What is juvenile dermatomyositis JDM?

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a disease in children that causes skin rash (dermato) and muscle inflammation (myositis). It results in weak muscles. JDM is a type of autoimmune disease. The immune system is a group of cells that protect the body from infections.

Is JDM a rare disease?

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare disease that causes muscle inflammation and a skin rash. Symptoms often first appear in children between ages 5 and 10.

Is JDM hereditary?

There is likely to be a genetic (hereditary) predisposition to all autoimmune diseases and children who have JDM may have a relative who suffers from another autoimmune disease such as diabetes or arthritis.

What is a heliotrope rash?

Heliotrope rash is one of the characteristic skin manifestations of juvenile dermatomyositis. It is a reddish-purple rash on the upper eyelids that is usually bilateral. Case Presentation. We report a boy who presented with unilateral heliotrope rash, Gottron’s papules, and muscle weakness.

Is JDM life threatening?

Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) is a rare but complex and potentially life-threatening autoimmune disease of childhood, primarily affecting proximal muscles and skin.

Why is it called a heliotrope rash?

A heliotrope rash is a reddish purple rash that occurs as the first noticeable symptom of an inflammatory muscle disease called dermatomyositis. The rash takes its name from the heliotrope flower, which has purple petals. Dermatomyositis causes progressive muscle weakness.

What organs does dermatomyositis affect?

The muscles of the shoulders, upper arms, hips, thighs and neck display the most weakness in dermatomyositis. There also can be joint pain, inflammation of the heart and lung muscle tissues, as well as inflammation of blood vessels to other organs.

What virus causes dermatomyositis?

What causes dermatomyositis? In the overwhelming majority of cases, there’s no clear cause for the development of myositis. Viruses might be a trigger for autoimmune myositis. People with the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, can develop a myositis, as can people with a virus called HTLV-1.