'Dangal' actor Suhani Bhatnagar was suffering from dermatomyositis. What is it?

Suhani Bhatnagar was suffering from a rare condition called dermatomyositis.

The unexpected death of Suhani Bhatnagar has sent shockwaves across the nation. The 19-year-old who played the role of young Babita Phogat in “Dangal” passed away at Delhi’s All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Saturday. Now, her parents have revealed the cause of her death which was a rare condition called dermatomyositis.

In a recent interaction with the media, her father informed that she started experiencing swelling in her hands about two months ago. The swelling then spread to her entire body. The illness remained unidentified for a long time but 11 days ago, Suhani was admitted to AIIMS. Tests revealed that she had the rare autoimmune disease.

An autoimmune disease starts attacking the body’s immune system so her steroid treatment began immediately. Unfortunately, she contracted an infection in the hospital thereafter that affected her lungs. She succumbed to the infection that also caused difficulty in breathing.

What is dermatomyositis?

Dermatomyositis is a rare condition that causes muscle weakness and rashes on the skin. It can affect adults and children. In adults, dermatomyositis usually occurs in the late 40s to early 60s. In children, it most often appears between 5 and 15 years of age.

According to Mayo Clinic, there is no cure for dermatomyositis but periods of symptom improvement can occur. Treatment can also help.

The cause of dermatomyositis is unknown. Genetic and environmental factors might play a role.

What are the symptoms?

The signs and symptoms of the disease can appear suddenly or develop gradually over time. The most common signs and symptoms include: distinctive skin rashes and muscle weakness.

A violet-coloured or dark red rashes might develop, most commonly on the face and eyelids and on the knuckles, elbows, knees, chest and back. The rashes can be itchy and painful and are often the first sign of dermatomyositis.

The disorder also causes progressive muscle weakness and it gets worse gradually.

Possible complications from dermatomyositis include difficulty swallowing, aspiration pneumonia and breathing problems.