Gemma Collins 'calls in police and beefs up security' as terrified star is sent 'abusive and menacing' letter to her home
Gemma Collins has been left 'terrified' and forced to call in police after she received an 'abusive and menacing' letter to her home.
The reality star, 44, is said to be petrified and has beefed up her personal security as a result of the ordeal.
A source close to Gemma told The Sun how the man behind the twisted letter detailed his strong dislike for her and talked about tracking her down.
They said: 'Gemma was left shaken and very scared for her safety after she received a threatening and abusive letter from a man expressing his extreme dislike for her and using menacing language.
'It was really nasty and made reference to tracking her down, so she called the police straight away.
From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop.
'It was alarming that this man knew her home address, but she already upped security and has round-the-clock guard dogs and has cameras onsite.
'She is always incredibly friendly with all her fans and happy to stop for pictures and a chat so to have someone send such an unpleasant letter has really shocked her.'
The insider shared that there is now an ongoing investigation and Gemma is 'grateful' to the police for taking the matter seriously.
The added: 'She thought about what had happened to Holly Willoughby and her kidnap threat ordeal so didn't want to take any chances.'
MailOnline has contacted a representative for Gemma for comment.
Gemma, who was a car dealer before shooting to fame when she landed a role on ITV's The Only Way Is Essex, previously spoke about her experience with stalking.
She told how she's had 'scary' people turn up at her shop in Essex and send her terrifying letters.
She told how it 'played havoc on her mind' and was the reason she stepped away from her front of house work at her boutique in Brentwood.
Appearing on the Daily Mail's Everything I Know About Me Podcast, Gemma said: 'No one would believe the bl**dy crap I've had to deal with.
'I've had a woman stalker that wrote me a letter in white gloves and wanted to kill me.
'You know, people would wish me dead. I'd get all sorts turn up at the shop. Weird. People are weird. And that's why in a way I came away from my shop in the end.'
In 2019, Gemma was forced to move out of her home in Essex over stalking fears, with removal vans being pictured at the property at the time.
She had been stalked by a man that previously fat-shamed her.
It comes after Gemma recently told fans how she had been struck down with pneumonia as she explained her absence from social media.
Gemma explained that her condition had been leaving her breathless 'really quickly' but due to medics diagnosing it as viral, antibiotics would be ineffective.
She told The Mirror: 'It's shocking, I've had it now for over three weeks and I had steroids given to me by my doctor. It was DJ Fat Tony's wedding and I had to take them to get through that,'
'But I'm off them now and the sickness is really kicking back in. It's so frustrating because I normally have so much energy and I'm always loving life, but now I get really breathless really quickly and I feel like I'm dying.'
Pneumonia is inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by an infection. Most people get better in two to four weeks, but babies, older people, and people with heart or lung conditions are at risk of getting seriously ill and may need treatment in hospital.
Taking to her Stories Gemma shared snaps as she underwent X-rays while praising medical staff for their care.
She wrote: 'Thank you to all the amazing doctors helping me your real life angels'.
Announcing the news of her condition on Wednesday, Gemma shared a photo of herself in bed looking poorly in bed.
She wrote: 'Hey guys sorry been quiet i have Pneumonia. I'm not as fast or on it as I usually am on the daily.
'I am still honouring my work commitments which is taking every bit of energy I have but will be back entertaining you all soon.'
On her Story she added an update as she showed she was on a drip and had been visited by a doctor.
One post that showed a drip in her arm read: 'I'm having to take it easy which is not like me very slow and get so out of breath and tired so quick.'
WHAT IS PNEUMONIA?
Pneumonia is a type of chest infection that affects the tiny air sacs in the lungs.
The condition causes these sacs to be become inflammed and fill with fluid, making it harder to breathe.
Pneumonia is caused by bacteria or viruses, with the most common being Streptococcus pneumoniae.
It affects between five and 11 out of every 1,000 adults every year in the UK.
Anyone can suffer from pneumonia, however, at-risk groups include:
Babies and young children
People over 65
Those with long-term heart, lung or kidney disease
People with cancer, particularly those having chemotherapy
Smokers
Those on drugs that suppress their immune systems
Antibiotics or mechanical ventilator use in hospitals also raise the risk.
