Diseases & Conditions Blog

Neuritis takes in a wide group of disturbances affecting the peripheral nerves and roots after they leave the brain or spinal cord. Some are due to infection, others to compression of the nerves as they pass through narrow canals in the vertebrae and skull, and the cause of still other disturbances is unknown.

Shingles (herpes zoster) is due to an infection of a ganglion, or group of nerve cells perched on the root, by a virus. It leads to excruciating itching and burning pain in a rash of blebs situated in a fixed zone of the body, usually the chest or upper face, on one side. There are measures of relief available, but no cure as yet. It tends to subside and disappear with the passage of weeks, but the itching in the area may remain for months Sciatica, or sciatic neuritis may be due to infection of the nerve as it passes through the huge muscles of the buttock in its long course down to the foot, or it may be compressed by arthritic spurs at its exit from the vertebrae. There is severe pain down the leg, areas of numbness, loss of reflexes and sometimes weakness in the foot. Medication, baking, and stretching of the nerve help. Sometimes there is a recurrence of sciatica a year or years later.

Writer’s cramp is not a true palsy, but occurs among people who have to write continuously under great pressure. What happens is that the muscles of the hand tire, tighten up, and fail to move temporarily. The situation is a physiologic rather than a true organic disorder and it clears completely under rest, a trip, or a change of work and pressure.
Types of Neuritis

Polyneuritis is a disturbance that affects the peripheral nerves on both sides of the body at one time, sometimes of both arms and legs, along with some of the cranial nerves affecting the face, jaws, tongue and eyes. Motor as well as sensory nerves are involved, so that there is weakness, loss of muscle tissue (atrophy) , numbness and loss of reflexes. It may be caused by infection, or by toxic substances as in uncontrolled diabetes, or by avitaminosis (lack of vitamins). It tends to subside with treatment, but may leave permanent minor residuals. Polyneuritis is, however, of rare occurrence, when compared to sciatica. “Lead polyneuritis” of painters is hardly ever seen these days.

Pressure Neuropathies (crossed leg palsies) are of comparatively rare occurrence. “N euro” refers to nerve and “pathy” to pathology or organic abnormality, as distinguished from a physiological abnormality, such as writer’s cramp, or a psychological abnormality,

such as insomnia. The pressure neuropathy in crossed-leg palsy is entirely different from the direct compression of a nerve as it passes through the narrow canal of the spinal vetebrae, as in sciatica. In crossed-leg palsy the nerve is not compressed, but rather, poorly functioning or arteriosclerotic arteries :ail to supply sufficient blood to the nerve, of a consequence of which there is tingling, numbness, and temporary loss of power in that leg. The condition often clears up under benefit of vasodilator drugs which bring more blood to the uea, iodine compounds, massage, and the avoidance of crossing one leg tightly over the other. The problem is comparatively rare and occurs chiefly among elderly people with impoverished circulation or poor arteries.

Bell’s palsy is a neuritis of the facial nerve . It is caused by infection and compression of the swollen nerve as it passes through a tiny opening in the skull below the ear, in its course to the muscles of the face. It is often caused by a draft of cold air during sleep that strikes the exposed side of the face near the ear. It also quite frequently occurs among chauffeurs who drive with an open window and are exposed to raw elements. The palsy is usually preceded the day before by a vague pain below the ear. In e following day the patient cannot dose the eye on that side, and in the space of hours there is complete paralysis of that side of the face, with a droop of the corner of the mouth, the mouth pulled over to the other side, and inability to raise the forehead.
Treatment

In most cases the condition clears up thin a month or several months and more rapidly with electric treatment and massage. The sudden appearance of paralysis of the face may prove alarming and embarrassing to the patient, but actually it tends to clear up without serious complication. However, during the time when the lid cannot be closed, a patch must be worn to prevent dust or rough particles from injuring the delicate cornea of the eye. In patients with severe injury to the facial nerve, there may be a residual slight weakness in the closing of the affected eye and a slight droop of the corner of the mouth for many years .

What do Doctors call this Condition – Presenile dementia, primary degenerative dementia.

What is this Condition?

Alzheimer’s disease is a type of dementia – a condition marked by mental deterioration. An estimated 5% of people over age 65 have the severe form of this disease, and an additional 12% suffer from a mild-to-moderate form. A cure has not yet been found for the disorder.

What Causes it?

The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is unknown. However, several factors are thought to contribute to the condition. These include shortages of certain chemicals in the brain, known as neurotransmitters, which allow stimuli to travel from one nerve cell to another; environmental factors, such as dietary intake of manganese; slow-growing viruses in the brain or spinal cord; injuries; and genetic immunologic factors.

What are its Symptoms?

Onset of Alzheimer’s disease is slow and subtle. At first, the person experiences almost imperceptible changes, such as forgetfulness, inability to recall recent events, difficulty learning and remembering new information, inability to concentrate, and declining personal hygiene and appearance.

Gradually, tasks that require abstract thinking and judgment become more difficult. The person experiences progressive difficulty communicating with others and severe deterioration in memory, language ability, and coordination. The ability to write or speak may be lost. Personality changes and insomnia are common.

Eventually, the person becomes disoriented. His or her emotions may change suddenly. Physical and intellectual functions continue to deteriorate. The person becomes susceptible to infection and accidents. Usually, death results from infection.

How is it Diagnosed?

Early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease is difficult because the person’s signs and symptoms are obscure. To make a diagnosis, the doctor relies on information provided by a family member, supported by tests of mental status, neurologic examinations, and psychometric testing.

Currently, certain diagnostic tests are performed to rule out other disorders. The diagnosis cannot be confirmed until after death, when an exam of brain tissue shows the disorder’s effects.

How is it Treated?

Overall treatment is focused on supporting the person’s abilities and compensating for those that have been lost. The doctor may prescribe a variety of drugs to help a person with Alzheimer’s. Some of these drugs help to increase circulation in the brain – for example, Hydergine, Vasodilan, and Cyclospasmol. The doctor may prescribe other drugs (such as Ritalin) to enhance the person’s mood. If depression seems to exacerbate the person’s condition, the doctor may prescribe antidepressants. To treat memory deficits, the doctor may prescribe Cognex.

Sometimes, a person with Alzheimer’s will undergo hyperbaric (pressurized) oxygen treatment to increase the oxygen supply to the brain. The person is placed inside a special chamber where he or she breathes 100% oxygen.

Additional drugs are being tried to assess their ability to slow the disease process. These include choline salts, lecithin, Antilirium, enkephalins, and Narcan.