The diagnosis in multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis is quite difficult to be diagnosed because its symptoms vary according with its stages. The diagnosis is sustained by the fluctuated symptoms, relapses and remissions. In young people multiple sclerosis occurs with the following symptoms: blurred vision, suddenly double vision and movement problems and abnormal sensations in scattered parts of the body and it may be mistaken with other diseases such as: emotional disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, Lyme disease. Many laboratory tests may be applied, but none of them is specific for multiple sclerosis not even magnetic resonance imaging which has very good results.

Bright multiple sclerosis and plaques are apparent, obscures the multiple sclerosis plaque in the brain in magnetic resonance imaging. For diagnosing multiple sclerosis there must be two repeated attacks at intervals of at least one month, the damage to myelin must be extended to one area in the central nervous system. Tests used in the examination of multiple sclerosis are: magnetic resonance imaging, evoked potential, cerebrospinal fluid, and blood tests, clinical examination and tests of function.

The doctor discusses with the patient and in the same time with taking the history he reviews the functions of the 5 senses, mental, emotional and language functions age, sex, birth place and family history are important. Additional tests may be applied to make a clear cut diagnosis: evoked nerve potentials, cerebrospinal fluid and blood. In multiple sclerosis the nervous system is evaluated and the back of the eye is examinated with an ophthalmoscope. AIDS, lupus, arteritis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, hereditary ataxias, Guillain-Barr syndrome, Lyme disease syphilis, a cyst in the spinal cord are the diseases with which differential diagnosis must be done so as to clarify the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis.

In multiple sclerosis the brain's response to the stimuli such as: flashing lights and other sensory stimuli are slow because of the interrupted conduction through demyelinated nerve fibers. It is important to maintain an active lifestyle with physical exercises such as: riding a stationary bicycle, swimming, walking, stretching that reduces spasticity and maintain a muscular, cardiovascular, psychologic health. Do not expose yourself at high temperatures and do not have hot baths or showers.

Evoked potential tests are electrical conducted studies which show if the brain's activity is slowed, cerebrospinal fluid is tested to see if there is abnormal autoimmune response, oligoclonal bands are found in the spinal fluid of many people with multiple sclerosis but it is not a specific test. Neurologic symptoms similar with those in multiple sclerosis appear in collagen-vascular diseases, Lyme disease, rare hereditary disorders, and AIDS so, although blood tests are highly recommended they are not specific for diagnosing multiple sclerosis and differentiating it from other conditions.

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