Symptoms include
Coughing up mucus
Fever
Chest pain
Loss of appetite
Fatigue
In severe cases, sufferers may cough up blood, vomit or have a rapid heart rate.
Treatment is usually antibiotics, which may need to be given intravenously in hospital in severe cases.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Sun
Meet the glamorous Soccer Aid WAGs… from Emmerdale star to lads mag legend and boxer's wife who terrifies her husband
IT'S one of the most anticipated - and entertaining - matches in the football calendar. This weekend England takes on the World XI in this year's Soccer Aid for UNICEF. 20 20 20 20 The annual charity event, which kicks off at 7:30pm on Sunday at Old Trafford, has raised over £106million for the humanitarian organisation through ticket sales and generous public donations since it was founded by singer Robbie Williams in 2006. Harry Redknapp 's England squad is hoping to claim a seventh win against their opponents - coached by Peter Schmeichel and Robbie Keane - in the charity clash. And as is customary, both teams will be cheered on from the sidelines by their glamorous other halves. Here we take a look at the line-up of wives and girlfriends. Zara McDermott Former Love Island star Zara is expected to attend the match to support new love Louis Tomlinson. And she might be relieved to hear there won't be any awkward run-ins with her ex Sam Thompson, as he's been forced to pull out due to injury. Zara, 28, and ex-Made in Chelsea star Sam, 32, split in December last year, after five years together. She was first linked to the One Direction singer, 33, in March and they've since been spotted cosying up on dates. The couple recently enjoyed a holiday to Costa Rica, with a source telling The Sun: 'Louis and Zara are going from strength to strength." In March Zara's friends voiced their concerns about Sam, who they claimed was a "loose cannon" who "never wanted to let her go" following their break-up. But Sam - raised more than £1.5m for Unicef by running and biking 260 miles from Chelsea's Stamford Bridge ground to Old Trafford - has also moved on and is reportedly dating another former Love Island stunner, Samie Elishi. Sam Thompson reveals Soccer Aid appearance is hanging by a thread - and horrifying after-effects of 260 mile bike ride Tianna Chanel Flynn 20 Stunning American real estate agent Tianna is the wife of Line Of Duty actor Martin Compston, 41. She also has several acting credits to her name, having appeared in How to Get Away with Murder and Secret Diary of an American Cheerleader. The couple wed in Martin's native Scotland in 2016 and have since welcomed a son together. Martin opened up about meeting his wife at a bar during happy hour, when she was working there as a hostess. He admitted she didn't have a clue who he was, while he was "a right few [drinks] in". "She was kind of forced to put up with me and my pal for several hours," he told the Scottish Daily Express. "It's just amazing that we walked into that bar on that day and I think about it and go, 'If I didn't, then...' You know, she's my wife and we have a kid together now." Martin had a promising football career before he took up acting, having played for Aberdeen as a teenager. Danniella Carraturo 20 20 Singer Tom Grennan, 30, will be supported by his wife of a year, Danniella. The brunette beauty, from Ireland, is a Pilates instructor who regularly shows off her stunning physique on Instagram. Danniella and Tom tend to keep their personal life pretty private, but during his tour of Australia he revealed how the couple met. He told the Kyle & Jackie O Show they initially met in a lift before bumping into each other again in a hotel smoking area. But the Little Bit of Love crooner wasn't particularly smooth when it came to making his move. He said: 'I leant in for a kiss, and she was like, 'What the hell are you doing?'' But he clearly upped his game as they tied the knot in Majorca last year. Rachael Bellew 20 20 Former boxer Tony Bellew will be supported by his childhood sweetheart and wife-of-seven-years Rachael. The couple first met when Tony was just nine years old, but their relationship turned romantic when they reconnected while the boxer was working in a nightclub aged 18. They share three sons - Corey, Cobey and Carter. Strong-willed Rachael is allegedly part of the reason her husband took a step back from boxing in 2018. Tony, 42, revealed that she was fed up with him always looking for his next fight - and was furious that he watched boxing during their honeymoon. He recalled: "If I don't stop after this then she is going to divorce me and I have only