Lupus Treatment

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• QWhat are the treatment options for neonatal lupus?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  There is currently no cure for neonatal lupus. However, in most cases (and it is already a rare condition), all symptoms disappear within several months of birth. The only lingering problem tends to be the small percentage of children who develop congenital heart block, a serious condition that damages how the heart works.

  As neonatal lupus only occurs in infants and usually resolves after a few months, most of the treatments for other types of lupus are not applicable. If your child has the rash associated with neonatal lupus, you should protect their skin from the sun as much as possible by using sunscreen and protective clothing. Babies who have congenital heart block may need a pacemaker in order to make their heart work properly.

• QWhat happens if my kidneys fail due to lupus?

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  A National Kidney Foundation answered

  If you have lupus and your kidneys fail, you can be treated with dialysis or a kidney transplant. People with lupus do as well with these treatments as people who have other types of kidney disease.

  Many people with kidney disease caused by lupus receive a kidney transplant. The drugs used to prevent your body from rejecting the new kidney are the same or similar to those used to treat lupus. It is unusual for lupus to come back in the new kidney; most of the time, the lupus stays inactive.

• QHow is lupus treated?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Symptoms of lupus include joint pain and swelling and also may include swelling of the tissues around organs. Pain medicine and anti-inflammatory drugs are used to treat pain and swelling. Medicated creams may be used to treat rashes associated with lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means the body's immune system is overactive. Immunosuppressant drugs are used to suppress the overactive immune system. Although not related to malaria, anti-malarial drugs seem to help with pain and fatigue and decrease flares.

  Some people find the costs and side effects of drugs used to treat a chronic illness to be prohibitive. Because of this, some people with lupus may choose to explore alternative treatments. These include using fish oils or flaxseed in the diet or as supplements, trying specialized diets, visiting chiropractors and using various creams and ointments for skin rashes. Research is limited and no alternative treatments have been proven clinically to reduce or alleviate symptoms. Alternative treatments should only be tried in conjunction with and after discussion with your physician or other healthcare providers.

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• QHow do medications treat cutaneous lupus erythematosus?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Because cutaneous lupus erythematosus causes inflammation of the skin, medications used to treat the disease focus on reducing this inflammation. Corticosteroid creams, applied to the skin, can have this effect. Antimalarial medications have also been found to improve the skin of people with cutaneous lupus erythematosus, even though malaria and lupus are not related.

  There are some alternative treatments available that may help your cutaneous lupus erythematosus (discoid lupus erythematosus). These include supplements such as fish oil and flaxseed. However, it is very important to discuss any alternative treatments you are interested in with your doctor. In some cases these alternative treatments may interfere with the treatment your doctor has outlined. In other cases, the risks of alternative treatments are little studied or unknown.

• QWhat are the treatment options for lupus fog?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Unfortunately, there's no absolute cure for lupus fog. It is a side effect of having lupus or lupus medication. However, there are several treatment options that may help reduce your symptoms. Although no drug therapy exists to relieve the symptoms of lupus fog, several techniques can help one proactively manage these side effects." One of the most popular alternative therapies is brain exercise, which helps strengthen nerve connections to improve information recall. Challenging yourself to games and puzzles may lessen the likelihood of the fog flaring up. Techniques for remembering new information, such as maintaining a calendar and log of pertinent information and maintaining high levels of focus, may also counteract cognitive impairments.

  It is important to develop a routine for coping with lupus fog, doing the same things every day to make it easier to move passed the memory loss frustration. A healthy diet and regular exercise are also important. Keeping your body healthy can have a positive effect on your neurological performance.

  It's important to follow doctors' advice regarding treatment such as coping mechanisms, exercise and changes in diet. This includes regular check-ups and cardiac evaluations with your doctors at least once a year. Physical therapy, exercise and massage may also help relieve some of the muscle weakness and may improve your range of motion. However, the disease can still affect all aspects of your life, including your emotional and mental health. It's important to find ways to cope with these challenges, so joining a support group or seeking counseling may be helpful.