What Is Dermatomyositis?

4. Childhood Versus Adult Onset

Childhood and adult-onset dermatomyositis are similar, but symptoms appear more suddenly in children, and they are also more likely to develop muscle calcifications. These firm nodules usually develop over bony areas within the first few years after diagnosis but can appear up to twenty years later. Children are also more likely to experience digestive issues as a result of dermatomyositis, including abdominal pain, constipation, and gastrointestinal bleeding.