been married four or five months." Thankfully, he headed his wife's warning and the couple are still happily married. But he did admit before matches that the only person he is scared of is Rachael, joking: 'I'm more frightened of my missus than you. I wouldn't f***ing dare cross her. I wouldn't mess with her." Rachael headed to Australia to support him in I'm A Celeb in 2023 and will be pitch side this weekend. Melanie Vaz Lopez 20 Dragon's Den star Steven Bartlett tends to be tight-lipped when it comes to his personal life, but he has been dating French influencer Melanie for several years. She too is a businesswoman and has built brands in the beauty and wellbeing sectors, as well as being trained in Reiki healing. Stunning Melanie has also published a recipe book of vegan dishes and runs nutrition guide Booty Academy. The couple first got together in 2016 but split after a year because Steven was too focused on work to commit. But he realised his mistake and in 2022 he jetted to Bali to win her back. 'Getting myself into a loving relationship with a wonderful woman has totally been my greatest achievement,' he gushed to The Sun. 'I wasn't sure if that was going to be possible for me, because what I learned about love at a young age was not very good. It was quite toxic.' Janine Viljoen 20 20 South African rugby star Bryan Habana will be supported by his stunning wife Janine. The couple have been married since 2009 - and while he was playing all over the world, she doggedly built up her own fitness business. And 14 years of marriage haven't dulled the Springbok's love for his wife. He posted in May: "To the Lioness of our tribe… The real MVP… The one that makes our house a home… Thank you for being the most incredible mother to our two boys. "For carrying the load when I'm not around.. for always putting us first." Janine is reported to have a degree in Sports Science which has bolstered her reputation in the fitness business. The couple share an 11-year-old son, Timothy Jacob. Kimberly Crew 20 20 Former England goalkeeper Joe Hart will be watched from the sidelines by his wife Kimberly. The couple began dating in 2009 but like to keep their private life out of the spotlight. In 2015 they married in a stunning ceremony in Florence, Italy. Kimberly, who was often seen cheering on her husband at matches, is believed to have worked as a beautician. In 2014 the couple welcomed their son, Harlow, who they don't share photos of on social media. Joe is sure to be looking for his wife on the sidelines when back on the pitch this weekend. He told The Telegraph back in 2013: "I notice everything. It's weird. I notice the fans, the banners, where my family and friends are sitting. I feel very aware and involved." Sheree Murphy 20 20 Australian footballer Harry Kewell, 46, will be supported by his TV presenter wife Sheree Murphy, 49. Brit Sheree is known for her acting roles in soaps Emmerdale and Hollyoaks, and for presenting Yes Chef! on BBC1. The couple met in 2009 after they ran into each other at Majestyk nightclub in Leeds while Harry was playing for Leeds United. After two years together they had a spontaneous wedding in Las Vegas and have since welcomed four children - son Taylor, 24, and daughters, Ruby, 22, Matilda, 17, and Dolly, 13. But his high profile hasn't made things easy for their marriage, as he has been the target of other women's amorous attentions. 'It's not nice when any girl comes up to your fella and comes on to them, whether they're in the public eye or not,' Sheree said in 2015. 'My husband has never been the sort to go out and live it large, so I've always been quite lucky and haven't had that many bad experiences. 'But I've had a few rows with a few girls who have hit on him right in front of me, although that was more back in the day." Gemma Atkinson 20 20 Gorka Marquez, 34, is swapping his dancing shoes for football boots - and his gorgeous fiancée Gemma will be there to cheer him along. The actress, 40, met the Spaniard while competing on Strictly Come Dancing and the couple started dating in 2018. They share two children - Mia, five, and one-year-old Thiago - and have been engaged since 2021. Gemma is known for her work in Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, and was a lad's mag favourite in the early 2000s. The couple are waiting to tie the knot until their children are older and can be fully present. Gemma said: 'We'd like Thiago to be involved now so we're going to have to wait another year or so. 'When we first got engaged we said we'll get Mia walking down the aisle and then Thiago came along… and there's no time!'
