Feel exhausted? You may be a victim of Sjogren

Purvi Doshi's (37) day begins with extreme fatigue and joint pains.

The worst part is that nobody believed her complaints, till she proved that she was not lazy, but a victim of the fatigue of an octogenarian. Hers is a typical story of a Sjogren's Syndrome (SS) sufferer.

Sjogren's syndrome is an auto-immune disease in which the body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own moisture-producing glands. Nine out of 10 patients of this disease are women of the average age of 35.

There are few recorded patients in Gujarat, but health experts say that the number could be much larger as it takes more than six years for the syndrome to manifest itself.

Dry eyes and mouth are prime symptoms of this disease which could affect the kidneys, gastro-intestinal tract, blood vessels, lung, liver, pancreas and even the central nervous system.

The syndrome causes decreased production of saliva, tears and often leaves the patients with complaints of fatigue, joint pain, skin allergies and heart burns. Blood tests, the Schirmer eye test, a lip biopsy of a salivary gland, and salivary scintigraphy are tests that are performed to check for Sjogren's.

"I used to feel more distressed because no one understood my problem. My own family members looked at me with disbelief, since there are no outward signs of the disease," said Kirtida Oza, 47, another Sjogren's victim who was afflicted by it when she was 39. "I used to feel extreme debility, upper respiratory infections, dental problems, skin allergies, heart burns and joint pains," said Oza, who later discovered that she had Sjogren's syndrome.

Oza, an environmental educator from Virginia, returned to Ahmedabad once she was diagnosed with SS. Today she is working hard with Doshi to spread awareness of this disease in the state.

Oza and Doshi have set up the Sjogren's Support Group (SSG) in the city and have organised about 10 interactive seminars between patients and doctors to seek the most effective way to fight SS, since 2006. About 75 Sjogren's syndrome victims from across Gujarat will attend a seminar on August 1 in the city.
"This disease has no cure but it can be maintained with regular medication," said Dr. Sapan Pandya, a rheumatologist and SS specialist in Gujarat.

Sjogren's is not considered fatal, but complications rising out of Sjogren's are. SS victims are more prone to pneumonia, liver failure, kidney failure and other internal organ damage. Many people with Sjogren's end up having thyroid problems. "Early diagnosis and proper treatment can prevent serious complications," informs Doshi.