It is not possible to generalize whether or not five years of untreated dry syndrome is detrimental to the body, as the disease can involve various organs and systems throughout the body, and if left untreated for five years, further examination and evaluation of the condition is needed to determine whether there is disease progression and organ involvement.
Dry syndrome is a chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease with exocrine gland involvement. Clinical manifestations often include dry mouth, dry eyes, joint pain, fatigue, etc. Some patients may have organ involvement, such as interstitial lung disease, pericarditis, atrophic gastritis, hematopoiesis, renal and neurological involvement.
Dry syndrome needs timely treatment if only the glands are involved, artificial tears can be given, improve air humidity and other symptomatic treatment. If there is organ involvement, it needs to be treated with immunosuppression such as cyclophosphamide and azathioprine, and regular outpatient visits are required for follow-up and review. If there is no treatment for five years, the disease may progress and the damage to the body needs to be assessed.
If the disease has not been treated for five years, the patient should go to the rheumatology and immunology department of the hospital for a comprehensive evaluation of the disease by a specialized doctor and then a treatment plan should be formulated.