What is myositis, the condition actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu has been diagnosed with?

Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu recently took to social media platform Instagram to share that she has been diagnosed with a rare condition called myositis which has resulted in her being hospitalised.

The actor, who predominantly works in Telegu and Tamil movies shared a lengthy post talking about the problems faced by her while being diagnosed along with a picture of herself with an IV drip on her hand, generating concerns from her fans and well-wishers. The actor also said that she is "slowly realising that we don’t always need to put up a strong front."

On the occasion of the actor's new film Yashodha's trailer launch, Samantha wrote, "Your response to the Yashodha Trailer was overwhelming. It is this love and connection that I share with all of you, that gives me the strength to deal with the seemingly unending challenges that life throws at me. A few months back I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called Myositis. I was hoping to share this after it had gone into remission. But it is taking a little longer than I hoped."

What is myositis?

According to healthline, this is a rare condition that causes chronic, progressive inflammation of the muscles and it can be difficult to diagnose and the cause is sometimes unknown. The symptoms for the condition can sometimes appear rapidly or gradually, varying from patient to patient.

Symptoms of myositis

The first symptoms of the condition include muscle pain and soreness, fatigue, difficulty in swallowing and breathing. Myositis can affect children as well as adults and it is statistically most likely to affect women than men.

In advanced symptoms, the patient might be affected in the muscles of food pipe, diaphragm and eyes, thereby causing trouble eating and breathing and also simple tasks such as sitting, climbing stairs and lifting objects.

According to NHS, myositis is a condition with one's immune system where it mistakenly attacks the healthy tissues in the body. There are various kinds of myositis, the most prominent as below:

1. Polymyositis - It affects many different muscles, especially shoulders, hips and thighs. It's more common in women and is more seen in people aged 30 to 60.

2. Dermatomyositis - Affects several muscles and also causes rashes on skin. This type of myositis can also affect children and is known as juvenile dermatomyositis.

3. Inclusion body myositis (IBM) - It causes weakness in thigh, forearm muscles and muscles below the knee. It can also prevent one from swallowing. This condition is more common in men aged over 50.

The Indian Journal of Rheumatology says the condition is prevalent in around 4-22 people per one lakh population.

Samantha, while sharing news of her recovery, also said, "Accepting this vulnerability is something that I am still struggling with. The doctors are confident that I will make a complete recovery very soon. I have had good days and bad days…. physically and emotionally…. and even when it feels like I can’t handle one more day of this, somehow that moment passes. I guess it can only mean that I am one more day closer to recovery."

Treatment for myositis is usually using steroids and immunosuppressive drugs and since every patient has different symptoms, thereby requires altered treatment, doctors recommend physical therapy, yoga to treat the condition, according to healthline. Since there is no single treatment for all cases, doctors advise the best course of remission is to follow a balanced and anti-inflammatory diet along with gentle exercise to prevent muscle atrophy. With time and proper medication, many are able to control their symptoms very well and make a complete recovery as well.