Does systemic lupus erythematosus only affect adults?

    Written by:
    Rachel Hathcock

    Fact-checked

    by:

    Bill Willis, Graham Walker
    Last Updated: October 13, 2024

    No. Children can be diagnosed with SLE, but childhood-onset SLE is rare. While SLE manifests similarly in children and adults, the disease course in children tends to be more severe.[1]