A chronic auto-immune disease is often diagnosed late because the symptoms it presents are non-specific, experts said at a seminar on Sunday.

The seminar was an attempt to create awareness among doctors on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), or lupus, which occurs when your body’s immune system attacks your own tissues and organs.

The programme was organised at a convention centre in the National Library by the Institute of Child Health.

“Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that can affect everybody. Children are more vulnerable. It is a long-term disease and it is important for children with lupus to receive support from their families, schools and healthcare providers,” said Apurba Ghosh, executive director, Institute of Child Health (ICH).

“There is a lack of awareness, even among doctors, on lupus. The symptoms are so non-specific that they cannot be straightjacketed. That often leads to a delayed diagnosis. This meet is an attempt to create awareness among doctors,” said Ghosh.

More than 150 people, most of them doctors, took part in the programme that was hosted by the departments of paediatric rheumatology and paediatric nephrology at ICH.

Lupus comes under the domain of rheumatology because it is an auto-immune disease. It affects almost all the organs — brain, nerves, eyes, skin, heart, lungs. But the kidney is the most commonly affected organ, said doctors.

“It is a chronic disease. It involves multiple organs.... Lupus may come in the form of an infection or a renal problem. So, for doctors, it is not easy to identify the root cause,” said Rajiv Sinha, unit head, paediatric nephrology, ICH.

“Persistent fever, persistent skin rashes, recurrent mouth ulcers are only some of the symptoms of lupus. An early diagnosis helps a lot. Lupus can be detected through a blood test,” said Sinha.

Priyankar Pal, unit head of paediatric rheumatology at the hospital, said: “Even 20 years ago, lupus had a mortality rate of around 50 per cent. Now, it has come down to seven to eight per cent.”

Aptar Khan, from East Midnapore, was “frantic” in 2021 when his daughter was bedridden by fever that would not subside. She also had rashes on her skin. “It went on for over a week. I took her to a hospital in Egra, where she spent another 10 days. But the doctors could not find the cause of the disease,” said Khan.

Finally, she was brought to a private hospital in Calcutta, where she was diagnosed with lupus. Now, she is under treatment by doctors at ICH.

“She is 11 now. She leads a normal life, going to school and playing with friends,” said Khan.