Many people have heard of lupus, but not many are familiar with the disease, especially its early symptoms.
Joint and Muscle Pain
Muscle pain and mild muscle weakness are early symptoms of lupus or can occur during the course of the disease. The main affected areas are the fingers, hands, elbows, and knees, with symmetric polyarthritis and pain, but without joint damage as shown by X-ray examination.
Low-Grade Fever
Approximately 90% of lupus patients experience irregular fever, often low-grade, which can escalate to high fever with disease progression. Long-term low-grade fever is one of the early symptoms of lupus.
Malar or Discoid Rash
In the early stages of lupus, a malar or discoid rash may appear. The rash is flat or raised and fixed, spreading across the neck, and usually not involving the nasolabial folds. Discoid rashes are raised and covered with keratotic scales and may involve hair follicle damage.
Nail Symptoms
The characteristic features of perionychial erythema and arcuate discoloration of the distal nail in early lupus patients are the main symptoms for diagnosing early-stage systemic lupus erythematosus.
Hemolytic Anemia Symptoms
Thrombocytopenia or nephritis can also be early symptoms of lupus. If these symptoms persist for a long time, it is important to be aware of the possibility of systemic lupus erythematosus and seek medical attention promptly.
