BHUBANESWAR: Surama Padhy, Speaker of the Odisha Assembly, urged for heightened public awareness regarding lupus, an autoimmune disease, on Sunday.

During a rally organized by IMS and SUM Hospital in observance of World Lupus Day, Padhy noted that while the disease predominantly affects young girls and women, it can be effectively managed through early detection, prompt treatment, and lifestyle changes.

The rally attracted around 200 participants, including doctors, nurses, and healthcare workers, who marched from Master Canteen square to Ram Mandir square. Bhubaneswar-Ekamra MLA Babu Singh was also in attendance.

In a subsequent media conference, Prof. Pradipta Sekhar Patro, head of the clinical immunology and rheumatology department at IMS and SUM Hospital, stated that lupus can be treated successfully, allowing patients to lead normal lives.

He explained that the human immune system consists of a vast network of cells designed to protect the body from environmental threats and damage to its own cells. However, it can sometimes misfire, causing the body to attack its own cells, leading to autoimmune diseases such as lupus, also known as ‘systemic lupus erythematosus.’ He highlighted that lupus is challenging to diagnose because symptoms can vary significantly among patients, potentially affecting the skin, joints, blood, heart, kidneys, and even the brain. Importantly, the disease is not contagious, but it impacts the kidneys in approximately 60 to 70 percent of cases, according to Prof. Patro.

Medical superintendent Prof. Pusparaj Samantasinghar and dean Prof. Sanghamitra Mishra were also present at the event.