Lupus comes from immune attack on body organs
YOUR HEALTH
DR. DONOHUE

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My doctor is doing tests for possible lupus. Will you write about this illness and its outcome? -- C.C.

ANSWER: Lupus is not a run-of-the mill illness, but it's not a curiosity either. It's an autoimmune disease, one of those illnesses where the immune system mistakes its own body organs as being intruders and sets about destroying them. Just about any organ or tissue can come under attack -- skin, joints, kidneys, the coverings of the heart and lungs, the heart itself, the eyes, the nervous system and blood-making cells. It's an illness that strikes many more women than men and often appears between the ages of 15 and 50.

Since the number of target organs is great, the number of possible symptoms is also great.

A common sign of lupus is a skin rash that appears on the cheeks and bridge of the nose. It's a red, raised rash, and it forms the outline of a butterfly on the face.

Lupus arthritis strikes the knees, wrists and hands most often, but it also can strike the hips, ankles, elbows and shoulders. Frequently the arthritis jumps from joint to joint.

The heart covering -- the pericardium -- and the lung covering -- the pleura -- can become inflamed, and fluid can accumulate in them. Both cause chest pain and pain on breathing. Heart valves also can be involved in lupus.

Listing every possible symptom of lupus is a task that can't be accomplished in a short column. If the ones I have mentioned frighten you, let me quickly say there are effective medicines for lupus, medicines that have profoundly changed the outlook for this illness.

One peculiarity of lupus is sensitivity to sunlight. Sunlight often makes lupus act up.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: My husband insists on using our stainless-steel kitchen sink as a mop pail when we have a perfectly good pail. I have asked him not to do this. He says germs don't stick to stainless steel. Please advise. -- E.M.

ANSWER: Germs do stick to stainless steel. If they didn't, surgical instruments wouldn't have to be sterilized.

I'm on your side, and I'm not coming for lunch until your husband starts using a pail.

DEAR DR. DONOHUE: Can a fractured skull cause a hearing problem or a loss of memory? -- E.B.

ANSWER: If the fracture was near the ear, it could affect hearing.

A severe blow to the head also could damage memory. A fracture indicates that the blow was severe.

Dr. Donohue regrets that he is unable to answer individual letters, but he will incorporate them in his column whenever possible. Readers may write him or request an order form of available health newsletters at P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL32853- 6475. Readers may also order health newsletters from www.rbmamall. com. 2006 North America Syndicate Inc. All Rights Reserved