Inflammatory myositis is an autoimmune disease whereby immune system mistakenly attacks body’s own muscle tissue causing muscle inflammation and weakness. It is subdivided into dermatomyositis (muscle weakness and/or skin rash) and polymyositis (muscle weakness only).
Who Gets It & Why
- Inflammatory myositis can affect people at any stage of life, when it affects young it is called juvenile myositis.
• Exact reason why it happens is not known but genetic factor, hormonal factors along with other environmental factors play role in the disease causation.
Common Symptoms
- Muscle weakness more in the lower limbs compared to upper limbs, proximal muscle more affected than distal (thigh > foot weakness). Patients have trouble getting up from the floor, stair climbing, hair combing and taking hand overhead.
- Rashes are seen in dermatomyositis. Common areas affected are periorbital, knuckles of fingers, elbow, chest. Rash is photosensitive, means increase with sun exposure.
- Difficulty in swallowing or nasal regurgitation of fluid.
- Dry cough and shortness of breath.
How It’s Diagnosed
- Doctor’s clinical evaluation for typical signs and symptoms
- Blood tests –CPK total, SGOT, SGPT, LDH, myositis profile
- Imaging- MRI of muscles, CT scan of chest
Treatment Option
Treatment involves steroids, methotrexate, mycophenolate, azathioprine, rituximab and IVIG depending on the severity of muscle involvement and whether other organs are involved or not. Physiotherapy to build muscle strength is essential. Some patients may have inflammation involving lungs requiring multidisciplinary team of rheumatologist, pulmonologist and intensive care.
Lifestyle:
- Avoid sun exposure for patients with dermatomyositis
- Avoidance of smoking and tobacco use.
- Regular muscle strengthening exercises
- Balanced diet and stress management
MONITORING
- Periodic blood tests and doctor follow-up for physical examination, occasional repeat X-ray and MRI.
💡 Never start or stop medicines without medical advice.
Outlook
- With early treatment, most people improve significantly and can return to daily activities.
- Some patients may recover almost completely, with minimal or no long-term weakness.
- Others may have partial recovery, especially if treatment is delayed or the disease is severe.
- Long-standing or untreated myositis can lead to permanent muscle damage, which may limit full strength recovery.
Regular follow-up, physiotherapy, and sticking to treatment plans greatly improve the chances of regaining strength.
When to Contact Your Doctor
🚩 Sudden worsening of weakness, difficulty in swallowing, cough or shortness of breath.
🚩 New side effects from medications
