Lupus affects millions of individuals worldwide. In India, 3.2 cases of lupus are documented per 100,000 people. However, globally women in the reproductive age range disproportionately account for up to 90 per cent of cases.  

Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks its organs by producing certain substances called antibodies.

Symptoms predominantly include fever, fatigue, malar rashes, multiple large and small joint pains, breathlessness, sometimes difficulty in swallowing, and chest pain.

Despite recent progress in the understanding of lupus, the striking female-to-male ratio of disease incidence remains largely unexplained. However, according to a few studies, sex hormones play a major role in causing genetically predisposed women more vulnerable to lupus; oestrogen specifically is likely to contribute more to the development of lupus. 

There are no vaccines available to prevent lupus as it's an autoimmune condition and most of the time it's genetic. There are also no preceding signs to identify its early onset. 

Physical activity may be key to managing the autoimmune disorder, and the associated problems as well as ease mental stress. 

With inputs from IANS. Read more here