How long can somone live with lupus?

my little cousin shes 13 and i just found out like an 1 hr ago that see has it but she doens't know yet and i want all the research i can get so i can tell my ant so she won't lose hope you guys don't know how bad i feel right now im just crying becaue im so close to my couzin this is so not fair i hope somone out there can answear my quiestion and the rest that i will be posting up soon

With proper medical care.. a long time! For the most part, it's quite manageable..but regular medical care. Dr.s visits and blood tests are essential. Most go on to have a normal life span..read this link for more info.
http://www.lupus.org/webmodules/webartic...

I am 56 and have had lupus most of my life.
I got an email yesterday from a woman with lupus. She is 85.
There is a woman with lupus in St. Petersburg, Florida who is 86 and teachers yoga to people in wheel chairs and she goes dancing!

Don't go putting your cousin in the grave. The majority of people with lupus will live a relatively normal life span if they see their doctors regularly and follow their treatment plan.

Go to the link below and find a chapter near you. They most likely have support groups and can give you more information.

There is a lot of information at the link provided. You need to understand that these are all the POSSIBLE things that can happen with lupus. NO patient has all of them.

Speaking from the point of view of a lupus patient, don't pity your cousin. She will sense it and it will stress her out. Stress is the SINGLE worst thing for lupus patients.

systemic lupus erythematus is an inflammatory disease that can cuase major organs and systems to fail.. there is no known cure for this disease.. all you haave to do is to follow doctors advice and take medication religiously to lessen the progress of the disease condition.. try to make your cousin feel better by letting her verbalize what she feels.. let her have a balance exercise and rest to conserve energy.. this is the best thing you could to do to her and her family, support them emotionally...

Lupus is a disease that can be anywhere from very mild to extremely severe, so it really depends on how sick she is, the frequency of her flare-ups, and other factors like her general health levels. Good medical care is a must, but it's always a good idea to do independent research, because no one doctor can know everything. Having good insurance will help with the cost of some of the meds, too. It's probably a good idea for your cousin and family members to see a counselor and for her to keep stress levels to an absolute minimum, as mental stress is a known trigger for flares in many people.

With the proper care, medical, emotional, and spiritual, your cousin can undoubtedly live a long life.