Awareness about Lupus, a little known ailment which mostly afflicted women of child bearing age, is the key to fight the disease, experts said at a rally organised by the Institute of Medical Sciences and SUM Hospital here to mark the World Lupus Day on Friday .

Lupus is an auto-immune disease which mimics the symptoms of many other ailments confusing both the patient and the physician. If the diagnosis is done properly and treatment provided, the patient can be cured, they said.

The awareness rally, organised by the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology of IMS and SUM Hospital, began at the city’s crowded Master Canteen square and culminated at Ram Mandir in which Prof. (Dr.) Ashok Kumar Mahapatra, eminent neuro-surgeon and Principal Advisor (Health Sciences) at Siksha ‘O’ Anusandhan (SOA) and Dr. M.K. Chhotray, President of the Odisha chapter of Indian Rheumatology Society participated.

Prof. (Dr.) Mahapatra appreciated the organization of such a rally saying awareness about the disease and proper treatment could defeat the ailment. Prof. (Dr.) Chhotray said the disease affected different organs of the patient. Hence, proper diagnosis and treatment were the keys to fight the disease, he said.

Prof. (Dr.) Pradipta Sekhar Patro, Head of the Department of Clinical Immunology and Rheumatology at IMS and SUM Hospital provided details about Lupus saying it affected girls and women in the age group of 15 to 50 years. It throws up different symptoms causing confusion.

The participants in the rally included Prof. Jyoti Ranjan Das, Dean (Students’ Welfare), SOA, Ms. Minati Mishra, Nursing Superintendent of IMS and SUM Hospital, Ms. Puspanjali Rout, Deputy General Manager, doctors, nurses and students.

A Continuing Medical Education (CME) program on Lupus was also held at the IMS and SUM Hospital which was addressed by Prof. (Dr.) Sanghamitra Mishra, Dean of the institute and Prof. (Dr.) Rachita Sarangi, Professor in the Department of Pediatrics and Medical Superintendent in-charge of the hospital. Prof. (Dr.) Pradipta Shekhar Patro and Dr. Rashmiranjan Sahu, Associate Professor, also spoke on the occasion.