Medical: Multiple Sclerosis Signs Essay

Submitted By lurd11
Words: 469
Pages: 2

DIAGNOSIS:
Multiple Sclerosis

OVERVIEW:
Multiple Sclerosis is a debilitating disease. The body’s immune system eats away the myelin that covers up the nerves. This damage causes interference in communication between the brain and the spinal cord. This can also result in deterioration of the nerves. People who have MS may lose the ability to walk or speak clearly.

ETIOLOGY AND RISK FACTORS:
• Cause is unknown but is a autoimmune disease which the body’s immune system attacks the own body’s tissue
• Multiple sclerosis may commonly occur between the ages of 20 and 40
• Women are 2x as more likely than men to develop multiple sclerosis
• If a parent or sibling has multiple sclerosis there is a 1-3% chance in developing this disease
• Different types of infections seem to be associated with this disease such as Epstein-Barr
• White people, especially white people from northern Europe have a higher risk at developing multiple sclerosis than African or Native Americans who have a very low risk of developing this disease
• Northern US and Europe, New Zealand, southern Canada, and southeastern Australia are areas in which are at a higher risk of having people develop multiple sclerosis

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS:
• Numbness/weakness in one or more limbs may be a symptoms of developing MS
• Partial/complete loss of vision in one eye or double/blurred vision are symptoms of MS
• Tingling/pain in parts of the body
• Tremor
• Unclear or slurred speech is a symptom of MS
• Fatigue and dizziness area also symptoms of MS

SCREENING AND/OR DIAGNOSTIC TESTS:
• Blood tests can help rule out any infectious disease that have symptoms that are close to multiple sclerosis
• A Spinal tap can help rule out viral infections that cause neurological symptoms that are similar to MS
• Magnetic resonance imaging helps