Ninety per cent of them would probably be women of child-bearing age, experiencing symptoms as wide-ranging as extreme fatigue and headaches to depression and swollen joints.

Lupus, a non-contagious autoimmune disease that results in the body “attacking itself”, has been in the spotlight during May.

The Lupus Association of NSW is eager to raise public awareness of the disease, encouraging doctors to complete an online education program aimed at assisting in early diagnosis, and bring more sufferers together to share their experiences.

Association secretary Robert Pearce reports that the incidence of lupus in Australia is one in 400 for the Caucasian population and significantly higher in the Aboriginal, Asian and African populations.

He said Dubbo could expect to have more than 100 lupus sufferers, given its Aboriginal population.

“More people have lupus than AIDS, cystic fibrosis and cerebral palsy combined,” the secretary said.

The association explains on www.lupusnsw.org.au that lupus sets the immune system upon a healthy body.

“Often two or more organs can be attacked at one time, severely compromising the health of that patient,” Mr Pearce said.

Symptoms vary depending on which organ or organs are affected.

They include extreme fatigue, headaches, painful and swollen joints, flu-like symptoms, depression, anaemia, swelling of feet, legs, hands and eyes, pleurisy, hair loss, abnormal blood clotting, stroke, convulsions, photosensitivity, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and mouth and nose ulcers.

“Various events can bring on a flare, but include exposure to the sun, extreme stress and exposure to chemicals,” Mr Pearce said.

The secretary said the causes of lupus were not all known.

“Some 10 per cent is believed to be genetic, with the remainder caused by extreme stress, a hormonal event, chemicals and other environmental factors,” he said.

The association, focused on “support, education and research into a cure”, receives “very little help from any government”, according to Mr Pearce.