Mrs Mariapalam, a 61-year-old woman, was admitted with fever, breathlessness, and joint pain. Initial tests showed pericardial effusion, hypothyroidism, and an equivocal leptospirosis test. She was started on antitubercular treatment but symptoms persisted. Further evaluation at a new hospital found pleural effusions, pneumonia, positive antinuclear antibody and low complement levels, consistent with a diagnosis of lupus pneumonitis. She improved dramatically on high-dose intravenous steroids.