Early detection of dry syndrome

  I. What is dry syndrome?  Dry syndrome is an autoimmune disease that mainly invades exocrine glands such as lacrimal gland and salivary gland. It makes these glands unable to secrete normally, and the human body itself loses moistening, like a field in drought, dry and cracked.  Since the disease not only invades the exocrine glands causing dry mouth and dry eyes, but also invades many organs and systems of the body such as: immune, respiratory, digestive, cardiovascular, urinary, nervous system, etc., producing a variety of complex clinical manifestations, but patients do not know that these various symptoms are caused by one disease, nor do they know that it belongs to rheumatism and go to the rheumatology department, often going to the stomatology, ophthalmology, orthopedics, respiratory and other departments Moreover, most of the patients’ symptoms develop slowly, and it takes 5 to 10 years for a considerable number of patients to be diagnosed from the beginning of symptoms, so the diagnosis is often delayed for many years, and the patients cannot get timely treatment.  Second, what is the incidence of dry syndrome?  Foreign information shows that the prevalence rate is 3% to 4% in the elderly group; domestic survey finds that the prevalence rate is 0.29% to 0.77%, which is considered as a common rheumatic disease second only to rheumatoid arthritis. The disease is more common in women, male: female is 1:9, and it is more common in 40-50 years old.  Third, what are the manifestations of dry syndrome?  Dry syndrome (Sjogren Syndrome, SS) is characterized by dryness of mouth, eyes and other mucous membranes, and if there is systemic damage, such as improper treatment, the internal environment can be disturbed, causing serious consequences.  1, dry mouth and nose, difficulty in swallowing food such as buns, dry tongue, ulcers or smooth as a mirror.  2.Dry eyes with few tears, foreign body sensation, repeated purulent infection of eyelids, and even vision loss.  3.Multiple uncontrollable caries, blackened teeth, small pieces falling out.  4.Recurrent enlargement and pain of parotid and submaxillary glands.  5.General weakness, low fever, muscle and joint pain, muscle weakness.  6.Vagina, dry and itchy skin, purpura-like rash, erythema nodosum.  The disease is an autoimmune disease with a good prognosis, and only a few patients are at risk of combined lymphoma. Most of those with visceral damage can remit with proper treatment. Early detection and proper treatment can prevent dryness of the mouth and eyes and damage to the kidneys, lungs, liver and other organs caused by prolonged dryness.