Recognizing Initial Symptoms of Sjogren’s Disease

In this segment, the panel highlights the early clinical presentation of Sjögren’s Disease (SjD) and why diagnosis is often delayed. Patients rarely arrive identifying “dry eyes” or “dry mouth” directly; instead, they describe subtle symptoms such as gritty or sandy eye sensation, fluctuating blurry vision, or difficulty tolerating contact lenses. Oral dryness may present as constant thirst, reliance on water to swallow food, frequent nighttime drinking, or recurrent dental caries. Beyond dryness, fatigue is frequently profound—likened to a “flu-like” or “foggy” state that disrupts daily functioning. Musculoskeletal pain and arthralgias also commonly accompany early disease. Some patients present with broader systemic clues such as parotid or submandibular swelling, sensory neuropathy, vasculitic rashes, or chronic cough. Symptoms most often emerge in midlife, particularly among women, but diagnosis may be delayed for years as patients move between multiple specialties before SjD is recognized. Early awareness of these patterns is essential for timely evaluation and care.