Polio
Polio or Poliomyelitis or infantile paralysis is a viral disease caused by poliovirus that spread as a worldwide epidemic in the early twentieth century. But after the polio vaccine was introduced in 1955, the cases have drastically reduced. The polio virus spreads from contact and rapidly spreads within the blood and lymph system. The virus spreads through contaminated water, food and human waste. Polio tends to affect young children most often.
Polio can manifest as Paralytic, non-paralytic and subclinical polio, which is most common. Subclinical polio might result in symptoms such as headache, fever, vomiting and headache. With non-paralytic polio, the person would notice back pain, leg pain, muscle stiffness and tenderness, headache and pain in the legs, hands and abdomen. But with paralytic polio, the symptoms would also include muscle spasms, fever, difficulty in breathing and stiffness and sensitivity. Routine test of Cerebrospinal fluid or viral culture of CSF can help diagnose polio. Heat packs can reduce muscle cramps and pain. Physical therapy can help recover lost muscle strength. No treatment can reverse polio paralysis.
Botulism
Botulism leads to muscle paralysis. It is caused by Clostridium botulinum bacteria that are found in improperly canned foods. The symptoms of botulism are abdominal cramps, vomiting, nausea and difficulty in breathing and speaking. As treatment, Botulinus antitoxin is given.
Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a medical condition where there is inability of the brain to regulate waking and sleeping cycles normally. A person suffering from narcolepsy is likely to have an overwhelming urge to fall asleep. While in some cases, a person may fall asleep for a few seconds or few minutes, others may remain asleep for much longer. Such episodes of daytime sleepiness can be dangerous and disabling. Narcolepsy can result in excessive daytime sleepiness or sudden sleep attacks. In many cases, narcolepsy remains undiagnosed.
Major symptoms of narcolepsy include REM sleep disturbance, cataplexy, hallucinations and sleep paralysis. Cataplexy indicates sudden loss of muscle control leading to weakness. This can occur during the initial attacks of narcolepsy. Such episodes are not to be confused with seizures. While some patients notice weakness in some muscles such as eyelids, others may suffer a loss of tone in all voluntary muscles. Hallucinations are another symptom of narcolepsy. The patient is likely to experience delusions that can often be frightening. Sleep paralysis refers to a temporary inability to move while suffering a sleeping attack during narcolepsy. The patient might notice this while falling asleep or waking up.
Diagnostic tests such as overnight polysomnography or Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT) are used. Polysomnogram involves placement of electrodes on your scalp before falling asleep. This test measures the movement of the eyes and muscles and monitors the electrical activity of the brain. MSLT is a test to check how long it takes you to fall asleep. This throws light on the sleep patterns of the patient and helps in understanding and measuring sleep latency. Medications for narcolepsy can help reduce signs and symptoms. These medicines may interfere with other health conditions such as hypertension and diabetes. Antidepressants can reduce symptoms of cataplexy and sleep paralysis.
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