May 10 - World Lupus Day
Breaking the silence surrounding a disease with a thousand faces
A disease that hides
Lupus is an autoimmune disease: the immune system, instead of protecting the body, attacks its own cells and tissues. It can affect the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, lungs, or nervous system.
Its manifestations are so varied that it is often nicknamed "the disease with a thousand faces".
Its signs are numerous and subtle: persistent fatigue, joint pain that shifts from day to day, hair loss, or even skin rashes, sometimes butterfly-shaped, on the face. Easily confused with other conditions, they make diagnosis particularly difficult and often delayed.
A disease that primarily affects women
Lupus affects approximately nine out of ten patients who are female, often of childbearing age. Specialists attribute this predominance to the influence of certain female hormones on the immune system. Yet, lupus remains largely underrepresented in public health policies, both in France and internationally.
A global health issue
In many countries, lupus represents a major public health challenge. Late diagnoses, the high cost of treatment for severe forms, and a lack of information expose patients to preventable complications. It is with this in mind that TAHIRAH CARE, based in Montpellier, is committed to openness and international cooperation, ensuring that every person affected can find information, support, and guidance, wherever they are.
What you can do
Talking about lupus with those around you is already taking action. Informing a loved one, sharing this article, recognizing the signs: every action counts in reducing the time between symptoms and diagnosis.
Lupus is not contagious. It is not linked to poor hygiene or risky behavior. It is a disorder of the immune system and, like any chronic illness, it deserves to be recognized, understood, and treated with dignity.
TAHIRAH CARE
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