Sjögren’s (SHOW-grins) syndrome is an autoimmune disease that reduces quantity of saliva within the mouth.Immune cells mistakenly attack and destroy healthy cells within the glands that produce saliva.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of Sjögren’s syndrome are:
xerostomia . Your tongue and your throat will feel dry and chewing and swallowing could also be difficult or painful.
Sjögren’s syndrome also can affect other parts of the body, causing symptoms such as:
Joint and muscle pain
Dry skin
Rashes on the skin of hands or feet
Numbness or tingling within the hands or feet
Dry cough that does not get away
Fatigue that does not get away
If you’ve got Sjögren’s syndrome you’ll only have mild symptoms of dry eyes and mouth, otherwise you could experience cycles of mild symptoms followed by more severe symptoms.
Diagnosis
A doctor diagnoses Sjögren’s syndrome using your medical record , a physical exam, and therefore the results from clinical or laboratory tests. counting on what the doctor finds during the medical record and physical exam, he or she might want you to require more tests or refer you to a specialist.
Treatment
There is still no cure for Sjögren’s syndrome. Treatment can vary from person to person, counting on what parts of the body are affected. There are saliva substitutes and prescribed drugs to assist increase saliva production. Simply drinking small sips of water regularly throughout the day can also help. If you’ve got joint pain, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug drugs may offer some relief. If symptoms are severe, corticosteroids or immunosuppressive drugs could also be prescribed.
