MedlinePlus: Myositis

MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You

Other Health Topics:

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
XYZ
List of All Topics

Related Topics
- Muscle Disorders
- Bones, Joints and Muscles
Go Local
- Services and providers for Myositis in the U.S.
- Select from map
National Institutes of Health
- The primary NIH organization for research on Myositis is the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases

Myositis

Myositis is inflammation of your skeletal muscles, which are also called the voluntary muscles. These are the muscles you consciously control that help you move your body. An injury, infection or autoimmune disease can cause myositis.

The diseases dermatomyositis and polymyositis both involve myositis. Polymyositis causes muscle weakness, usually in the muscles closest to the trunk of your body. Dermatomyositis causes muscle weakness, plus a skin rash. Both diseases are usually treated with prednisone, a steroid medicine, and sometimes other medicines.

Start Here

Dermatomyositis(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
Inflammatory Myopathies(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke)
Also available in Spanish
Polymyositis(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary

Basics	Learn More	Multimedia & Cool Tools
Overviews Diagnosis/Symptoms Treatment	Nutrition Disease Management Specific Conditions Related Issues	No links available
Research	Reference Shelf	For You
Clinical Trials Journal Articles	Dictionaries/Glossaries Directories Organizations	Children Teenagers

Overviews
- Inflammatory Myopathies(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
- Myositis(Arthritis Foundation)
- What Is Myositis?(Myositis Association of America)
  Also available in Spanish
Diagnosis/Symptoms
- Diagnosis(Myositis Association of America)
Treatment
- PM (Polymyositis) and DM (Dermatomyositis) Treatments(Muscular Dystrophy Association)
  Also available in Spanish
- Treatment(Myositis Association of America)
Nutrition
- Polymyositis: Can a Gluten-Free Diet Reduce Symptoms?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
Return to top
Disease Management
- Myositis FAQ(Myositis Association of America)
Return to top
Specific Conditions
- Dermatomyositis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Inclusion Body Myositis(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary
- Polymyositis(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- What are Inflammatory Myopathies?(Muscular Dystrophy Association)
Return to top
Related Issues
- Autoimmunity(Myositis Association of America)
- Complications of Myositis(Myositis Association of America)
Return to top
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Dermatomyositis(National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Myositis(National Institutes of Health)
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Polymyositis(National Institutes of Health)
Return to top
Journal Articles
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Return to top
Dictionaries/Glossaries
- Glossary(Myositis Association of America)
Return to top
Directories
- Find a Doctor(Myositis Association of America)
Return to top
Organizations
- Muscular Dystrophy Association
  Also available in Spanish
- Myositis Association of America
- National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases
  Also available in Spanish
- National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
  Also available in Spanish
Return to top
Children
- For Children Living with Myositis(Myositis Association of America)
- For Parents and Adults to Learn More about JM (Juvenile Myositis)(Myositis Association of America)
- Juvenile Dermatomyositis(Myositis Association of America)
Return to top
Teenagers
- For Teens and Young Adults Dealing with JM (Juvenile Myositis)(Myositis Association of America)
- Nutrition: Choosing the Right Foods(Myositis Association of America)
- What Is Juvenile Myositis (JM)?(Myositis Association of America)
Return to top

Other Health Topics:

Related Topics

Go Local

National Institutes of Health