Yangyang, 16, lives in Dangyang, Hubei, and is currently a sophomore at a local high school. On November 28, 2023, Yangyang suddenly vomited and fainted during class and was rushed to the local hospital by his teacher and grandfather. At the local hospital, Yangyang was initially diagnosed with a cold but was later suspected of having congenital heart disease during further examinations. He was admitted for additional treatment. However, Yangyang’s condition worsened, with continuous vomiting, nosebleeds, and an inability to defecate for over ten days. On December 7, with the assistance of a local cardiovascular disease specialist, Yangyang's family sought help at the Structural Heart Disease Center of Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University. By the time of admission, Yangyang had become unconscious, started screaming, talking nonsense, acting violently agitated, which left his grandfather and father both extremely tense and fearful.

According to Yangyang's condition, the Structural Heart Disease Center of the hospital quickly conducted a comprehensive examination for Yangyang. Neurological issues were promptly ruled out through a brain MRI, followed by the exclusion of heart disease. Subsequently, a multidisciplinary consultation was organized. During the consultation, Chief Physician Chen Xiaoqi from the hospital's Rheumatology and Immunology Department believed that all signs pointed to systemic lupus erythematosus. After targeted examinations, Yangyang was diagnosed with the disease.

Director Chen Xiaoqi stated that the rapid and severe progression of Yangyang's condition was largely related to the delay in treatment. The appearance of rashes, hair loss, vomiting, and other symptoms were all "alarms," yet a timely diagnosis was not made. Playing basketball under the scorching sun exacerbated the inflammation, with the rash distribution resembling lupus erythematosus. However, based solely on the morphology of the rash, it could not be fully distinguished from allergic dermatitis, resulting in the initial episodes being treated as common allergies. Following several occurrences of rashes, the patient subsequently developed alopecia, inability to eat or defecate, liver and kidney failure, high fever, severe infection, an unusual collapse of coagulation function, and exhibited signs of nervous system involvement such as "incoherent speech." The condition progressed continuously, ultimately leading to admission into the ICU at its most critical point.

She introduced that the public's awareness of systemic lupus erythematosus is generally low. This disease is not a skin condition but an autoimmune disorder that can affect multiple systems and organs throughout the body, characterized by the presence of various autoantibodies. It is a type of chronic illness. It is more common in women, with the male-to-female ratio of affected individuals typically being 1:9. Men tend to have poorer recovery outcomes and a higher mortality rate compared to women.When the body develops erythematous rashes, regardless of whether there is itching or not, it is important to consider the possibility of rheumatic immune diseases rather than simply treating it as an allergic reaction. If such symptoms occur, it is recommended to consult a rheumatology and immunology department to avoid delays and ensure the fastest treatment time.

Source: Jimu News