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Kate Middleton breaks from tradition in latest Father's Day tribute post
The Wales children have shared a heartwarming tribute to their 'Papa' Prince William for Father's Day today. However, in a break from tradition, keen photographer Kate Middleton, 43, chose not to capture the image to commemorate the special celebration. Sharing their love, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, cuddled up to their father as they posed for photos with Prince William. In one of the images, shared on Instagram, the royal children - all sporting dusky green ensembles beamed as they faced the camera as William affectionately placed his hands on his children's shoulders. In a second, more candid snap, the youngsters tackled their father with hugs, laughing as they played in a patch of grass. 'Happy Father's Day, Papa,' the caption read, highlighting that the more posed picture with the family smiling for the camera is the 'before', while the more candid monochrome shot of them giggling together is the 'after'. 'We love you! G, C & L.' Josh Shinner, one of the family's trusted professional photographers, captured both images, as opposed to Prince William's wife, Kate, who has, over the years, put herself behind the lens to capture family moments. Last Father's Day, Kate left royal fans in tears over her 'perfect' Father's Day photo of Prince William with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Shared on Instagram and X, the picture was posted alongside a personally signed social media post from the three children, declaring 'We love you, Papa. Happy Father's Day.' Kensington Palace said Kate's picture of William, George, Charlotte, and Prince Louis, was taken on the Norfolk coast in May last year. The post was the first time a message from the three children featured on the family's social media accounts - and some fans couldn't cope after seeing the 'sweetest' photo and caption. 'My leaky eyes are leaking again! Beautiful photo Thank you,' wrote one person in the comment section of the post. Another said: 'What a beautiful photo, thank you for sharing,' while a third added: 'This photo and their message... just perfect.' 'So heartwarming! A beautiful Father's Day tribute from the little royals,' another person said. A fifth wrote: 'This is the sweetest picture.' Earlier this year, for Prince Louis's birthday, Josh too was the cameraman behind the seven-year-old's portrait. The photo of Louis appears to have been taken on the same day as the adorable family photo unveiled today, while the Waleses were in Norfolk. The sweet post proves to be yet another break from tradition for Prince William's wife Kate, who has over the years put herself behind the lens to capture family moments The new social media post comes after the family celebrated Trooping the Colour yesterday. On Saturday the country came together to mark King Charles' official birthday amid a spectacular display of military pomp and pageantry before the Royal Family waved to crowds from the balcony of Buckingham Palace as part of an annual tradition. This year, Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, were joined by the Waleses as well as Princess Anne and her husband, Vice-admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. Also in attendance were the Duke of Kent and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh in a display of solidarity that rounded out the festivities - but one member stole the spotlight. Prince William and Kate Middleton's youngest child, Louis, put on his most animated display yet as he waved excitedly at fans while showing off his gap-toothed grin - much to the amusement of his siblings. Ever the composed older brother, Prince George gently tried to calm Louis down by placing one hand on his arm as their father William, 40, looked affectionately down at his sons - while Princess Kate and Charlotte, 10, took in their surroundings. At one point, Louis turned to his grandfather Charles and appeared to make an observation about the fighter jets flying overhead as a body language expert noted Louis' effervescent personality shone through from the balcony. Louis covered his face as he and older brother, Prince George, arrived at Buckingam Palace after Trooping the Colour ceremony in London on the occasion of their grandfather, King Charles' official birthday If Louis once found the proceedings overwhelming, you wouldn't know it from the way he snuck in one final wave before Kate, 43, gently ushered her brood back into Buckingham Palace after the spectacular flypast was concluded. Commenting on the young royal's reluctance to go back inside, Judi James told MailOnline: 'There was a seismic change in royal body language signals on the balcony with Louis suddenly morphing into the most visible and active royal but for all the right reasons. 