Possible juvenile dermatomyositis in a 7-year-old Nigerian girl: a case report

Abstract

Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) is a systemic autoimmune disease that presents in children before their 16th birthday. Although the skin is the most obvious organ affected, it also affects the skeletal muscles, the lungs, the gastrointestinal system and the heart. The paucity of rheumatologists, especially paediatric rheumatologists, and dermatologists in Nigeria results in delayed identification and management. This is a case report of a 7-year-old Nigerian girl who presented with clinical and laboratory features of possible juvenile dermatomyositis. Limitations encountered during management of this patient were the absence of electromyogram and muscle biopsy for histology. It is the hope of the authors that this case will heighten the index of suspicion and add to the growing literature of JDM in Nigeria and Africa at large.