# Relentless Headaches and Syncope: A Case of Neuropsychiatric Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in a Pediatric Male Patient

## TL;DR

This paper presents a case of a young boy with severe lupus affecting the brain, showing how it can cause confusing symptoms like headaches and fainting.

## Contribution

The paper highlights a rare and challenging case of NPSLE in a pediatric male with early-onset neurological symptoms.

## Key findings

- NPSLE can manifest with non-specific symptoms in children, complicating diagnosis.
- The case shows early neurological involvement in cSLE, within a month of diagnosis.
- Positive radiologic findings supported the NPSLE diagnosis in this patient.

## Abstract

Childhood systemic lupus erythematosus (cSLE) is a rare multisystem autoimmune disease with considerable morbidity as it has been typically reported to be more severe than in adults. Neuropsychiatric SLE (NPSLE) is the second leading cause of lupus-related morbidity in the pediatric age group, mostly occurring within the first year of onset, but may develop at any time. It can present with a range of vague specific neurologic manifestations which can be challenging to diagnose. Here, we present a case of NPSLE in an 11-year-old male, presenting less than a month after diagnosis with positive radiologic features.