Dermatomyositis/Juvenile Dermatomyositis - Medtick
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Dermatomyositis/Juvenile Dermatomyositis

What is it?

A condition where one has inflamed (hot, red and swollen) muscles and blood vessels called vasculitis.

  • It can affects people of any age or sex (it is found in more women than men and is more common African-American women).
  • Patients who have the skin rash but feel no muscle weakness have Amyopathic dermatosis or Dermatosis sine myositis.
  • The weakness (and at times muscle pain) begins with muscles that are closest to and within the trunk of the body i.e. Neck, shoulder, hip, back and stomach muscles and may occur at times of rash or after rash ( days ,weeks  to months later).
  • Some have calcinosis, hardened lumps or sheets of calcium under the skin, or contractures, in which the muscle shortens and causes the joint to stay, bent. Exercise may help to relieve contractures.

Cause

  • Unknown
  • An autoimmune disease occurs when your body’s disease-fighting cells, called antibodies, attack your healthy cells in this case you blood vessels and muscles.
  • Infection
  • Weak immune system

Symptoms

  • Rash which is patchy, dusky, itchy and reddish or purple. on the eyelids, cheeks, nose, back, upper chest, elbows, knees and/or knuckles?
  • Dry and/or scaly and/or rough skin?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Difficulty from getting up from a seated position, or getting up after a fall?
  • Difficulty chewing swallowing,talking, slurred speech?
  • Hardened lumps (calcinosis) under the skin?
  • Voice changes/or a hoarse voice?
  • Inflamed or swollen area around fingernails?

Nail changes:

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency

Do not wait phone, for an ambulance if have and/or develop:

This condition can lead to:

This condition may show similar symptoms to:

Please talk to your healthcare professional (i.e. Medical Doctor/Pharmacist) for further advice

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Dermatomyositis/Juvenile Dermatomyositis in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

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