Nursing Management

1. Instruct patients to seek medical care for evaluation of new symptoms, including fever.
2. Instruct patients to avoid exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet light.
3. Encourage them to receive nonlive vaccines during stable periods of disease, to quit
smoking, and to carefully plan pregnancies.
4. A complete opthalmologic examination is indicated before treatment begins and every
6 months thereafter.
5. Instruct patient to maintain a balanced diet that does not exceed calorie expenditure is
essential for maintaining appropriate weight on corticosteroid therapy.
6. Use of sunscreen with an SPF of atleast 15, wide brim hats, and protective
clothing.Slip, slop, slap rule: slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen, and slap on a hat before
going out in the sun.
Medical Management
Antibiotics: To treat or prevent an infection caused by germs called bacteria. If taking
antibiotics, take them until they are all gone even if you feel better. Take antibiotics before
dental cleanings and other dental or medical procedures. Always tell caregivers and
dentist that you have lupus.
Antim alarial m edicine: To treat the joint and skin symptoms of lupus. Even though this
medicine is used to treat malaria, it is also given to treat lupus.
Cytotox ic m edicine: To decrease inflammation (redness and swelling) in muscles or
joints. Cytotoxic medicine also slows down the immune system.
Fever m edicine: To help lower body temperature. Common medicines used to lower
temperature include acetaminophen and ibuprofen. Lowering body temperature may help
you feel better.
I m m unosuppressive m edicine: With lupus, the immune system attacks your own
body when it should not. Immunosuppressive medicine may be given to slow down the
immune system.
P ain m edicine:
-Caregivers may give medicine to take away or decrease your pain. Medicine may be taken
regularly, or only when you need it.
-Tell your caregiver if your pain does not decrease enough for you to feel better. Do not
wait to take your pain medicine until the pain is very bad. The medicine may not work as
well at controlling your pain if you wait too long to take it.

-If you are taking medicine that makes you drowsy, do not drive or use heavy equipment.
N onsteroidal anti-inflam m atory m edicine: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medicine
may help decrease pain and inflammation in muscles or joints.
Steroids: To decrease inflammation. This medicine can help a lot but may also have side
effects.
Surgical Management
Surgery is not a primary treatment for lupus, but in some cases the complications of
lupus may require surgery. Minor surgical procedures such as taking a skin, kidney, or
lymph node biopsy may be needed in diagnosing lupus. Some of the major surgical
operations that may be done in lupus patients are kidney transplantation, splenectomy,
and joint replacement.