The main symptoms of polymyositis
Disease description:
The muscles near the pelvis are weak, leading to difficulty climbing stairs and standing up. After visiting the hospital for examination, it was diagnosed as polymyositis. Are there any other symptoms associated with this condition?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Yang Ziqi
Polymyositis is an autoimmune disease that primarily affects skeletal muscles, characterized by progressive, symmetric proximal muscle weakness and pain. The following are the main symptoms:
1. Muscle weakness: Patients often experience muscle weakness and fatigue, especially in the proximal muscles of the limbs, such as the hip and thigh muscle groups. This weakness is usually symmetric and, as the disease progresses, may affect muscle groups throughout the body, including the neck, shoulders, and arms. In severe cases, even the respiratory muscles may be involved, leading to difficulty breathing.
2. Muscle pain and tenderness: Patients with polymyositis frequently experience muscle pain and tenderness, particularly after physical activity or when the muscles are pressed. The pain may manifest as aching or soreness and can interfere with the patient's daily activities.
3. Difficulty swallowing: Some patients may have trouble swallowing solid foods due to involvement of the throat muscles.
4. Shortness of breath: Patients may experience difficulty breathing when the muscles of the chest wall and diaphragm are affected.
5. Skin symptoms: Although dermatomyositis and polymyositis are two distinct diseases, approximately 20% of patients with polymyositis develop characteristic rashes, especially purplish-red rashes on the face, neck, and upper chest.
