It is important to keep in mind that no two cases of lupus are alike. However, there are general symptoms—things that a person with lupus may feel or experience as opposed to a doctor testing for—that many with the disease notice.

Common symptoms include the following:

• Swollen, stiff, and painful joints
• Fever over 100 degrees fahrenheit
• Fatigue
• Rashes on the skin and/or sensitivity to the sun
• Swelling around the ankles
• Chest pain with deep breaths
• Unusual hair loss
• Pale or purple fingers from cold or stress
• Mouth ulcers, often painless

In some cases of lupus, several of these symptoms develop at once in what is called a “flare.”