Even young children can be affected by lupus. Lupus is a condition whereby the body's defence mechanism goes into overdrive and starts to attack itself. The symptoms are many and varied, and the illness often seems to mimic other diseases. This gives rise to difficulty in diagnosis and the condition can be overlooked, sometimes for years, unless the General Practioner or consultant is alert to the possibility of lupus. People diagnosed normally remain in medical care, with continuing medication.
Many symptoms have less impact as a result, but side effects often occur.
Lupus adversely influences the lives of sufferers, the family and their friends. At the end of 1987 Eric Howard, former Director of Lupus UK, invited the national organisations of Lupus Groups from 8 European countries to a meeting in London. The idea of this meeting was to get to know each other, to exchange experiences, and to learn from each other. The members of ELEF are the national organisations of Lupus Groups in Europe. The aims of the ELEF you may read on the following text.