Juvenile Dermatomyositis
Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a disease in children that causes skin rash (dermato) and muscle inflammation (myositis), resulting in weak muscles. JDM is a type of autoimmune disease. The immune system is a group of cells that protect the body from infections. Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare but complex and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease of childhood, primarily affecting proximal muscles and skin.
Symptoms
- Calcium deposits under the skin (called calcinosis)
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Irritability
- Joint pain and inflammation
- Malaise
- Mouth ulcers
- Muscle pain and tenderness
- Muscle weakness
- Rash around the eyelids (known as heliotrope rash) and/or knuckles and finger joints (called gottren’s papules); a rash may also occur on the elbows, knees and ankles
Weight loss
Treatments
- Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs
- Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg)
- Methotrexate works more slowly to reduce inflammation in JDM, but it has fewer side effects than corticosteroids
