Childhood Lupus (Juvenile-Onset): Symptoms & More

Why is childhood lupus more severe? Researchers are not sure why childhood lupus presents with more severe symptomatology. It may be more aggressive with a younger immune system or have a larger effect on the small and still-developing organs of children. It may also react to changing hormones as these children go through puberty. Childhood lupus may also appear more severe because it is typically caught only when the disease has progressed and caused notable damage. Because lupus is so rare in children, doctors will often attribute the symptoms to something more likely, including stress, puberty, sports-related injury, dehydration, poor nutrition or eating habits, or depression and anxiety. They will also typically treat these symptoms first. It is only when there is serious organ damage, especially kidney involvement, that doctors will look towards lupus as a possibility and perform the appropriate blood and urine tests. Another factor in the damage that childhood lupus causes are the medications itself. Because the child’s lupus symptoms will often be very severe, they will generally be prescribed high doses of medications such as corticosteroids to bring their lupus back down. These high doses work well to bring lupus under control, but they come with serious side effects, can interfere with growth & development, and can leave lasting damage. Though alternative treatments are in development, the current medication regimen will help stave off the kidney damage and vasculitis, which are what cause the most problems for children with lupus.

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