features of childhood disease

Last reviewed 10/2022

Special features in children include:

• arteritis:
• uncommonly glomerulonephritis and retinopathy

• calcification:
• in two-thirds of cases - skin, fascia, subcutaneous tissue and fat, but not muscle

• arthritis and dysphagia more common than in adults

• ESR not elevated in approximately half of cases

• malignancy:
• is not associated with childhood dermatomyositis
• may be associated with adult dermatomyositis