Is your cartilage melting? Let's learn about this strange disease (Relapsing Polychondritis)?

Sometimes you may also experience strange pain and swelling in different parts of your body, right? Especially in places like your ears and nose. These may not be just random things. Today we are going to talk about a disease that is rarely heard of, but it is very important to know about. This is called Relapsing Polychondritis . Although the name is a bit complicated, let's understand it simply.

What is this disease?

Simply put, Relapsing Polychondritis is a rare disease that affects the cartilage in our bodies. What happens is that the cartilage becomes inflamed (swelling, redness, and pain) and over time, the cartilage gradually atrophies (melts and wears away). Now you may be wondering what this cartilage is. Cartilage is a special connective tissue in our bodies. Do you remember, touch our earlobes, touch the front of our nose. There is that slightly flexible, but somewhat strong part in those places, that is cartilage. These are found in many places in our joints, throat, and trachea. This `Relapsing Polychondritis` disease mainly affects:

• To the cartilage in your ears .
• To the cartilage in your nose .
• Your larynx (the box where we speak) is located in your throat .
• Your windpipe (trachea) .

This disease is called by several other names, but they are a bit more medical: `Chronic atrophic polychondritis`, `Generalized or systemic chondromalacia`, `Meyenburg-Altherr-Uehlinger syndrome`, `Relapsing perichondritis`, `Von Meyenburg disease`. However, the most commonly used name is `Relapsing Polychondritis`.

Who can get this? How common is it?

This condition can affect anyone. However, it usually starts in people between the ages of 40 and 60. In terms of how common it is, it is actually a very rare disease . According to researchers, it affects about one in two hundred and eighty-five thousand (285,000) people. This means that it affects a very small number of people in a large population. That is why this disease is not talked about much in society.

Why is this happening? What is the reason?

The question that many people have is, "Why does this disease occur?" To be honest, scientists still haven't figured out exactly what causes Relapsing Polychondritis. However, some scientists believe that it is an autoimmune disease.Now you might be wondering, "What is this autoimmune disease?" Simply put, our bodies have an immune system. Its job is to protect us from disease by fighting off foreign germs. It's like having a team of soldiers in our bodies. But in autoimmune diseases, our own soldiers mistakenly start attacking our own healthy cells and tissues . In Relapsing Polychondritis, it's thought that the immune system is attacking our cartilage in this way. But, it's not yet clear why this happens.

What are the symptoms of this?

Relapsing polychondritis is not usually a continuous condition. It comes and goes in episodes or flares. When symptoms appear, they may last for a few days or weeks. Then they go away. However, symptoms can recur over many years. Initial symptoms: For many people, the disease begins with pain, tenderness, swelling, and redness in one or both ears . Importantly, these symptoms affect the cartilage inside and outside the ear, but not the earlobe . Sometimes the ear may become floppy . Imagine that one day, your friend Sunil suddenly has a painful, red, and swollen ear. He thought it was just an allergy. It went away in a few days. But after a few months, the other ear became the same again. This is how the symptoms of this can start to appear. Other symptoms:

• Indentation of the nasal cartilage : This can cause the bridge of the nose to collapse, resulting in a condition called a saddle nose deformity (the nose looks like a saddle on a horse's back).
• Joint pain : Joint pain , similar to arthritis , may occur.
• Nasal congestion .
• Pain in the middle of the chest , near the breastbone .
• Eye pain and redness .
• If the inner ear is affected: Hearing loss , constant ringing in the ears (tinnitus) ,Things like dizziness (vertigo) may occur.
• Difficulty breathing: This occurs if the windpipe (trachea) is affected. Difficulty speaking can also occur if the larynx is affected.

Important: Difficulty breathing can be serious, so seek medical advice immediately.

Rare symptoms: These are not seen very often, but some people may experience them:

• Heart valve problems.
• An abnormal heart sound (Heart murmur).
• Vision loss.
• Kidney disease.

Where ? How do doctors find this?

If you have these symptoms, it's best to see a doctor. However, there is no single test that can diagnose Relapsing Polychondritis. That is, there is no single blood test or scan that can tell you "this is Relapsing Polychondritis." A doctor will suspect you have the disease if you have had at least three of these symptoms for a long time. For example, if you have a combination of symptoms such as swelling of the cartilage in your ear, swelling of the cartilage in your nose, and joint pain, your doctor may suspect this. Sometimes, to help confirm the diagnosis:

• A biopsy can be done by taking a piece of cartilage from the ear .
• Several blood tests may be done (to rule out other medical conditions and look for signs of inflammation).

What is the treatment for this?

Unfortunately, there is no cure for Relapsing Polychondritis. That is, there is no cure yet. However, that does not mean that nothing can be done. The main goals of treatment are:

• Relieving symptoms (reducing pain, swelling).
• Reducing the risk of complications.

Treatment usually begins with medications such as:

• Colchicine: This is a medication often given for gout.
• Corticosteroids: For example , prednisone . These are powerful medications that reduce inflammation.
• Dapsone: This is a medicine that is used to fight infections.
• Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs): These help reduce pain and swelling.

If the condition is a little more serious, doctors may prescribe medications like these:

• Drugs that suppress the immune system: For example , cyclophosphamide or azathioprineWhat these do is reduce the activity of the immune system that is malfunctioning.
• Methotrexate: This is also an immune-suppressing drug used to treat diseases like arthritis.

In very severe cases, surgery may be necessary:

• Heart valve surgery: If the heart valves are damaged.
• Tracheostomy: If the windpipe is severely blocked, a tube may need to be inserted directly from the throat into the windpipe.
• Ways to open the airway:
• Placing a stent: A small tube, such as a laryngeal stent, is placed in the larynx or trachea to keep it open.
• Airway dilation: A device, such as a balloon, is used to widen the narrowed airway.
• Surgery to reconstruct the trachea or larynx .

Can't this be prevented from happening?

Since the exact cause of Relapsing Polychondritis is unknown , it is difficult to say how to prevent it. Currently, there are no specific prevention strategies .

Is this disease fatal? What is the life expectancy?

This may sound scary, but the life expectancy of people with Relapsing Polychondritis is generally good . Studies show that 95% of patients are still alive 8 years after diagnosis. However, it can also cause life-threatening complications . Difficulty breathing is especially dangerous. There is also a risk of permanent hearing or vision loss . Therefore, it is very important to pay attention to the symptoms and take the treatment as prescribed by your doctor.

How long will this last?

Relapsing Polychondritis is a chronic disease . This means that it is not a condition that comes and goes, but rather a lifelong condition . However, with proper treatment, you can reduce the frequency of symptoms and reduce the severity of symptoms when they do occur. Therefore, it is important to talk to your doctor and develop a treatment plan that works for you.

What else can you ask the doctor?

If your doctor says you have `Relapsing Polychondritis`, you can ask questions like these to learn more about it:

• "Doctor, how serious is my condition?"
• "What medications are best for me?"
• "Do I need to have special tests done on my organs like my eyes, ears, respiratory system, heart, and kidneys?"
• "Should I see other specialists (e.g., ear, nose, throat specialist, joint specialist)?"
• "Is there anything I can do personally to strengthen my cartilage, or slow down this cartilage loss?"
• "Are there any new research or clinical trials being conducted on this disease?"

By asking these questions, you can gain a better understanding of your condition and actively participate in your treatment.

When should I see a doctor as soon as possible?

If you have Relapsing Polychondritis, it is very important to keep regular appointments with your doctor. Also, if you have any difficulty breathing, changes in vision, or hearing , don't wait until your next appointment. Seek medical advice as soon as possible . These can sometimes be conditions that require urgent treatment.

So, what are the things we need to remember?

You may now have some understanding of what we have been talking about, `Relapsing Polychondritis`. Finally, the most important things to remember are these:

• Relapsing Polychondritis is a very rare disease in which the cartilage in the body becomes inflamed and breaks down.
• Most often, the ears and nose are targeted, but it can also affect areas such as the throat, trachea, and joints.
• The exact cause of this has not yet been found, but it is suspected to be an autoimmune condition.
• Although there is no complete cure, there are treatments to control symptoms and reduce complications.
• Because things like difficulty breathing can be dangerous, it's important to pay attention to the symptoms and see a doctor quickly.

If you or someone you know has any of these symptoms, don't be afraid to see a doctor and get advice. Being aware of all diseases will help you live a healthy life! Relapsing Polychondritis, Cartilage, Earache, Swelling of the nose, Difficulty breathing, Joint pain, Autoimmune disease, Inflammation, Rare diseases