Pemphigus vulgaris: symptoms, causes, drugs, etc. • hello healthy

Definition

What is pemphigus vulgaris?

Pemphigus vulgaris is a rare autoimmune disease. This disease causes bubbles or blisters on the skin or mouth. The bubbles grow gradually, burst, and leave scars.

Quoted from the UK public health service website, the NHS, pemphigus vulgaris is a rare and serious condition. This condition can be life threatening.

Although there is currently no cure for pemphigus vulgaris, a number of treatment options can reduce symptoms. It is not a contagious disease because it cannot be spread from person to person.

How common is this condition?

This condition can affect anyone, at any age, including children. However, most cases of pemphigus occur in adults between the ages of 50 and 60.

You can overcome this disease by reducing risk factors. Consult your doctor for more information.

Signs & symptoms

What are the signs and symptoms of pemphigus vulgaris?

Pemphigus causes blisters on your skin and mucous membranes. The blisters break easily, leaving open sores, which may become infected.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, pemphigus vulgaris usually begins with blisters on the mouth, skin, or genital mucous membranes. The blisters are usually painful, but not itchy. Blisters on your mouth and throat may make it difficult to swallow and eat.

The blister may go into a severe phase (flare-ups), followed by a period of recovery and relief (remission). How bad flare-ups and when these phases will occur is difficult to predict.

The sores on the skin can join together and form a large, painful area. In this condition, the skin will appear raw, before understanding, and form a scab. The sores usually don't leave scars, they only cause discoloration of the skin.

Apart from the mouth, blisters can also develop in other areas of the soft tissue lining of the digestive system, including the nose, throat, anus and genitals. The thin membrane that covers the front of the eye and the inside of the eyelid (conjunctiva) can also be affected.

Blisters caused by pemphigus vulgaris have a high risk of becoming infected. Because of this, it's important to look for signs of infection.

These are signs of an infected blister:

• The skin becomes sore and hot
• There is yellow or green pus in the area of ​​the blister
• There are red streaks running away from the blister

Don't ignore the signs above, as an infected blister can lead to a very serious infection if left untreated.

When should I see a doctor?

You should call your doctor if you have bubbles in your mouth or on your skin. If you are diagnosed with pemphigus vulgaris, contact your doctor if you have any of the following symptoms:

• New bubbles or boils
• Boils spread quickly
• Fever
• Shivering
• Muscle or joint pain

Every body acts differently from one another. Discuss with your doctor what is the best solution for your condition.

Cause

What causes pemphigus vulgaris?

Pemphigus vulgaris is an autoimmune disease. This means that something is wrong with the immune system and it starts attacking healthy tissue.

In this condition, the body's defense system against infection attacks the cells found in the deep layers of the skin as well as the cells found in the mucous membranes, namely the protective membranes of the mouth, nostrils, throat, genitals and rectum. This causes blisters to form on the affected tissue.

The cause of this immune system error is not clear. Certain genes have been associated with an increased risk of pemphigus vulgaris, but the condition tends not to run in families.

Risk factors

What increases my risk for pemphigus vulgaris?

There are many risk factors for this disease, for example:

• Age. Middle aged people are prone to this disease
• Other diseases. Pemphigus vulgaris can coexist with other autoimmune diseases (such as muscle weakness).

Treatment

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are my treatment options for pemphigus vulgaris?

Treatment usually starts with medications meant to reduce the chance of the blister forming. These treatments are generally more effective if they are started in the first place you develop this condition.

If medication triggers your condition, stopping it may resolve your pemphigus.

The following prescription drugs can be used alone or in combination with other medications, depending on the type and severity of the condition.

• Corticosteroids. Corticosteroid creams are able to control the mild condition of pemphigus vulgaris. For some people, oral corticosteroids, such as prednisone pills, may be more effective.
• Steroid-sparing immunosuppressant drugs. Medicines, such as azathioprine (Imuran, Azasan), mycophenolate (Cellcept) and cyclophosphamide help keep your immune system from attacking healthy tissue.
• Other drugs. If the above medicines don't help, your doctor may suggest other drugs, such as dapsone, immunoglobulin, intravenous, or rituximab (Rituxan).

Most people get better with treatment, although it may take years. Others may need to take the lower dose of the drug indefinitely to prevent symptoms from returning.

What are the usual tests to diagnose this condition?

Your doctor will make a diagnosis based on your symptoms. In addition, your doctor diagnoses whether you have pemphigus vulgaris by the following methods:

• Examine peeling skin for signs of Nikolsky
• Blood test to find desmoglein antibodies
• Skin biopsy, by taking a skin sample and examining it under a microscope
• Your doctor may also ask your doctor to check for a sore in your throat.

Blisters can appear due to several common conditions, making pemphigus vulgaris, which is rare, difficult to diagnose. Your doctor may refer you to a dermatologist.

Home remedies

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can be used to treat pemphigus vulgaris?

The lifestyle and home remedies below may help with your pemphigus vulgaris:

• Check with your doctor according to schedule to observe the progress of your symptoms and health condition
• Take your medication as prescribed, don't stop taking your medication or change your dose if your doctor doesn't tell you to
• Tell your doctor about all medications you take
• Eat a balanced diet. Follow a diet of liquids or soft foods if necessary
• Follow your doctor's instructions for cleaning and caring for the wound properly
• Call your doctor if you have signs of infection such as redness of the skin, pus, pain or swelling
• Use clean towels and clothes

If you have any questions, consult your doctor for the best solution to your problem.