Essay On Porphyria

Sign and Symptoms:

There are two general categories of porphyria: Acute, which can affect the nervous system, and cutaneous, which can affect the skin. Some types of porphyria have both skin symptoms and nervous system symptoms.

Acute porphyria:

Acute porphyria includes forms of the disease that typically cause nervous system symptoms, which appear quickly and can be life threatening. Acute porphyria attacks are rare before puberty and after menopause in women. Symptoms may last one to two weeks and usually improve slowly after the attack.

 Acute Porphyria symptoms include:

• Severe abdominal pain usually lasting for hours or longer

• Pain in chest, back or legs

• Swelling of the abdomen (abdominal distention)

• High blood pressure

• Muscle

Attacks may last for 2–3 days with some forms, signs and symptoms may start during infancy or childhood.

 Cutaneous porphyria symptoms may include:

• Sensitivity to the sun and sometimes artificial light, may cause burning pain

• swelling (edema) and Sudden painful skin redness (erythema)

• Itching

• Anemia

• Fragile skin

• Scars or skin color changes from healing blisters

• Increased hair growth

• Bone fragility, due to Vitamin D

• Teeth discoloration

• Blisters that take weeks to heal

• brown or red urine

Tests and diagnosis:

Many signs of porphyria are similar to other more common diseases such as eczema, multiple sclerosis and irritable bowel syndrome. Moreover, because porphyria is rare, it can be difficult to diagnosis. Lab tests are required to make a definitive diagnosis of porphyria and to determine which form of the disease you