What is multiple sclerosis?
A condition in which the myelin covering of the CNS (brain and spinal cord) are attacked by immune system. This leads to disturbances of signal conduction leading to permanent damage. The signs and symptoms of the disease depend on the severity of the disease and may go into remission for years. Symptoms may start as numbness, weakness of limbs typically unilateral, sensation of traveling shock at the back of the neck, uncoordinated movements, tremor or unsteady gait, loss of vision ( partial or complete usually begins unilaterally, slurred speech , fatigue, dizziness, pain in unrelated body parts and disturbances of bowel, bladder and sexual function. The cause of multiple sclerosis is unknown but the disease is considered to be an autoimmune disease. Risk factors for the condition include: Age between 20-40 yrs, female gender, and positive family history, infections with EBV, and higher incidence in Europeans, low vitamin D levels and smoking. The disease shows a relapsing and remitting pattern. IT may get complicated with time into: paralysis, loss of bladder, bowel control, mental changes, epilepsy or depression. Diagnosis is made by ruling out other medical conditions that can cause the specific symptoms. No permanent treatment is available till now. It is only possible to quicken the recovery with corticosteroids and plasmapheresis. Use of drugs like ocrelizumab has been approved. They decrease the chances of disease progression.