What is juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM)?
JDM is an autoimmune disease that affects muscle, skin and small blood vessels in children. The body's immune system attacks its own healthy muscle, skin and blood vessel tissues because it mistakenly sees them as invaders. The primary symptoms are muscle weakness and skin rashes due to inflammation from an overactive immune system.
How common is juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM)?
JDM is a rare autoimmune disease with approximately 2-4 children per one million children being diagnosed each year in the United States. The disease presents more commonly in girls than boys and usually occurs between the ages of 2 and 15.
What causes juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM)?
The cause of JDM is not known. Researchers believe it may be a result of the body’s abnormal immune system response to environmental triggers (eg, a virus) in children with a genetic predisposition to having an overactive immune system. Even after the trigger is gone, the immune system continues to fight and ends up attacking the body itself.
References: This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider for advice about a specific medical condition.