Myelitis

Overview
Myelitis is a disease involving swelling of the spinal cord, which disrupts central nervous system functions linking the brain and limbs.

Symptoms and signs
Symptoms vary by region of the CNS affected.


 * fever
 * headaches
 * tingling
 * Bladder dysfunction (loss of bladder control)
 * pain
 * Meningeal signs may develop
 * (central or peripheral paresis
 * Numbness; Altered sensation, Sensorimotor paralysis below the level of the inflammation (Absent tendon reflexes below the level of the inflammation), loss of feeling
 * Leg weakness
 * Arm weakness
 * Paresthesia
 * Back pain
 * Leg pain
 * Arm pain
 * Bowel dysfunction
 * Muscle spasms
 * Malaise
 * Anorexia
 * Leg paresthesia
 * Urinary retention
 * Sexual dysfunction
 * Fecal incontinence
 * Abdominal muscle paralysis

Diagnosis

 * Spinal MRI
 * Myelography

Infections

 * Certain viruses - causing viral myelitis:
 * Herpesvirus
 * Polio virus
 * HIV


 * Syphilis

Myelitis as a complication
Other conditions that might have Myelitis as a complication might be potential underlying conditions. The list of conditions listing Myelitis as a complication includes:


 * Gnathostoma Infection
 * Poxviridae disease

Myelitis as a symptom

 * Bing-Neel syndrome

Prognosis
Untreated myelitis may rapidly lead to a permanently damaged spinal cord.