noun
definition
A disease of connective tissue, related to polymyositis, characterized by inflammation of the muscles and skin.
Examples of dermatomyositis in a Sentence
Dermatomyositis is one of a group of relatively uncommon diseases known as inflammatory myopathies, or inflammatory disorders of the muscles.
Dermatomyositis is distinguished from other diseases in this category by the fact that it causes a characteristic skin rash as well as affecting the strength and functioning of the muscles.
Dermatomyositis in children and adolescents is called juvenile dermatomyositis (abbreviated JDMS or simply JD) because it is different from the adult form of the disorder in several respects.
Adults with dermatomyositis over the age of 50 have a 15 percent risk of developing cancer, whereas juvenile dermatomyositis is rarely associated with malignancy.
The third major symptom of juvenile dermatomyositis is a low-grade fever (one or two degrees Fahrenheit above normal).
Juvenile dermatomyositis most commonly affects children between the ages of five and 15 years of age.
Genetic factors are also thought to be involved in juvenile dermatomyositis.
The major symptoms of juvenile dermatomyositis include a characteristic reddish or purplish rash called a heliotrope rash; weakness or pain in the proximal muscles; and a low-grade fever.
It is not always easy to tell when a child might have juvenile dermatomyositis.
The first step in diagnosing juvenile dermatomyositis is the taking of a complete history and giving the child a thorough physical examination.
The treatment of juvenile dermatomyositis involves a combination of approaches.
Medications are the mainstay of treatment for juvenile dermatomyositis.
The prognosis of juvenile dermatomyositis varies but is usually related to the child's age and the severity of the vasculitis associated with the disease.
Most children eventually recover completely from juvenile dermatomyositis; however, some have lifelong stiffness or muscle weakness from the disease.
Because the causes are still unknown, there is no way to prevent juvenile dermatomyositis as of 2004.
In juvenile dermatomyositis, calcinosis usually takes the form of small lumps of calcium compounds deposited in muscles or under the skin.
Parker, James, et al. The Official Patient's Sourcebook on Dermatomyositis.
Examples of this type of myopathy include dermatomyositis, polymyositis, and myositis ossificans.
Dermatomyositis is a disease of the connective tissue that also involves weak, tender, inflamed muscles.
The cause of dermatomyositis is as of 2004 unknown, but viral infection and antibiotic use are associated with the condition.
In some cases, dermatomyositis is associated with rheumatologic disease or cancer.