EAST DETROIT, Mich., Feb. 28 (UPI) -- If Anna Nicole Smith suffered from lupus and hid it from others, it would not be usual, according to a U.S. group that deals with autoimmune diseases.
There have been reports that Smith may have been affected by lupus, but although this has not been confirmed, her symptoms were consistent with a diagnosis of lupus, says the Autoimmune Diseases Association, a national voluntary health organization.
"People who suffer from lupus, as with the more than 80 autoimmune diseases, often keep their disease hidden from their family and friends because they fear that their disease will be misunderstood," says Virginia Ladd, Autoimmune Diseases Association president.
In lupus, any part of the body can be affected and common symptoms include painful or swollen joints, skin rashes, unexplained high fever, kidney problems and severe fatigue.
A study conducted by the ADA found that 29 percent of Americans mistakenly think autoimmune disease is AIDS, and only 5 percent of respondents could name an autoimmune disease. The National Institutes of Health have estimated that 24.5 million Americans have one or more autoimmune diseases.
"Smith gave birth to her daughter last fall and if she had lupus, the symptoms of the disease can really flare up three months after delivery," says Dr. Robert G. Lahita of the Jersey City Medical Center and author of "Women and Autoimmune Disease.
