Neuritis
Neuritis is a
serious nervous
disorder. It refers to an inflammation of the nerves, involving a
single
nerve or a series of nerves. At times, several different groups of
nerves
in various parts of the body may be involved. This condition is known
as
polyneuritis. It is also known as polyneuropathy, for strictly
speaking,
the condition is not an inflammation, but a change in the state of the
nerves resulting in weakness, loss of the reflexes and changes of
sensation.
Symptoms
The main symptoms of
neuritis
are tingling, burning, and stabbing pains in the affected nerves. In
severe
cases, there may be numbness and loss of sensation and paralysis of the
nearby muscles. A temporary paralysis of the face may result from
changes
in the facial nerves on the affected side. During the acute stage of
this
condition, the patient may not be able to close the eyes due to loss of
normal tone and strength by the muscles on the affected side of the
face.
Neuritis may also
be caused
by pernicious anemia, involving the nerves of the spine. The patient
with
this condition may find it very difficult to walk in the dark.
Causes
The chief cause of
neuritis
is chronic acidosis or excessive acid condition of the blood and other
body fluids. All the body fluids should be alkaline in their reaction
but
when the acid waste mater is continuously formed in the tissues over a
long period due to a faulty diet, it results in acidosis. Wrong habits
of living and over work lower the tone of nervous system and contribute
towards neuritis. This disease can also result from a variety of
nutritional
deficiencies and metabolic disturbances such as faulty calcium
metabolism,
deficiencies of several B vitamins like B12, B6, B1, pantothenic acid
and
B2 and general toxemia.
Other causes of
neuritis
include a blow, a penetrating injury a bad bruise or heavy pressure
over
a nerve trunk and dislocation and fractures of the bones. Any violent
muscular
activity or over-extension of the joint as in sprains may injure the
nerves
and cause neuritis. The condition may also result from certain
infections
such as tuberculosis, diphtheria, tetanus, leprosy and diabetes
mellitus,
poisoning with insecticides, mercury, lead, arsenic and alcohol.
Treatment
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