Infections
A virus or bacteria that might make an ordinary person sick can make someone with lupus really sick. “Infections trigger the immune response, and a lupus response has difficulty turning off,” explains Dr. Koumpouras.
“Therefore, significant infections can trigger aberrant immune responses. There are some thoughts and even some data to suggest that viruses, including Epstein-Barr virus, can trigger diseases.”
The Korean Journal of Internal Medicine cites parvovirus B19 and retrovirus, in addition to Epstein-Barr, as potential contributing factors to lupus development. One note: It’s essential to figure out if your symptom—say, a fever—is caused by an infection or a flare since effective treatment will differ for each.
