SJOGREN’S SYNDROME

SYMPTOMS

Sjogren’s syndrome has two common symptoms:

• Dry eyes. Your eyes may feel gritty, itch, or burn, as if they’re filled with sand.
• Dry mouth. It may seem as if your mouth is filled with cotton, making it difficult to talk or swallow.
• Sjogren’s syndrome patients may also have one or more of the following symptoms:

• Salivary glands, particularly those behind your jaw and in front of your ears, are swollen.

• Vaginal dryness

• Prolonged fatigue

• Stiffness, joint pain, and swelling

• Skin rashes or dryness of the skin
• Persistent dry cough

DIAGNOSIS

Symptoms may differ from person to person, Sjogren’s syndrome can be difficult to diagnose. Some of the symptoms and signs of the condition are also matched by the side effects of a number of drugs.

Blood tests

Blood tests will be suggested by your doctor to be checked by:

• Different types of blood cells have different levels.
• Antibodies are frequent in Sjogren’s syndrome.
• Inflammatory signs and symptoms
• Signs that your kidneys and liver aren’t working properly

Eye tests

Your doctor can use a tear test Schirmer, to determine how dry your eyes are. A doctor who specializes in eye disorder treatment (ophthalmologist) may use a magnifying instrument or slit lamp to examine your eye’s surface.

Imaging

The salivary glands’ function can be checked with certain imaging techniques.

• Sialogram. The dye injected into the salivary glands in your ears can be detected with this specific X-ray. This test determines how much saliva enters your mouth.
• Salivary scintigraphy. This nuclear medicine test includes injecting a radioactive isotope into a vein, which is monitored for an hour to assess how rapidly it spreads throughout your salivary glands.

TREATMENT

Dry eyes and a dry mouth are symptoms of Sjogren’s syndrome. Treatment is determined by the sections of the body that have been damaged. To control it, some people require prescription drugs or even surgical procedures.