News Details

July 23 is World Sjögren's Syndrome Day.

It is a chronic, autoimmune, rheumatologic disease, first described in 1933 by Swedish ophthalmologist Henrik Sjogren (1899-1986).

This syndrome is characterized by an unusual dryness of the mucous membranes, due to the fact that the immune system attacks the exocrine glands, especially the salivary and lacrimal glands. The most common symptoms are great fatigue, very dry skin, mouth and eyes, excessive thirst, dryness of other mucous membranes, sleep disorders and depression.

This disease mainly affects middle-aged women in the fourth or fifth decade of life. Early diagnosis improves quality of life and is of vital importance for patients with Sjogren's Syndrome, as depending on the severity of the disease, it can be lethal.

Healthcare is a right that applies to everyone. Article 25 of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities states that States Parties recognise that persons with disabilities have the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health without discrimination on the basis of disability because Sjogren's syndrome is a situation of poor health.

More information on the website of Portuguese Society of Rheumatology and on the website of Portuguese Society of Internal Medicine.