Actor Suhani Bhatnagar who played the role of young Babita Phogat in ‘Dangal’, passed away in Delhi due to Dermatomyositis, a rare inflammatory disease causing skin rashes and muscle weakness.
According to media reports, the actor, 19, was admitted to All India Institute of Medical Sciences on February 7 and passed away on February 16 due to medical complications. Reportedly, the symptoms began appearing two months ago, but the diagnosis was confirmed only ten days before her death.
“She started developing swelling on her hand but we thought that it was just a skin disease… We took her to a few dermatologists but nothing helped. When we admitted her to AIIMS, she was diagnosed with dermatomyositis. While treatment, she got an infection and her body started producing fluids that collapsed her lungs and she succumbed to it,” Suhani’s mother Puja Bhatnagar was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
The disease led to lung damage from an infection and accumulation of excess fluid, as per media reports.
What is dermatomyositis?
Dermatomyositis is a rare inflammatory disease marked by muscle weakness and a distinctive skin rash. According to Mayo Clinic, the condition 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. It is noteworthy that the disease affects more females than males.
According to Dr. Shweta Singhai, Senior Consultant – Rheumatology, Sakra World Hospital Bengaluru, the exact cause of dermatomyositis is unknown, but it may be due to a viral infection of the muscles, mostly due to a problem with the body’s immune system (when the body develops auto-antibodies in its own muscles and other body tissues), bacterial infections and occasionally Vaccinations.
“…Environmental factors, including UV radiation and air pollutants. It can sometimes be caused by Drugs like statins used to reduce cholesterol. It is also associated with underlying malignancy in about 30-40 percent of patients and they need to be screened for it especially if there is weight loss. It is a very rare disease, occurring in 2-3 people for every 1 lakh population,” Dr. Singhai said.
She also revealed that the muscles of the shoulders, upper arms, hips, thighs, and neck display the most weakness. “So, the affected person finds it difficult to raise the arms above shoulder level and also to get up from a sitting position on a chair or the floor. The rash is a purplish rash often found around the eyes, cheeks, front of chest, or on the upper back. There may also be joint pain and swelling, inflammation of the heart and lung muscle tissues, swelling and inflammation in the blood vessels that supply your skin and muscles,” she said.
The muscles of swallowing and respiration can also get affected if not treated and lead to difficulty in swallowing and breathing, she explained.
“This is an emergency and needs to be managed immediately. The patient needs to be screened for muscle enzymes like CPK, and rule out autoimmune causes with tests such as ANA. The patient may also require a PET scan to rule out malignancy,” she added.
What are the symptoms of dermatomyositis?
According to Mayo Clinic, the most common signs and symptoms of dermatomyositis include:
- Skin changes: A violet-colored or dusky red rash develops, most commonly on your face and eyelids and on your knuckles, elbows, knees, chest and back. The rash, which can be itchy and painful, is often the first sign of dermatomyositis.
- Muscle weakness: Progressive muscle weakness involves the muscles closest to the trunk, such as those in your hips, thighs, shoulders, upper arms and neck. The weakness affects both the left and right sides of your body, and tends to gradually worsen.
What are some possible complications of dermatomyositis?
Possible complications of dermatomyositis include:
Difficulty swallowing. If the muscles in your esophagus are affected, you can have problems swallowing, which can cause weight loss and malnutrition.
Aspiration pneumonia. Difficulty swallowing can also cause you to breathe food or liquids, including saliva, into your lungs.
Breathing problems. If the condition affects your chest muscles, you might have breathing problems, such as shortness of breath.
Calcium deposits. These can occur in your muscles, skin and connective tissues as the disease progresses. These deposits are more common in children with dermatomyositis and develop earlier in the course of the disease.
How to treat dermatomyositis?
Dr. Singhai explains that while there is no cure for dermatomyositis, you can treat the symptoms with medication, physical therapy, exercise, heat therapy, and rest.
Medications include:
- Corticosteroids
- immunosuppressive drugs like
- Methotrexate,
- Mycophenolate mofetil,
- Rituximab,
- Intravenous immunoglobulin etc
Other treatments include:
- Rest
- Avoiding sun exposure
- Using sunscreens and photoprotective clothing.