Nov 17, 2020 / Rheumatology
Juvenile Dermatomyositis
What is juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM)?
Lab
Steroids
- juvenile = this condition happens in children
- dermato = skin
- myositis = muscle
- Getting tired easily.
- Trouble walking, playing, brushing your hair or going up and down stairs.
- Problems eating and drinking.
Lab
- Your child will need blood work. This will help the doctor know what is going on inside the body.
- Once in the lab, your child will sit in a chair and a large rubber band or strap will be wrapped around their arm (also known as a tourniquet).
- Then the lab technician will place a needle in their arm.
- It will be very quick, and once finished, a colorful bandage wrap will put around the arm.
- An MRI is also needed to take pictures so that the doctor can see inside your child's body.
- The patient will need to go inside a big tube that is shaped like a donut.
- The machine makes loud banging noises when taking pictures, but we offer the child the option of watching a movie or listening to music while in the MRI.
- The most important thing is that the patient stays still during the test.
- To help the doctor see what is going on inside your child's body in a different way, a muscle biopsy is done.
- A biopsy helps our team see a small part of the body. They will remove a small piece of tissue while your child is asleep.
- After the biopsy, your child will wake up and have a small spot that may be sore. Our team will teach you how to take care of it and keep it clean.
- Your doctor has decided that they need see how your child eats and drinks.
- A feeding expert will take pictures while your child eats and drinks to see how the throat muscles work.
- During the study, the patient will eat and drink lots of different things. The food and drinks may look different, but they will taste like they always do.
Steroids
- While on steroids, you may notice changes to your child's body. Examples include:
- Hungrier than usual.
- Your child may notice a funny taste in their mouth.
- Change in their mood.
- Their body may also change. Such as their face becoming puffy or changes to the skin.
- This means that your child will go to a special room where a nurse will put a small straw in their arm or hand.
- The medicine will then go through the straw directly into their body.
- This way of giving medicines helps our team get your child healthy much faster than with other medicines.
- If the child is coming back for another day of medicine, they may go home with the straw or IV in place. It will be wrapped in a colorful bandage wrap.
- Wear sunscreen every day.
- Take the prescribed medicines given by the doctor.
- Eat healthy foods.
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