'Instead of his usual playful activities, he appeared totally focused on the aircraft, only turning to his dad to show off his plane spotting skills, with the affirming nods from William suggesting his younger son is becoming a bit of an aircraft expert 'It was also Louis lingering longer before going back in, to gaze down at the crowds and to keep up the increasingly royal looking waves longer than the rest of the Firm.' Taking cues from his father and grandfather, Louis attempted different variations of his royal wave while making sure his siblings were thoroughly entertained throughout their balcony appearance - one of the most eagerly-awaited moments of the day. Louis also joined Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and the Duchess of Edinburgh in observing one minute of silence in honour of the 241 passengers and crew killed in the Air India plane crash on Thursday, when a Boeing 787 Dreamliner bound for Gatwick Airport came down in the Indian city of Ahmedabad. During the King's Birthday Parade - the third of Charles' reign - the Wales children rode in a carriage with Kate as they waved at onlookers gathered along The Mall to watch the procession. Prince Louis caught the attention of royal watchers as he flashed a cheeky grin and waved at the assembled crowds during Trooping the Colour on Saturday. As the carriage made its way towards Buckingham Palace, Louis grinned sheepishly at Prince George as Kate and Charlotte - who both paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II by wearing pieces of jewellery she loved - laughed and chatted away. As their carriage pulled up outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, George couldn't help himself from laughing as Louis pulled funny faces while feigning exasperation as the cheekiest royal dramatically leaned back into his seat. When Prince George covered his face, his younger brother quickly followed suit and copied his actions before Kate led her and Prince William's children inside to prepare them for the flypast. Ahead of yesterday's celebrations, crowds of well-wishers and royal fans had started lining the Mall. If the cardboard cutouts they carried were any indication, the Princess of Wales ' arrival was most eagerly anticipated. Photos showed a group of Britons holding up a life-sized picture of the Princess of Wales, wearing the red, long-sleeved Alexander McQueen dress she most famously donned for the Diamond Jubilee pageant in 2012. Another person was carting around a cut-out of King Charles, dressed in full military regalia, in a show of support for the monarch as he continues to receive treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. No doubt the appearance of Prince Louis - the youngest of the Wales' siblings - was also highly anticipated. As their carriage pulled up outside the gates of Buckingham Palace, George couldn't help himself from laughing as Louis pulled funny faces while feigning exasperation as the cheekiest royal dramatically leaned back into his seat Kate and her brood! Prince Louis looks grumpy as Prince George and Princess Catherine flash beaming smiles while Princess Charlotte, with her hair in an elegant style, watches on Taking cues from his father and grandfather, Louis attempted different variations of his royal wave while making sure his siblings were thoroughly entertained throughout their balcony appearance - one of the most eagerly-awaited moments of the day He is known for his cheeky antics, and last year he stole the show. During one of his many animated displays, the young prince was caught on camera scrunching up his face, while Kate appeared to crouch down to talk with her son on a balcony on Horse Guards Parade. The Prince and Princess of Wales ' youngest child was also captured yawning at the London event, which usually consists of more than 1,400 parading soldiers, 200 horses, 400 musicians and a flyover of 70 aircraft. Seemingly not occupied enough by the parade, at one point, the cheeky prince was even caught tugging on the cord for the blinds as he chatted to his mother. Louis, who was wearing a double breasted blazer, a pair of shorts, a crisp shirt and a tie last year, could not hide his facial expressions - much to the enjoyment of fans. He even attempted to try and open the window on the balcony next to the Duchess of Edinburgh, gripping the frame as he tried to pull it up. And the prince looked less than impressed during the ride, knitting his brows together at points as he stared out of the window, open-mouthed. The Wales were once again, typically stylish for the event this year as they made their arrival. Trooping the Colour is a centuries-old tradition that marks the Sovereign's official birthday. It dates back to the 17th century and is rooted in battlefield custom, when regimental flags, or 'colours,' were trooped in front of soldiers to ensure they could be recognised amid the smoke of combat.
