The condition is nine times as common in females as in males and usually presents between 15-50 years, though children can be affected. It may be life threatening. However, early diagnosis and control of the disease is possible so that many affected individuals can lead relatively normal lives with a normal life expectancy. The disease is characterised by a variety of antibodies which can be detected in the blood. Children may be affected by the condition though incidence is very small before the age of 5.
Children often present with fever, joint pains, rash in the mouth and recurrent infections.
It is important for their prognosis that diagnosis is made early. Characteristics of the condition include fever, fatigue, joint pains, photosensitivity, central nervous system disorders, pericarditis, pleurisy, kidney problems and spleen or liver enlargement. Other symptoms include hair loss, skin rashes, loss of appetite and miscarriages. However the condition is very variable and may present with only one or two of the symptoms. Neonatal Lupus is a rare form of the disease due to the transmission of certain types of antibodies from mother to fetus.