What is Dermatomyositis that Dangal actor Suhani Bhatnagar was suffering from? All you need to know

In a sad round of news coming from Bollywood, young actor Suhani Bhatnagar lost her life at the mere age of 19. Her death came as a shock to the film industry. Suhani was admitted to the hospital on February 7 and died on February 16 after suffering medical complications. While she was detected with dermatomyositis 10 days back, her symptoms have been showing for the past two months, her family revealed.

Let us learn more about dermatomyositis, the disease that took her life.

What is dermatomyositis?

Dermatomyositis is a rare autoimmune disease that affects the skin and muscles. The body's immune system attacks its own tissues leading to inflammation and damage. It mainly affects the skin and muscles. There may also be joint pain and swelling, and inflammation of the heart and lung muscle tissues. This is a rare disease occurring in 2-3 people for every 1 lac population.

Symptoms and treatment of dermatomyositis

The symptoms of the disease include a distinctive skin rash, typically appearing as a reddish or purplish discolouration. This rash usually appears on the face, neck, shoulders, and chest. It can also spread to other body parts like elbows, knees, and knuckles. Patients may also experience muscle weakness and fatigue.

The main cause of this disease is not known however, experts believe that it involves a combination of genetic factors, environmental triggers, and immune system dysfunction. certain medications can also trigger the disease.

Treatment of dermatomyositis includes supressing the immune system and reducing inflammation. They may also need physical therapy.

What happened to Suhani?

Suhani's parents shared that she had been fighting dermatomyositis for two months. She started experiencing swelling in her hands, leading to medical tests and the diagnosis of the disease.

Also watch: Aamir Khan’s ‘Dangal’ co-star, child artist Suhani Bhatnagar passes away at the age of 19