Myositis.
Last updated Friday, February 11, 2005
AboutWhat is myositis? Myositis is the term for illnesses that involve chronic muscle inflammation ("myo" means muscle and "itis" means inflammation).
"Myositis" refers to several different illnesses, including polymyositis, dermatomyositis, and inclusion body myositis.
All forms of myositis involve chronic, or persistent, muscle
inflammation. This muscle inflammation almost always results in
weakness, and less often in heat, swelling, and pain of the muscles.
Myositis can affect many parts of the body. Sometimes the joints,
heart, lungs, intestines, and skin can become inflamed.
Some forms of myositis, like dermatomyositis ("dermato" refers to
the skin), result in particular rashes over the knuckles, around the
eyes, or sometimes in other parts of the body. Other forms of myositis
occur in children. Some forms are seen with other connective tissues
diseases, like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.
Still other forms may occur in people with tumors. Rarely, myositis can
occur in a single part of the body, such as one arm, one leg, or just
the muscles that move the eye.
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