Though pediatric lupus may share many similar symptoms with the adult manifestation, children with lupus tend to be hit harder, with more severe and abrupt damage. Because children develop lupus earlier, they have more years to compound and accrue this damage in their organs and vital systems, significantly impairing their health.
Parents and guardians may have to look for other symptoms that do not occur as often or as severely in the adult manifestation of lupus, such as:
• Disturbance of Brain Function: Compared to adults, children are more likely to present abrupt central nervous system manifestations, which can severely affect brain function. They may have headaches, gaps in their memory, personality changes, seizures, and difficulty breathing.
• Severe Kidney Damage: Children with lupus are more likely to have kidney involvement than adults. They may have swelling around their feet, legs, and eyelids due to kidney inflammation with dark urine.
• Hematologic (blood) Issues: Children with lupus tend to present with increased complications with their blood compared to adults. This could be blood clotting, particularly in the child’s legs, or anemia. Signs of blood clotting include intense pain, swelling, and discoloration/redness. On the other hand, signs of anemia include loss of color, especially if the tips of your child’s toes or fingers turn blue or white, shortness of breath, fatigue, and dizziness.
• Steroid-Induced Complications: Due to how differently symptoms manifest in children compared to adults, pediatric patients may need to be prescribed higher doses of steroids, such as corticosteroids, to manage inflammation and other damage. While this can certainly help your child, it also leaves them at risk of developing complications such as diabetes, avascular necrosis, and osteoporosis. Your child may also have stunted height compared to their peers.
