Living with Pyomyositis
A rare bacterial infection of the skeletal muscles that causes pain, fever, and sometimes abscesses.
Understanding Pyomyositis
It causes pain and tenderness in the affected muscle, fever, and sometimes abscesses (pockets of pus). About 90% of cases are caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. Risk factors include hard physical activity, muscle injury, skin infections, infected insect bites, injected drugs, connective tissue disorders, and diabetes. It can occur at any time in life.
Signs & symptoms
Symptoms vary from person to person. GARD lists these among the most common:
- Fever
- Muscle pain and tenderness
- Firm lumps under the skin
- Abscesses
- Muscle inflammation
- Weight loss
Not everyone has every symptom. GARD's list comes from the Human Phenotype Ontology.
Diagnosis
- 1Talk with your doctor
Share the symptoms you've noticed, when they started and your family health history. Notes and photos can help.
- 2See a specialist
Specialists who may be involved include autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists.
- 3Ask which tests can help
Your care team will decide which exams and tests can confirm the diagnosis.
- 4Connect with expert centers
Myositis Support and Understanding and The Myositis Association may keep lists of experts for this condition.
Care & treatment
- Care team
- autoimmune and inflammatory disease specialists (rheumatologists)
- Expert care
- Expert lists: Myositis Support and Understanding, The Myositis Association
- Treatment
- GARD doesn't list specific treatments for this condition. Your care team will tailor care to your symptoms.
- Research
- Clinical trials and observational studies may be options. See the research section below.
General information, not medical advice. Your care team makes the decisions.
Everyday life
Living with a rare condition is easier with support.
- Connect with Myositis Support and Understanding and other patient organizations
- Keep notes on symptoms, changes and questions for appointments
- Ask about patient registries that help research
- Look into financial aid and travel resources for care visits
Quick facts
About 90% of cases are caused by the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus. GARD lists risk factors such as muscle injury, skin infections, infected insect bites, injected drugs, connective tissue disorders, and diabetes.
Also known as: myositis purulenta tropica; myositis tropicans; pm; tropical myositis; tropical pyomyositis
Patient organizations
- Myositis Support and UnderstandingPyomyositis · United States
- The Myositis AssociationPyomyositis · United States
You are more than your diagnosis
Perspectives from people navigating life with Pyomyositis.
Explore research for Pyomyositis
Explore actively recruiting Pyomyositis studies with HealthSpark.
Find actively recruiting studies for Pyomyositis with HealthSpark. Share your city to explore research near you.
- Recruiting studies from ClinicalTrials.gov
- Share your city to look for research near you
- Eligibility is confirmed by the study team
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Powered by HealthSpark, our AI chat helper · Study information from ClinicalTrials.gov · Eligibility is confirmed by the study team.
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