An idiopathic inflammatory disorder affecting the muscles. It presents with symmetrical proximal muscle weakness and elevated skeletal muscle enzymes
Symptoms of Polymyositis
The following features are indicative of Polymyositis:
muscle weakness
fatigue after walking or standing
trouble swallowing or breathing
skin changes
difficulty swallowing
shortness of breath
fever
joint pain
loss of appetite
morning stiffness
weight loss
It is possible that Polymyositis shows no physical symptoms and still is present in a patient.
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Common Causes of Polymyositis
The following are the most common causes of Polymyositis:
viral infection
autoimmune disorders
Risk Factors for Polymyositis
The following factors may increase the likelihood of Polymyositis:
African Americans
ages 50 and 60 year
Prevention of Polymyositis
Yes, it may be possible to prevent Polymyositis. Prevention may be possible by doing the following:
do regular exercise
maintain a healthy weight
Occurrence of Polymyositis
Number of Cases
The following are the number of Polymyositis cases seen each year worldwide:
Not common between 50K - 500K cases
Common Age Group
Polymyositis can occur at any age.
Common Gender
Polymyositis can occur in any gender.
Lab Tests and Procedures for Diagnosis of Polymyositis
The following lab tests and procedures are used to detect Polymyositis:
Blood analysis: To detect specific autoantibodies associated with different symptoms of dermatomyositis
Chest X-ray: To check for signs of the type of lung damage
Electromyography: To determine the distribution of the disease by testing different muscles
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): To create cross-sectional images of muscles
Skin or muscle biopsy: To confirm diagnosis of dermatomyositis
Doctor for Diagnosis of Polymyositis
Patients should visit the following specialists if they have symptoms of Polymyositis:
Rheumatologist
Neurologist
Complications of Polymyositis if untreated
Yes, Polymyositis causes complications if it is not treated. Below is the list of complications and problems that may arise if Polymyositis is left untreated:
difficulty swallowing
calcium deposits in the affected muscles
cancer
heart disease
lung disease
Self-care for Polymyositis
The following self-care actions or lifestyle changes may help in the treatment or management of Polymyositis:
Do regularly exercise: To maintain and improve muscle strength or flexibility
Alternative Medicine for Treatment of Polymyositis
The following alternate medicine and therapies are known to help in the treatment or management of Polymyositis:
Physical therapy: To maintain and improve muscle strength or flexibility
Speech therapy: Helps in learning how to compensate speech changes
Dietetic assessment: Dietitian can teach how to prepare easy-to-eat foods
Time for Treatment of Polymyositis
While time-period of treatment for each patient may vary, below is the typical time-period for Polymyositis to resolve if treated properly under an expert supervision: