Familial Mediterranean Fever in Croydon

What are some of the signs and symptoms?

• Sufferers experience difficultly with breathing due to inflammation around the lining of the lungs (Pleuritis) and heart (pericarditis).
• Pain in the Abdominal area with a similar feeling and intensity to that experienced with appendicitis
• Painful achy joints with swelling and elevated temperature

How long do the bouts of chest, abdominal, joint pain and inflammation last during an attack?

Most exacerbations of symptoms last between two and four hours.

The disease is complicated and still difficult to diagnose. There is no definitive test that Hs been developed to scientifically and reliably diagnose the disease. Familial Mediterranean Fever is a disease that may well have components of other inherited disease.

For information on ways to help diagnose these types of conditions please refer to the links at the bottom of this page. If genetic testing shows you the mutation of the MEFV gene known to be associated with this condition, and the symptoms match a typical pattern, the diagnosis is usually easier to make. Ruling out other possible diseases using laboratory tests or x-rays will help determine the diagnosis.

The goal of treatment is to control symptoms. Health specialists may prescribe Col-gout or Colchicine, to help reduce swelling and help prevent systemic amyloidosis.

Chiropractic is not a treatment for any systemic disease but through a patient assessment for a chiropractic condition (back or neck pain) a chiropractor may find symptoms and refer on to a GP and other routes for diagnosis and treatment.

Where can I find help and more information?

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familial_Mediterranean_fever
• In Australia: http://raisingchildren.net.au/articles/fmf.html

Call your health care provider if you or your child develop symptoms of this condition.