Familial Mediterranean fever can be described as an inflammatory disorder in people, which can lead to recurrent fever, as well as painful inflammation in a person’s joints, lungs and abdomen. This disorder is generally inherited and is a lot more prevalent in people who are of Mediterranean origin. Therefore, Armenians, Arabs, Turks and Sephardic Jews may be a lot more susceptible to this condition, as compared to the others. While this disease can affect just about any ethnic group, those people who are of Mediterranean descent or have a blood relative who shows the familial Mediterranean fever symptoms are at a much higher risk of developing this problem. It has also been seen that this condition is more common in men, than it is in women. In most cases, the familial Mediterranean fever symptoms become evident in childhood, which is when this condition is normally detected.
Symptoms
In most instances, the familial Mediterranean fever symptoms are noticed in childhood. Studies indicate that around 90% of all the people who are diagnosed with this condition are below the age of 20 years. There are factors that trigger off familial Mediterranean fever symptoms, which are often referred to, as attacks, which last for around two to three days. One of the first symptoms of this condition is the appearance of the familial Mediterranean fever rash below the knees. Given below are some of the other commonly seen familial Mediterranean fever symptoms:
Diagnosis
There are no specific tests that are carried out, in order to confirm the presence of the familial Mediterranean fever. For the familial Mediterranean fever diagnosis the medical health care provider usually rules out the possibility of other diseases, based on the study of the signs and symptoms that are evident. Some of the other factors that are taken into account, when trying to diagnose the condition include ethnicity, family history, genetic testing and blood tests to check for an inflammatory condition in the body. Once it is confirmed that a person is suffering from familial Mediterranean fever, the doctor may recommend certain forms of treatment to help control the familial Mediterranean fever symptoms.
Treatment
There is no cure for this condition, but it is possible to prevent the familial Mediterranean fever symptoms or attacks from occurring. There is a certain drug that can help reduce the inflammation within the body. The dose that is required varies from person to person and is dependant on factors such as the age of the patient, as well as the severity of the condition. There are many people who can even tell beforehand that they are about to get an attack and take the required drug, to prevent it. By taking this drug according to the schedule set by the doctor, it is possible to reduce the frequency as well as the intensity of the attacks. Therefore there has been no sure familial Mediterranean fever treatment that has been used as yet
Diet
In addition to medication, dietary habits can play an important role in the treatment of this condition. It has been seen that people who follow a low fat diet notice in reduction in the attacks that they face. Moreover, since the drug that is used to treat this condition could lead to lactose intolerance, it may be best for people to stay away from milk and other diary products, at least for a short while. Following a strict familial Mediterranean fever diet will greatly help to reduce the symptoms.
All people who notice familial Mediterranean fever symptoms should consult a doctor, without any delay.