Myelitis - what is this disease, the cause of the? Description, symptoms and prevention of the disease Myelitis

Myelitis - an inflammatory disease of the spinal cord, which develops in infectious or allergic its defeat. Usually, in the pathological process involved 1-2 (sometimes more) spinal cord segments. The disease is manifested disorders of the spinal cord function.

Myelitis - Causes

The main reasons are the development myelitis:

• infectious agents. This infection can, directly affecting the spinal cord, or it can be infectious agents, affecting the whole body (including spinal cord). The latter refers measles, scarlet fever and other diseases.
• Traumatic spinal cord injury.
• Intoxication with heavy metal salts, organic solvents or alcohols.
• Demyelinating diseases, which are associated with the destruction of the fiber membranes. Such diseases include multiple sclerosis, optica Devic and other diseases.

The symptoms of myelitis

The main symptoms are myelitis:

• Violation of sensitivity in the extremities, and in the trunk. The patient is reduced (or no) temperature and pain sensitivity of the skin. perceptions of the body parts is also disturbed with respect to each other with the eyes closed. In some cases, the patient experiences increased skin sensitivity.
• Weakness in the limbs. In some cases, the patient is unable to perform motor activity.
• Dysuria and defecation (or incontinence of urine and feces delay).
• Increased muscle tone in the limbs.
• Symptoms of inflammation in the body (malaise, weakness, temperature rise, desudation).

Myelitis - Diagnosis

Diagnosis includes myelitis:

• Anamnesis of disease and analysis of patient complaints.
• Carrying neurological examination.
• Blood for signs of inflammation.
• The blood test for antibodies to infectious agents.
• Lumbar puncture.
• electroneuromyography.
• Magnetic resonance imaging of the spinal cord.
• Other research methods (at the discretion of the physician).

Myelitis - Types of diseases

Allocate following forms myelitis:

• infectious myelitis. Primary infection myelitis caused by infectious agents, directly affecting the spinal cord. Secondary infective myelitis develops in infectious processes, affecting the entire body and are accompanied by severe intoxication. For example, myelitis secondary infection may develop in scarlet fever, measles and other infectious diseases.
• traumatic myelitis. This kind of myelitis occurs in traumatic spinal cord injury.
• Toxic myelitis - develops in different intoxications (poisoning by heavy metal salts, alcohols or organic solvents).
• Neyroallergichesky myelitis. This form of the disease develops in diseases, affecting the spinal cord, while having an allergic component. Such diseases may be multiple sclerosis, optica Devic and others.

Depending on the location of inflammation are distinguished cervical myelitis, thoracic and lumbar spinal cord.

Myelitis - Patient action

When the suspicious symptoms should consult a doctor, neurologist.

myelitis treatment

myelitis treatment is carried out in a hospital environment. The patient is admitted to the neurological department. Necessary to observe strict bed rest. conducted antibacterial and antiviral therapy for elimination of infection. With an increase in body temperature patient administered analgesic and antipyretic drugs. Also conducted hormonal anti-inflammatory therapy.

To drain urine bladder catheterization is performed or applied epitsistostoma. Patient prescribers, reducing muscle tone.

myelitis treatment also provides for physical therapy, exercise in bed, that can prevent pressure sores and contractures.

Myelitis - Complications

Complications can be at myelitis:

• Pressure sores and contractures.
• The development of stable neurological defect (Paralič, urinary incontinence and fecal incontinence).

Prevention myelitis

Expedient preventive measure is vaccination against infectious diseases, which can lead to the development of myelitis. This polio viruses, mumps and peel.