What Are The Warning Signs For Polyarteritis Nodosa?

Polyarteritis nodosa is a form of vasculitis that affects both small and medium-sized blood vessels. The condition causes inflammation of the blood vessels, and it damages organs, including the heart. Polyarteritis nodosa commonly causes joint, nerve, and intestinal damage as well. While the disease can occur in individuals of any age, it is usually diagnosed in individuals in their thirties and forties. Patients who have had hepatitis B are at an increased risk of developing polyarteritis nodosa.

To diagnose the disease, doctors will perform a physical examination to check for signs of organ damage or tissue injury. They will also usually need to do blood tests and arteriograms, and a biopsy may be performed to confirm the diagnosis. Patients who have this condition are normally treated with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive medications.

Reduced Appetite

Reduced appetite typically occurs in polyarteritis nodosa patients who have intestinal damage. Patients may not feel like eating much due to the abdominal pain polyarteritis nodosa may bring, and as a result, they may also experience weight loss. In some cases, these symptoms may be accompanied by night sweats and fever. Patients who notice their appetite seems different than normal may wish to keep a food diary to share with their healthcare team. In addition to writing down the time of day and what they eat, patients can also record any pain or other symptoms they may be experiencing at that time.

Doctors can prescribe medications to increase the patient's appetite, and they may also recommend for the patient to consult a nutritionist. The nutritionist will help the patient with finding things to eat that do not cause pain and other uncomfortable symptoms. Since reduced appetite can be caused by a number of medical conditions, it is especially important for patients to visit the doctor promptly, particularly if they are also losing weight without trying to. Substantial weight loss may make patients too frail to tolerate certain treatments.

Joint And Muscle Aches

In patients with polyarteritis nodosa, joint and muscle aches may be accompanied by numbness or tingling in the hands and feet. These symptoms are normally indicative of nerve involvement, and they can cause mild to severe pain. To help the healthcare team provide the most effective treatment, patients may wish to keep a diary of which muscles or joints are aching and what they are doing when the aches begin.

The clinician will perform a series of physical maneuvers to gauge muscle and joint pain, testing the patient's strength, flexibility, range of motion, reflexes, and sensation. To ease the pain, doctors may prescribe pain relievers, and they may also recommend physical therapy. Gentle exercises, including swimming, yoga, and walking, may be appropriate. Engaging in gentle movement can help reduce pain for some patients.

Abdominal Pain

This symptom can have a variety of causes, and proper assessment is essential for a correct diagnosis. To evaluate abdominal pain, the physician will first use a stethoscope to listen to bowel sounds in four areas of the abdomen. Then, they will gently tap and press on the abdomen to determine the location of the patient's pain. Depending on the findings, different treatments may be recommended.

Some patients may need to use prescription medication to relieve the pain, and other patients may need to make dietary changes to reduce their discomfort. In some instances, pain in the abdomen may be accompanied by blood in the stool, and this may need to be investigated by a gastroenterologist. Some patients may also experience nausea and vomiting, and it may be necessary to take anti-nausea medication to eat comfortably.

Fatigue And Weakness

Polyarteritis nodosa can result in widespread fatigue and weakness. Typically, these symptoms begin as a vague feeling of being generally unwell, and patients may notice they become increasingly tired over the course of several weeks or months. Even if they have a normal amount of sleep, they may not feel rested, and may need to take frequent naps throughout the day. Some patients may sleep very late in the mornings or begin going to bed much earlier than they previously did.

In particular, patients may notice a sudden loss of strength in their hands or feet, which may result in falling or dropping objects. If the heart is damaged from this disease, patients may have chest pain and shortness of breath, and these can increase feelings of fatigue and weakness. Patients who have significant fatigue or weakness may need to use mobility aids to reduce the risk of falling, and they may need help to do household chores. Some patients may be unable to exercise due to their symptoms.

Seizures

Seizures are another possible symptom or complication of polyarteritis nodosa. A seizure is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain, and it can cause individuals to lose consciousness. Seizures can occur due to neurological disorders, and they may also develop due to the presence of tumors or other anomalies in the brain. To determine the cause of a seizure, doctors normally do an MRI to look for the presence of tumors or other structural concerns in the brain. They will also perform an electroencephalogram to measure brain activity and identify changes that may indicate a patient has had a seizure.

Patients who have experienced a seizure will normally be placed under the care of a neurologist who specializes in epilepsy and similar disorders. Anticonvulsant medications may be needed, and these are taken daily. Patients should keep a diary of any additional seizure activity, and they may wish to wear a medical alert bracelet. To reduce the risk of a future seizure, patients should avoid potential triggers, including strobe lights and swimming pools.