Daily Mail
37 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Where is Dido now? How iconic Noughties singer, 53, who raked in £1M a MONTH vanished from the spotlight amid family tragedy and swapped fame for a 'very ordinary life'
Dido found fame in 1999 with her debut album No Angel, which featured hit song Thank you, and along with follow Life For Rent remains among the best-selling albums in UK chart history. The songstress, now 53, was then catapulted to superstardom when she duetted with Eminem on his iconic track Stan, won numerous awards, sold a whopping 40M records and briefly became the world's biggest female pop star, raking in a whopping £1M every month. But Dido, whose real name is Dido Florian Cloud de Bounevialle O'Malley Armstrong, suddenly at the height of her fame vanished from the spotlight, revealing years later her shock decision to embrace a 'very ordinary life' was in fact due to a family tragedy. The singer, who this year released a special anniversary vinyl edition of her debut No Angel, told MailOnline in 2019: 'I needed to come home, my father was ill and there were more important issues going on than my career.' Dido's father, publisher William O'Malley Armstrong - who has not been pictured - was a colourful character on the literary scene, had developed lupus, a degenerative auto-immune disease. From A-list scandals and red carpet mishaps to exclusive pictures and viral moments, subscribe to the DailyMail's new Showbiz newsletter to stay in the loop. 'I wanted to be home where I could go and see my dad every day. That was more important than anything. When you have lupus you know you are going to die, so we all had time to be with him, to say everything we wanted, but death still comes as a shock.' Dido revealed was singing one of his favourite Irish songs, Raglan Road, to her beloved father when he passed away in 2006 aged 69, just three days before her 34th birthday. After her father's death, she flew to Los Angeles: 'I went for a few weeks to give myself space to think about my dad and that turned into two years'. Admitting the only music she could write in that time were songs about her father: 'They were so personal. I performed them only once in Los Angeles and it was too hard.' Her next album 2008's Safe Trip Home was largely overlooked and failed to make an impact in the charts, but while in LA she met and later married children's author Rohan Gavin and in 2011 gave birth to their son Stanley. Dido made her comeback in 2019 with album Still on My Mind before going on to work with the likes of newer pop stars Grimes, said despite her quieter public image has continued making music. She told The Telegraph: 'I have been having a lovely time, being with my family, seeing friends, seeing the world, But the music never stopped. 'I am always singing, always writing songs. Music is how I make sense of the world. I just stopped playing it to anyone but my family'. She told MailOnline in 2019: 'I needed to come home, my father was ill and there were more important issues going on than my career' (pictured 2001) Dido revealed she was singing one of her father's favourite Irish songs to him when he passed away in 2006 aged 69, just three days before her 34th birthday (Pictured 2003) Later admitting that she had struggled to write quality songs after becoming a mother, telling Graham Norton on his BBC 2 Radio show in 2019: 'After I had my son I definitely have a couple of years where most of what I wrote wasn't very good'. 'I actually knew it at the time, when I write songs there's always a bit conflicted, but then when I had a kid I thought ''I'm quite happy'. In her 20 years of showbusiness Dido scooped four BRIT Awards and been nominated for two Grammy's, and was even nominated for an Academy Award in 2011 for the song If I Rise, which featured in the film 127 Hours. But she now lives a much quieter life and said she can travel around London on public transport without being recognised. 'I have no problem living a very ordinary life, Very occasionally someone will come up to me and say: 'You look a bit like that singer called…' She continued: 'And most times they don't even remember the name, so I smile and get on with what I'm doing.' She now lives a much quieter life and said she can travel around London on public transport without being recognised (pictured on stage in 2019) But now at the age of 53 said she refuses to bow down to record companies and will only tour and release music on her terms. 'I couldn't do anything if I was pressurised. That has never worked for me,'. The singer, who is no reportedly worth £10M, spoke candidly about her wealth but said she doesn't buy 'big things' like flashy sports cars, saying instead that money has bought her freedom. 'The benefits of having money are being able just to get up and go to the Grand Canyon because you all really want to see it. And then to be able to talk to your son and your husband about it for years afterwards.' WHAT IS LUPUS? What is lupus? It is one of the chronic autoimmune conditions, where the body makes antibodies against itself and starts to attack it. Lupus – Systemic Lupus Erythematotsus (SLE) – has a range of severity. Some sufferers will have only mild problems, others have life-threatening organ damage to the heart and the kidneys. What are the symptoms? Tiredness, joint pains and muscle aches. A common first symptom is joint stiffness, particularly in the mornings. Skin and hair problems are a major feature of SLE – a rash in the shape of a butterfly over the cheeks and nose is common, as is hair loss and sensitivity to the sun. Other problems include depression and lung and heart disease, as well as kidney inflammation. What can it be mistaken for? It is often mistaken for other joint problems such as rheumatoid arthritis which is also characterised by morning joint stiffness. It can also be misdiagnosed as a skin or blood disease. How is it diagnosed? If your GP suspects SLE they will request a blood test. The specific antibodies that attack the body can be measured in the blood. The diagnosis is made when there is the combination of typical symptoms and high antibodies. Who is at risk? SLE is ten times more common in women than men and usually develops between the ages 12 and 25. What is the treatment?
