Types, Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatment
Myositis literally means muscle inflammation.
Myositis-bang out inflammation is triggered by lymphocytes, white blood cells that typically protect the bodys immune system.
With myositis, lymphocytes and foreign substances invade healthy muscle fibers.
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Here is what you better know about myositis, including the types, symptoms, causes, and treatment.
There are other forms of myositis, but they are considered much more rare.
Many types of myositis areautoimmune diseases, conditions where the bodys immune system attacks and damages its own tissues.
Polymyositis
Polymyositiscauses muscle weakness on both sides of the body.
It is distinguishable because of the purple-red, patchy-like rashes it causes.
These rashes appear on the eyelids, face, chest, neck, and back.
Rashes may also appear on the knuckles, toes, knees, and elbows.
Muscle weakness often follows.
IBM may also cause weakness in the thighs, but is more prominent in the smaller muscles.
IMNM is so rare that there have only been 300 reported cases to date.
Researchers have been unable to determine potential causes, but think certain autoantibodies play a role in its development.
Autoantibodies are proteins produced in the immune system that mistakenly target the bodys own tissues.
Much like other types of myositis, there is no cure for IMNM, but the condition is treatable.
Interstitial lung disease is usually one of the first or only symptoms of this pop in of myositis.
ILD is an umbrella term for a group of disorders that cause fibrosisscarring of the lungs.
The average age for disease onset is around 50 years, and the condition is more common in women.
Juvenile Myositis
Juvenile myositis (JM) affects children under 18.
Juvenile polymyositis can also affect children, but is less common.
Treatment can successfully manage symptoms of the condition.
Causes
Any condition that causes muscle inflammation can lead to myositis.
This is because muscle weakness and pain are symptoms of a number of conditions.
In addition, other causes of muscle pain, stiffness, and weakness are more common than myositis.
Treatment
Currently, there is no cure for myositis.
Your healthcare provider will also recommend lifestyle changes to help improve strength.
Treatment with corticosteroids may reduce muscle inflammation and pain, and increase muscle strength.
NSAIDs, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can help reduce inflammation in muscles and surrounding tissues.
When the immune system is suppressed, a persons risk of infection is increased.
Biologic drugs also increase the risk of certain types of cancer.
A Word From Verywell
The outlook for most types of myositis can be good with proper treatment.
But if left untreated, myositis can result in disability or death.
That is why it is important to manage symptoms and stay on top of your healthcare providers treatment plan.
It is possible to experience remission and periods of low disease activity with proper and continued treatment.
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American Lung Institute.Interstitial lung disease (ILD).
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