Popular actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu has broken her silence on her battle against an autoimmune condition called Myositis.

The actor, who has a huge fan following in southern cinema and was lauded pan-India for her performance in The Family Man 2, made the revelation about her health via Instagram on Saturday.

She shared a photograph in which she is seen seated on a couch with an IV drip attached to her wrist. Samantha is seen watching the trailer of her upcoming film Yashodha, and made a heart emoji using her hands for her fans.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu reveals she is suffering Myositis

Crediting her fans’ overwhelming love for her strength to “deal with the seemingly unending challenges” that life throws at her, Samantha wrote, “A few months back I was diagnosed with an autoimmune condition called Myositis. I was hoping to share this after it had gone into remission. But it is taking a little longer than I hoped.”

A few months ago, there were rumours that Samantha was suffering from a skin disease for which she was seeking treatment in the US. Now we know her reduced appearances was due to myositis, which can be of different types.

Even as she struggles to come to terms with this reality, Samantha has displayed immense strength by sharing her predicament.

“I am slowly realising that we don’t always need to put up a strong front. Accepting this vulnerability is something that I am still struggling with. The doctors are confident that I will make a complete recovery very soon. I have had good days and bad days…. physically and emotionally… and even when it feels like I can’t handle one more day of this, somehow that moment passes. I guess it can only mean that I am one more day closer to recovery… THIS TOO SHALL PASS,” she added.

Check out the Instagram post by Samantha Ruth Prabhu right here!

What is myositis?

According to the National Health Service UK, myositis is a group of rare conditions which stems from the immune system.

It mostly involves weak, painful or aching muscles. And like most autoimmune conditions, it gets worse with time.

Dermatomyositis, said to be more common in women than men, can lead to weak muscles, inflammation and skin rashes. When children get this disease, it is called Juvenile dermatomyositis.

Polymyositis primarily causes muscle weakness and inflammation among adults.

Symptoms of Myositis

Myositis symptoms show up slowly and steadily, which is why identifying it and going for a diagnosis can sometimes get delayed. As per multiple medical organisations, some common symptoms of Myositis include weakness, swelling, and muscle damage.

This may show up in the form of difficulty while getting up from a chair or even climbing stairs. People may even experience frequent tripping or falls. Other complications may include rashes on the skin, difficulty in swallowing and general fatigue.

Treatment of Myositis

As per The Myositis Association, an organisation which aims to improve lives of those affected by the condition, medications, exercise and physical therapy, as well as complementary and self-care therapies, can alleviate the fight against Myositis.