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.
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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