How are swallowing difficulties treated?
A speech therapist can evaluate swallowing difficulties, and may be able to recommend strategies to improve swallowing. Dietary changes or special food preparation techniques may be useful. In some cases, surgical removal of some muscle tissue in the throat (cricopharyngeal myotomy) can improve swallowing. If swallowing remains difficult and becomes unsafe (because of the risk of aspirating food into the lungs), a gastrostomy tube can be used to introduce food directly into the stomach. What treatments are used for other associated conditions? Interstitial lung disease is treated with the same range of immunosuppressive drugs as myositis is. The treatment of cancer depends on the type and location of tumor detected. What is the usual course of PM and DM? Studies have shown that prompt and aggressive treatment of PM and DM can help prevent worsening of the disease, and improve the prospects for recovery of strength. Early treatment of juvenile dermatomyositis may help prevent calcinosis
