Lupus - Diagnosis and Treatment - Research Paper Example

College Lupus Introduction Lupus is a condition where the body’s immune system is hyper-reactive and therefore attacks healthy and normal tissues. As a result of this, symptoms such as swelling, inflammation and joint damage occur to the individual. For the body to fight antigens such as bacteria and viruses, it has to produce proteins known as antibodies. It is therefore the responsibility of these antibodies to protect the body from foreign organisms such as viruses and bacteria. In order to be effective, the antibody has to differentiate the antigens from normal human tissues. The immune system of a person suffering from lupus cannot differentiate between normal body tissues and antigens. As a result of this, the immune system directs antibodies to normal tissues thinking that they are foreign materials. Due to this, there is swelling and pain felt by the person suffering from this disease. With advanced medical technology, different types of lupus have been identified by doctors. However the most common one is SLE or systemic lupus erythematosus. There are also others known as discoid, neonatal and drug-induced. Symptoms It is important to note that lupus is very variable. That is it is common for one to have the disease and not experience all the symptoms that other people feel. At the same time, every patient has their own feelings meaning that there are rare occasions when two or more patients experience similar symptoms. Severity also varies in individuals. Some patients experience symptoms that are severe and might last for a long time while others experience symptoms that are less severe and last for a few minutes but keep reoccurring. Sometimes, the patients expect to experience the severe pains that most textbooks describe but that never occurs. Some of the initial symptoms include (Basingtoke, 2011): 1. Lethargy, fatigue and weakness 2. Rashes in the skin. However, this occurs in very few cases. One in every five. 3. Swelling and pain of the join. This is experienced by almost half of the patients. Meaning that it is a very common symptom for patients with the lupus disease. 4. Fever; almost every patient experience this and it keeps occurring Diagnosis Since the symptoms of this disease vary, diagnosis of the disease is very difficult. The symptoms keep changing and in some cases, they become similar to symptoms of other diseases. For one to be confirmed as having this disease, several tests have to be performed. Urine and blood tests are however compulsory. The patient also has to be given a physical examination to know how fit they are. The laboratory tests include; 1. Complete blood count. This is the most common test for the disease. The number of white blood cells, platelets and red blood cells are counted and their ratio known. The results have to be analyzed properly since anemia also has almost similar results from the same test. 2. Sedimentation of erythrocytes rate. In this test, blood sample is taken and kept in a test tube from where the rate at which the red blood cells settle at the bottom of the test tube is measured. This test is very crucial since it determines the type of disease that one has. 3. Urinalysis. This is where the urine of the patient is analyzed to check the amount of proteins and red blood cells in the urine. Treatment Just like the difference in symptoms, the treatment of lupus is also different. Before administering any treatment, the doctor or physician has to analyze the signs and symptoms of the disease that the patient has shown and detriment the correct procedure to use for treatment. As the signs keep changing, the nurse has to ensure that the patient changes the medication that they are using. This means that the nurse has to be able to closely monitor the changes that the patient is undergoing through and report this to the doctor who should change medication if necessary. Some of the treatments available include; 1. NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). This kind of medication is available over the counter. Some of them include naproxen and Motrin. This is mainly used in the treatment of the pain that the patient might experience. However, they have some side effects such as kidney bleeding and stomach bleeding. 2. Another treatment method is the use of malaria drugs. Some malaria medications such as hydroxychloroquine can be used to treat the disease. 3. Corticosteroids. This type of treatment is used to counter the effects of inflammation by the disease. More and more treatment options also exist. Nursing implications Nurses have a very important role to play in the diagnosis and treatment of lupus patients. First of all, since symptoms are very crucial in determining the type of treatments to be used for the disease, it is important that nurses monitor the patients and know the kind of symptoms that they have. Secondly, nurses should ensure that the patients take their drugs at the right time and proportion directed by the doctors. They should encourage the patients to take the drugs and should always remember to be friendly to them. Nurses should also know that it is their responsibility to ensure that the patients get tested. In case they suspect that the patient is suffering from this disease by the symptoms that they have, they should take the tests to confirm this or report this to the doctor to perform the test. However, the nurses should never give lupus medication without the approval of the supervising doctor. This would prevent cases where wrong medications are given to the patient yet they have a totally different disease. Current research Stem cells are one of the major debates that are currently spread in the entire world. Politicians and medical practitioners are having debates on possible solutions to this condition. This condition is closely related to lupus as it ensures that transplantations can be done and thus correcting the lupus diseases. According to Northwestern University School of medicine, 48 patients have successfully undergone a transplant of stem cells. This study has given hopes to patients who have been resistant to various drugs that have been given to them. Since the lupus disease can only be controlled and not cured, the introduction of stem cells technology come as a big relief to lupus patients. Currently nurses are undergoing a lot of training on how to take care of lupus patients and to ensure that the patients are taken good care of and that the nurses fully understand the risks that come with the disease. The stem cell technology will also come as a relief to nurses since they would not have to spend lots of time taking care of the patients. Governments and other medical institutions are carrying out researches as to how the disease can be controlled by this new technology so as to fully cure lupus patients (Wallace, 28). From the above information, it is necessary to conclude that even though lupus is a very difficult disease to handle, it can be controlled and patients can be properly given proper care by well trained nurses. It is also a period when the world is undergoing a very critical debate that will greatly influence the lupus disease and that s the stem cell debate. With this kind of technology, it is possible to completely cure the lupus patients. However, for the time as we wait for that important technology to be embraced, nurses have to learn proper ways to take good care of the lupus patients and to always be a step ahead in identifying the symptoms. Work cited Lupus. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, UK: Stockton Press, 2011. Internet resource. Lupus. London: Arnold Publishers, 2001. Internet resource. Wallace, Daniel J. The Lupus Book: A Guide for Patients and Their Families. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009. Print. Read More