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Yang Ya Meng
Rheumatology
About me
Graduated from Anhui Medical University in 2005, working in the Department of General Medicine at the Second People's Hospital of Anhui Province, specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of common and prevalent internal medicine diseases.
Proficient in diseases
Conventional diagnosis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, and gouty arthritis, as well as regular diagnosis and treatment of prolonged unexplained fever.
Voices
Does allergic purpura cause itchy skin?
The skin of patients with allergic purpura generally does not show symptoms of itching, although it is called allergic purpura. However, the main clinical manifestations are inflammation of the capillaries at the extremities of the lower limbs, accompanied by a characteristic rash, without noticeable symptoms of skin itching. If a patient with allergic purpura also has symptoms of skin itching, it may be necessary to consider whether there is a concurrent allergic dermatitis or similar condition. Besides the typical purpuric rash on both lower limbs, some patients with allergic purpura may also experience nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and these symptoms are referred to as the gastrointestinal type of allergic purpura. Some patients may experience joint pain, which belongs to the joint type of allergic purpura, and others may present with proteinuria, which belongs to the renal type of allergic purpura.
What should I do if I have allergic purpura and my legs hurt?
Patients with allergic purpura who experience leg pain indicate the development of the arthritic type of allergic purpura. Firstly, strict bed rest should be enforced in daily life to reduce the burden on the joints. Secondly, active treatment of the primary cause of allergic purpura should be pursued, which can include taking medications like desloratadine dispersible tablets to reduce the rash. Subsequently, anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, such as diclofenac sodium sustained-release tablets, can be taken to alleviate leg pain. If the symptoms do not significantly improve with these measures, the use of a small dose of corticosteroids may be considered if necessary. (Medication should be administered under the guidance of a professional doctor.)
Can people with allergic purpura take baths?
Patients with allergic purpura can take baths, but the water temperature should not be too hot. This is because excessive heat or vigorous exercise can potentially trigger a recurrence of allergic purpura. Additionally, patients should avoid getting cold to reduce the risk of infection, as infections can also provoke episodes of allergic purpura. During an episode of allergic purpura, it is necessary to take some anti-allergy medications and medications that reduce rashes, such as desloratadine dispersible tablets and compound glycyrrhizin tablets. If there is significant involvement of vital organs, such as the kidneys or gastrointestinal tract, some patients may also need to use corticosteroids. (Medication should be taken under the guidance of a doctor.)
Typical skin manifestations of systemic lupus erythematosus
The most typical skin rashes of systemic lupus erythematosus are called butterfly rash and discoid rash. The so-called butterfly rash is a rash on both sides of the nostrils, resembling the wings of a butterfly, and the so-called discoid rash is a circular, disc-shaped rash on the facial area. At the same time, patients with systemic lupus erythematosus may also experience reticular purpura or vasculitic rashes like those of end-finger vasculitis, all of which are typical manifestations of skin rashes in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus.
What should be done if systemic lupus erythematosus causes a fever?
If patients with systemic lupus erythematosus develop a fever, it is first necessary to determine whether the fever is caused by poor control of systemic lupus erythematosus, leading to an immune-related fever, or if it is due to the patient's long-term use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants, resulting in decreased resistance and an acute infection, thus causing the fever. If the fever is immune-related, it will be necessary to strengthen treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressants. If the fever is due to an infection, regular anti-infection treatment will be required, which sometimes includes antifungal, antibacterial, and antiviral therapies. (The use of medications should be carried out under the guidance of a doctor)
Rheumatoid arthritis massage techniques
For the acute phase of rheumatoid arthritis, which is when the joints are significantly swollen and painful, it is not advisable to perform any form of massage. Both massage and intense exercise could potentially worsen the joint swelling and pain. At this time, what is needed is strict bed rest. After the acute phase of the joints eases, then consider some methods of exercise. In managing the acute phase of rheumatoid arthritis, one can consider using some anti-inflammatory pain relievers. The most commonly used are non-steroidal pain relievers, such as diclofenac sodium, to control joint pain, rather than massaging the joints, as this could only make the condition worse. (Please follow medical advice regarding specific medications.)
What tests are done for ankylosing spondylitis?
The main laboratory indicators for ankylosing spondylitis include the following: Testing for the B27 gene, formally known as HLA-B27 gene, which is hereditary and commonly found in male patients. Second, to determine if ankylosing spondylitis is in an active phase, inflammatory markers such as erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein can be checked. Moreover, the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis must involve the sacroiliac joints being affected. Therefore, a CT scan and MRI of the sacroiliac joints can be conducted to determine if there are issues with the sacroiliac joints. If the patient shows symptoms of inflammatory lower back pain, has affected sacroiliac joints, tests positive for the B27 gene, and shows elevated inflammatory markers, then a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis can generally be confirmed.
What to do about ankylosing spondylitis pain?
The methods for treating pain in ankylosing spondylitis primarily include non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as sustained-release diclofenac sodium tablets; secondly, biologics can be considered for pain relief, but before using biologics, it is necessary to rigorously rule out diseases such as hepatitis, tuberculosis, and tumors. During the painful periods of ankylosing spondylitis, patients are advised to rest appropriately to alleviate joint inflammation. However, after the pain subsides, it is recommended that patients engage in functional exercises to prevent complications such as further adhesion and stiffening of the spinal joints. (Specific medications should be taken under the guidance of a physician.)
What to do about ankylosing spondylitis pain?
The medications for treating pain in ankylosing spondylitis fall into three major categories: The first category includes non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as sustained-release diclofenac sodium tablets. The second category consists of disease-controlling drugs, which are often immunosuppressants, such as methotrexate and sulfasalazine. Third, if patients still experience significant back pain despite using anti-inflammatory analgesics and disease-controlling drugs, biologic agents can be considered. The main biologics currently include tumor necrosis factor antagonists. (Note: The use of medications should be under the guidance of a doctor.)
What should I do if allergic purpura causes vomiting?
Patients with allergic purpura who experience symptoms of vomiting need to be highly vigilant to determine if it is the gastrointestinal type of allergic purpura. In addition to observing the vomiting, we also need to check for symptoms such as abdominal pain and diarrhea in the patient. Regarding treatment, we need to consider the use of corticosteroids. If the patient’s condition allows, immunosuppressants might also be needed. Dietary considerations are also very important; first, it is essential to maintain a light, liquid diet, avoid spicy or tough foods to manage the vomiting symptoms associated with allergic purpura. (The use of medications should be under the guidance of a professional doctor.)