10 dactylitis facts
Dactylitis is a medical condition characterised by inflammation and swelling of an entire finger or toe, giving it a sausage-like appearance.
Here are 10 facts about dactylitis.
1. Dactylitis is also known as – ‘sausage digit’ or ‘sausage toe’ because of the distinctive swollen appearance of the affected digit. It usually affects most fingers (and/or toes) but can affect one more than another.
2. What is it? – it a symptom than a disease – i.e. it has causes.
Typical dactylitis
3. What are the causes of dactyitis?
It can be associated with all of the spondyloarthropathies, including:
- Ankylosing spondylitis. This is the commonest cause, occurring in up to 50% of people with the disease
- Inflammatory bowel disease-related polyarthritis
- Reactive arthritis
- Reiters Syndrome.
It can also be caused by other rheumatological diseases (e.g. rheumatoid or osteoarthritis and gout).
More rarely it can be caused sickle cell disease, lupus (SLE), sarcoidosis, and some infections (e.g. Lyme disease, syphilis and tuberculosis (TB)).
4. The onset of dactylitis – is usually rapid and may be accompanied by pain, tenderness, and stiffness in the affected digit.
5. Dactylitis can be diagnosed – by physical examination, backed up by imaging studies such as x-rays or MRI, and blood tests to check for markers of inflammation.
6. Treatment of dactylitis – depends on the underlying condition causing it. In some cases, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or corticosteroids may be used to relieve inflammation and pain.
7. If caused by an autoimmune condition – such as psoriatic arthritis or ankylosing spondylitis, disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may be prescribed to slow down or stop the progression of the disease.
8. In severe cases of dactylitis – surgery may be necessary to remove damaged tissue or correct deformities caused by the condition.
9. Can be a sign of a more serious underlying condition – such as a bone infection or tumour. So it is important to seek medical attention if you experience persistent swelling and pain in a digit.
10. With appropriate treatment – many people with dactylitis can experience significant improvement in their symptoms and quality of life. However, the condition can sometimes be chronic and require ongoing management to prevent complications.
Summary
We have described 10 dactylitis facts. We hope you understand it better now.
Last Reviewed on 9 May 2024