What Causes Myositis?

Myositis is a term referring to inflammation in the muscles that move the body. The condition can be caused by a number of different factors including infection, injury, or autoimmune disease. Though there are several different types of myositis, the condition tends to present with muscle weakness. Patients may also trip or fall unexpectedly, have trouble with breathing or swallowing, or experience fatigue after standing or walking. Diagnosis is done through a physical examination, lab testing, imaging, and finally a biopsy of the muscle. Myositis-related diseases have no cure, but the symptoms are treatable. Doctors typically recommend corticosteroids, medications, exercise, rest, assistive devices, and physical therapy. The exact treatment will vary depending on the underlying cause.

Reveal these causes now.

Scleroderma

Scleroderma, otherwise known as systemic sclerosis, is a disease of the connective tissue. It is chronic and falls under the autoimmune rheumatic category of diseases. The name of the illness comes from Greek words that translate to 'hard skin.' The most visible way the disease manifests is through physical hardening of a patient's skin. Systemic sclerosis varies widely in symptoms and progression from patient to patient. While it was previously believed to be a progressive disease, further research indicates not every case is progressive. As a chronic illness, scleroderma has the potential to be very serious. Some patients experience only mild effects, while others have life-threatening impairments. Mild cases have been known to progress to a greater severity when not treated. Myositis can be a symptom of this condition due to the ways the muscles and connective tissue interact.

Keep reading to learn more about the causes of myositis now.