Relapsing Polychondritis

Relapsing polychondritis is an autoimmune disease that destroys the cartilage in the connective tissues of the body. An autoimmune disease is a condition in which the immune system attacks healthy cells instead of dangerous ones or foreign substances. This particular autoimmune condition is an inflammation that usually affects both ears that become red with severe pain. The condition then develops in connective tissue in various parts of the body.

A doctor diagnoses relapsing polychondritis by the symptoms which are the painful inflammation of the ears, inflammation of the cartilage in the eyes, or nose, and inflammation of several joints. The symptoms may continue for several weeks and then disappear only to come back months or years later.

Doctors usually give nonsteroidal drugs such as aspirin for mild cases and prednisone for the more severe cases. Many patients are helped by a healthy lifestyle of proper nutrition and exercise. The nutrition that is vegetarian appears to be more beneficial and if that does not help try a vegan diet.

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