Neuritis (neuropathy) is an inflammatory disease of the peripheral nerves, in which, along with pain, symptoms of the so-called prolapse are detected, that is, loss or decrease in sensitivity, as well as paralysis and paresis.
Types of neuritis
There are several types of neuritis, differing in causes (alcoholic neuritis, diabetic neuritis), also in the number and type of affected nerves (local neuritis, polyneuritis, plexitis, sciatica)
Causes of neuritis
Localized neuritis, in which only one nerve is affected, may result from trauma, local infection, arthritis, or a tumor. The causes of multiple neuritis (polyneuritis) are all sorts of external or internal factors. External include alcoholism, poisoning with lead, arsenic, carbon monoxide (carbon monoxide), ether, sulfur, phosphorus, mercury, antimony, bismuth and other substances. To internal – pregnancy, diabetes, rheumatism, gout, porphyria, beriberi, infectious diseases (primarily diphtheria, streptococcal infections and typhoid fever), as well as hereditary degenerative diseases.
The main symptoms of neuritis
The disease manifests itself with severe pain along the course of the corresponding nerve, weakness and atrophy (a decrease in volume) of the muscles that are innervated by the inflamed nerve, changes in skin sensitivity to cold, heat, pain, touch are often observed, and movement disorders may be noted.
Treatment of neuritis
Therapy of the underlying disease, antibiotics, painkillers and sedatives, B vitamins, physiotherapy.
Prevention of neuritis
It is reduced to the prevention of injuries, hypothermia; timely treatment of diseases such as sinusitis, otitis media, pyelonephritis, osteomyelitis, etc.