Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)
in Children and Adolescents

Introduction
When you are first told that you have lupus, it might feel like disaster. You might feel lonely, sad, angry, scared, and that it just isn't fair. You may be sick and worried. The goal of this information is to help you and your family to understand this disease and the tests and treatments that may be needed. Perhaps most importantly, it may help you to see that you are not the only one who has lupus, and that people get better with treatment.

Lupus is a lot more common in young people than is generally believed. About 25,000 children and adolescents in the United States have lupus or a related disorder. It is more common than leukemia, cystic fibrosis or muscular dystrophy, and yet, many people have never heard of it occurring in children.

Adolescent girls develop lupus much more frequently than do boys, but in younger children before puberty, girls are affected only a little more frequently than are boys.