dr. Gautam Raj Punjabi, Consultant Rheumatologist at Medanta Super Speciality Hospital in Indore, "Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a precise example of an autoimmune disease, where antibodies attack healthy cells, tissues, and organs of the body due to the formation of autoantibodies. It mainly affects adolescent girls and middle-income women. However, it can be severe in men and children. Symptoms and severity of this disease can vary in each patient; for some, it may be mild, while for others, it can be life-threatening. Due to the variability of symptoms and severity, diagnosis and treatment may be delayed. Common symptoms include persistent fever, fatigue, decreased appetite and weight loss, butterfly-shaped rash on the face, recurrent mouth ulcers, and joint pain or swelling. Other organs such as the kidneys, heart, brain, spinal cord, blood cells, liver, stomach, eyes, and lungs can also be affected." Dr. Punjabi further stated, "Lupus is primarily diagnosed through blood tests. These tests include checking for antinuclear antibodies (ANA), anti-double-stranded DNA antibodies, anti-Smith antibodies, and complement levels (C3, C4) in the blood. Prevention is better after being diagnosed with lupus, such as avoiding sun exposure, using sunscreen before going out, covering the body adequately to avoid sun exposure, quitting smoking, and certain medications or pills may be discontinued with caution. The treatment plan is based on immunosuppressive drugs depending on the extent of damage to organs and its severity. Additionally, timely screening should be done for complications related to this disease, such as infections, osteoporosis, kidney failure, heart disease (ischemic heart disease), or cancer."