A complicated autoimmune condition known as Lupus is quietly becoming a major threat to Public Health in Nigeria. The condition, which causes the immune system to attack healthy tissues and organs, can impact the skin, joints, kidneys, heart, brain, and other essential systems. Lupus remains underdiagnosed and poorly understood in Nigeria, overshadowed by more well-known illnesses like HIV/AIDS, typhoid, and malaria, despite its potentially fatal implications. This significant lack of awareness poses risk to people and the nation’s healthcare system. The disease is particularly dangerous cause it mimics other diseases and is unpredictable.
Diagnosing the disease can be challenging as its symptoms including fever, joint pain, exhaustion, and skin rashes are common with many other illnesses. In extreme circumstances, it may result in organ failure, especially in the kidneys, an outcome known as lupus nephritis, which is one of the main causes of fatality among people diagnosed with the condition. If not diagnosed and treated early, it can result in serious morbidity and death. The disease is still largely unrecognized in Nigeria due to a lack of public health awareness.
52 out of 1,100 were diagnosed with systemic lupus.
Globally, some regions and demographics, including women of African, Hispanic, and Asian descent, especially those at their reproductive age, have higher rates of being diagnosed with the disease. While there is lack of data on the disease’s prevalence in Africa, including Nigeria, due to poor awareness and inadequate diagnostic infrastructure, anecdotal evidence indicates that the disease is greatly underreported in the region. Health care practitioners’ lack of awareness and the stigma associated with chronic illnesses have exacerbated the issue. Many patients experience years of poor treatment or misdiagnosis, which worsens their health and causes them emotional pain.
According to a 2021 PMC study carried out in South-South Nigeria, 52 individuals out of 1,100 examined in a rheumatology clinic were diagnosed with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), a chronic inflammatory autoimmune illness. The study found that polyarthritis was the most prevalent symptom of SLE and that it primarily affected women. A noteworthy example of the risks associated with lupus in Nigeria is the case of a young woman in Lagos who was misdiagnosed with Malaria and then arthritis before receiving a definitive diagnosis of SLE. This case highlights the necessity for improved diagnostic skills and awareness among healthcare practitioners.
Detection of lupus cases depends on diagnostic tools.
Public health officials, medical professionals, and the general population must work together to prevent a lupus crisis in Nigeria. Education efforts to educate the public and medical professionals about the disease must be a top priority for public health authorities. These efforts ought to emphasize the significance of early diagnosis, identify symptoms, and understand risk factors. Detection and management of the disease cases depend on diagnostic instruments such as antinuclear antibody (ANA) testing and specific training for healthcare professionals. It is equally important to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
Collaboration with research institutes and international organizations is also essential. In areas such as North America, where lupus awareness and treatment are more developed, collaborations can help provide Nigeria the information and tools it needs to fight the illness. Research into Nigerian-specific genetic and environmental factors can help determine the frequency of the disease and guide focused remedies. The key to lessening the impact of the disease on the general populace is education. Campaigns for education would motivate people to get help for chronic illnesses and to stand up for themselves when a diagnosis is ambiguous.
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In order to de-stigmatize chronic conditions like lupus and create a supportive atmosphere for individuals impacted, community leaders, influencers, and healthcare advocates can be extremely important. The prevalence of the disease in Nigeria can not be understated, even if it is more frequently linked to places outside of Nigeria, including the US, where African-American women are disproportionately impacted. Recognizing and treating lupus is essential to safeguarding the health of the nation’s population as it continues to tackle its public health issues. Nigeria may lessen the subtle but significant threat presented by the disease by increasing awareness, enhancing diagnostic skills, and guaranteeing access to treatment.