What are the common symptoms of lupus in children?

Lupus is a sickness. It means the body's defense system makes a mistake. It attacks the body's own parts. This can cause swelling and hurt. In kids, lupus can hurt different body parts.

Signs can be different for each person. Here are some common ones:

• Feeling very tired
• Pain and swelling in your joints
• Rashes on your skin
• Having a fever
• Problems with your kidneys

Other signs might be:

• Hair falling out
• Being sensitive to the sun
• Feeling weak because of low iron in your blood (anaemia)
• Sores in the mouth

Here are some tools that can help:

• Use a calendar to track your symptoms.
• Tell your doctor how you feel.
• Use a notebook to write down how you feel each day.

Kids with lupus might get a special rash shaped like a butterfly on their cheeks and nose. This is called a lupus rash. Rashes can also show up on other parts of the body, especially after being in the sun.

To help understand and remember this better, try using pictures or drawings. Also, if you see a rash, it's good to talk to a doctor.

Yes, kids with lupus can have joint pain and swelling. The pain can move from one joint to another. It often feels stiff in the morning.

If this is hard to understand, there are ways to make it easier. You can:

• Read slowly and take breaks.
• Ask someone to read it with you.
• Use online tools to read it out loud.

Lupus is an illness that can make your kidneys swell. This is called lupus nephritis. It can make your pee look bubbly, make your legs or feet puffy, and give you high blood pressure.

Yes, kids can sometimes have health problems like low iron (called anaemia), not enough platelets, or not enough white blood cells. This can make them feel very tired, get sick more easily, or have trouble with bleeding.

Some children can get a headache, feel confused, have trouble remembering things, or have seizures if lupus affects their brain and nerves.

To help understand better, ask an adult or use pictures and stories.

Yes, children with lupus often get fevers for no clear reason. This is because there is swelling inside their body.

Children with lupus can be very sensitive to sunlight. This means being in the sun can give them skin rashes or cause other lupus problems.

Sometimes, kids with lupus lose hair. This can happen because their body’s defense system attacks their hair. It can also happen because of the medicine they take for lupus.

Some children might get a tummy ache, feel sick, or not want to eat because lupus can affect their tummy.

Yes, lupus can make kids feel different emotions. They might feel happy one moment and sad the next. They could also feel worried a lot or really sad for a long time.

Being very tired all the time is a common problem. It can make it hard to do things, even if you rest. This can make everyday life and feeling good harder.

It is important to go to the doctor regularly. This helps the doctor see how you are doing, change your medicine if needed, and help you feel better.

Lupus is a sickness. You cannot make it go away completely, but there are ways to feel better.

Doctors can give you medicine to help with the symptoms. Some medicines help with swelling and pain. Others help calm your immune system. There are also medicines that help with malaria, which can also help lupus.

Changing some things in your daily life can also help. You can talk to your doctor about what might work for you.