Major Symptoms Of Churg-Strauss Syndrome

Peripheral Neuropathy

Patients in the vasculitic stage of Churg-Strauss syndrome could experience peripheral neuropathy, a condition that causes severe pain, tingling sensations, and numbness in the hands and feet. Patients might feel as though they are wearing gloves or socks when they aren't, and foot pain may occur while the patient's feet are underneath a heavy blanket. Extreme sensitivity to touch develops for some individuals, and others might experience muscle weakness, coordination difficulties, or falls. To assess peripheral neuropathy, doctors take the patient's medical history and perform a neurological exam. During the exam, the physician will check for tenderness in the patient's hands and feet, and they may also check the patient's response to light touch and sharp sensations. Reflexes, coordination, muscle tone, and grip strength will also be evaluated. Doctors may order nerve studies, blood tests, imaging, and skin or nerve biopsies to help in determining the severity of the patient's peripheral neuropathy. To manage symptoms, patients might be prescribed pain relievers or topical treatments, and both antidepressants and anti-seizure medicines may be beneficial as well. TENS therapy and physical therapy are sometimes used in conjunction with medication.

Irregular Heartbeat

Some patients in the vasculitic stage of Churg-Strauss syndrome may develop an irregular heartbeat. This symptom is sometimes accompanied by chest pain or shortness of breath, and some patients may also feel dizzy. There are several different types of irregular heartbeat, and patients might experience these in different ways. For example, some irregular heartbeats can feel as though the heart is skipping a beat or fluttering, and other types may feel more like a pounding in the chest. To investigate an irregular heartbeat, a doctor will feel the patient's pulse at the wrist or neck, and they might also assess the pulses in other areas of the body. The doctor will then use a stethoscope to carefully listen to the patient's heart sounds. An electrocardiogram is typically the next step, and some patients might be asked to wear an event monitor or a Holter monitor to record the heart's activity for a few days. Echocardiograms (ultrasounds of the heart) and electrophysiology studies may also be useful in diagnosis. Irregular heartbeats can sometimes be controlled with medication, and electrical cardioversion, pacemakers, or implantable cardioverter defibrillators might be recommended if medication is ineffective.