Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (Lupus)
in Children and Adolescents

What causes lupus?
No one knows what causes lupus. However, even though we do not know what causes lupus, some people seem to be more prone to getting it. Certain genes allow individuals who have these genes to develop lupus. This is why sometimes there are several relatives in the same family with lupus and also why certain populations of people, especially individuals of Afro-Caribbean, Hispanic, Asian and Chinese background get lupus more frequently than others. But, basically, anyone can get lupus. 

We also know that sun exposure can trigger lupus. In addition, doctors suspect that female hormones called estrogens, which reach high levels during puberty, may somehow allow lupus to occur more easily, but we do not know why this happens. 

Lastly, certain medications can cause an illness similar to lupus that usually goes away when the medications are stopped. There is a lot that doctors do not know, but we do know for sure that getting lupus is definitely not anyone's fault and having lupus, although it can be a major nuisance, is not the end of the world.

Even though we do not know what causes lupus, much is known about what happens once a person develops lupus. This knowledge allows doctors who specialize in childhood lupus to prescribe medications to treat lupus successfully, even though there is no cure for it yet.