What is Lupus?

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I am providing more than one answer to the question.  Some of these answers my not be written in simple language. But to summarize, Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease affecting all parts of the body (skin, joints, and organs). 

What is lupus?

Lupus Foundation of America December 6, 2017

Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can damage any part of the body (skin, joints, and/or organs). "Chronic" means that the signs and symptoms tend to last longer than six weeks and often for many years.
In lupus, something goes wrong with the immune system, which is the part of the body that fights off viruses, bacteria, and germs ("foreign invaders," like the flu). Normally our immune systems produce proteins called "antibodies" which protect the body from these invaders. 
"Autoimmunity" means your immune system cannot tell the difference between these foreign invaders and your body’s healthy tissues ("auto" means "self"). As a result, it creates autoantibodies that attack and destroy healthy tissue. 
These autoantibodies cause inflammation, pain, and damage in various parts of the body.

https://www.webmd.com/lupus/guide/understanding-lupus-basics

Lupus is an autoimmune disease, which means that the immune system mistakes the body's own tissues as foreign invaders and attacks them. Some people with lupus suffer only minor inconvenience. Others suffer significant lifelong disability.
Lupus affects people of African, Asian, or Native American descent two to three times as often as it affects whites. Nine out of 10 people with lupus are women. The disease usually strikes between age 15 and 44, although it can occur in older individuals.
There are two kinds of lupus:
Discoid lupus erythematosus (DLE)
Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

http://thelupusinitiative.org/patients-caregivers/faqs/

Lupus is a chronic disease, meaning it is a long term disease that doesn’t go away, but has to be managed. Lupus affects the immune system and is called an autoimmune disease. The immune system’s job is to fight foreign invaders, like germs and viruses. But in autoimmune diseases, the immune system is out of control and mistakenly attacks healthy tissue.
Lupus can affect many parts of the body including joints, skin, kidneys, lungs, heart, and brain. It can vary from mild to severe, and usually alternates between periods of activity and periods of reduced activity, or even remission. Lupus is manageable. With proper diagnosis, treatment, and knowledge, people with lupus can live full, productive lives.

http://www.lupusinternational.com/Living-With-Lupus/Newly-Diagnosed-1-1/Lupus-FAQ-s.aspx

Lupus is a chronic, autoimmune disease, which causes inflammation of various parts of the body, especially the skin, joints, blood, and kidneys. The immune system normally protects the body against viruses, bacteria, and foreign materials. In an autoimmune disease like lupus, the immune system loses its ability to tell the difference between foreign substances and its own cells and tissues. 
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