Dermatomyositis
Dermatomyositis is a crippling and fatal disease characterized by nonsuppurative inflammation of the skin and striated muscles.
It is more common among the females and in the age group 5-12 years old.
Affected individuals will manifest the following symptoms:
a. weakness of leg muscles and stiffness of extremitieserythematous facial rash and scaly erythematous rash over the extensor surfaces of joints
b. violaceous periorbital edema (heliotrope eyelids)
c. myalgia
d. atrophy of severely involved muscles with decrease in mobility of joints
e. low grade fever
f. liver and spleen enlargement
g. lymph node enlargement
mh. ild anemia
Individuals showing the above symptoms should be screened and several laboratories are taken to make the diagnosis.
The course of dermatomyositis is unpredictable. It can be very rapid and fulminating.
However, once the disease process is inactive, reactivation is unlikely.