Back pain as the presenting symptom in juvenile dermato/polymyositis.
Juvenile dermato/polymyositis is an inflammatory myopathy that usually presents with symmetrical hip and shoulder girdle muscle weakness, with or without a skin rash. In our series of 78 patients with dermato/polymyositis, we found eight children whose initial complaint was back pain, a rare symptom at the onset of other pediatric rheumatic diseases. This unusual presentation significantly delayed the correct diagnosis in most of our cases.
Fink
C W
CW
Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children, Dallas, Texas.
Cimaz
R G
RG