Term
|
Definition
|
Cause
|
Effect
|
|
Bell's Palsy
|
A form of Neuritis that involves paralysis of the facial
nerve causing weakness of the muscles of one side of
the face and an inability to close the eye.
|
Unknown.
(Recovery may occur spontaneously.)
|
Paralysis of the facial nerve;
weakness of the muscles of one side of the
face;
may result in inability to close the eye.
(In some cases the patient's hearing may also be affected
in such a way that sounds seem to him/her to be abnormally
loud. Loss of taste sensation may also occur.)
|
|
Cerebal Palsy
|
A nonprogressive disorder of movement resulting from
damage to the brain before, during, or immediately after
birth.
|
Cerebal Palsy is attributed to damage to the brain,
generally occuring before, during, or immediately
after birth.
It is often associated with other neurological and mental
problems.There are many causes including birth injury,
hypoxia, hypoglycaemia, jaundice and infection.
|
The most common disability is a spastic paralysis.
Sensation is often affected, leading to
a lack of balance, and intelligence, posture
and speech are frequently impaired. Contractures
of the limbs may cause fixed abnormalities.
Other associated features include epilepsy, visual impairment,
squint, reduced hearing, and behavioural problems.
|
|
Motor Neurone Disease
|
A progressive degenerative disease of the motor system
occurring in middle age and causing muscle weakness
and wasting.
|
Some forms of Motor Neurone Disease are inherited.
|
Motor Neurone disease primarily affects the cells of
the anterior horn of the spinal cord, the motor nuclei
in the brainstem, and the corticospinal fibres.
|
|
Multiple Sclerosis
|
A chronic disease of the nervous system that can affect
young and middle-aged adults.
The course of this illness usually involves recurrent
relapses followed by remissions, but some patients experience
a chronic progressive course.
|
The myelin sheaths surrounding nerves in the brain
and spinal cord are damaged, which affects
the function of the nerves involved.
The underlying cause of the nerve damage remains unknown.
|
|
Multiple Scerosis affects different parts of
the brain and spinal cord, resulting in typically
scattered symptoms.
|
|
These can include:
|
|
|
Unsteady
gait and shaky movement of the limbs (ataxia);
|
|
|
Rapid
involuntary movements of the eyes (nystagmus);
|
|
|
Defects
in speech pronunciation (dysarthria);
|
|
|
Spastic
weakness and retrobulbar neuritis (= inflammation
of the optic nerve).
|
|
|
Myalgic Encephalomyelitis
(ME)
|
A condition characterized by extreme disabling fatigue
that has lasted for at least six months, is made worse
by physical or mental exertion, does not resolve with
bed rest, and cannot be attributed to other disorders.
|
Unknown.
Often occurs as a sequel to such viral infections as
glandular fever.
|
|
Extreme disabling fatigue that has lasted for
at least six months, is made worse by physical
or mental exertion, does not resolve with bed
rest, and cannot be attributed to other disorders.
|
|
The fatigue is accompanied by at least some of
the following:
|
|
Muscle
pain or weakness;
|
|
Poor
co-ordination;
|
|
Joint
pain;
|
|
Sore
throat;
|
|
Slight
fever;
|
|
Painful
lymph nodes in the neck and armpits;
|
|
Depression;
|
|
Inability
to concentrate;
|
|
General
malaise.
|
|
|
Neuralgia
|
|
Maybe due to previous attack of shingles (Postherpetic
Neuralgia).
|
A severe burning or stabbing pain often following the
course of a nerve.
|
|
Neuritis
|
A disease of the peripheral nerves showing the pathological
changes of inflammation.
(This term may also be less precisely used to refer
to any disease of the peripheral nerves, usually
causing weakness and numbness.)
|
|
Inflammation of the nerves, which may be painful.
|
|
Parkinson's Disease
|
Degenerative disease process (associated with aging)
that affects the basal ganglia of the brain.
|
Associated with a deficiency of the neurotransmitter
dopamine.
Also associated with aging.
|
Tremor, rigidity and poverty of spontaneous movements.
The commonest symptom is tremor, which often
affects one hand, spreading first to the
leg on the same side then to the other limbs.
It is most profound in resting limbs, interfering
with such actions as holding a cup.
The patient has an expressionless face, an unmodulated
voice, an increasing tendency to stoop, and a shuffling
walk.
|
|
Sciatica
|
A common condition arising from compression of, or
damage to, a nerve or nerve root.
|
Usually caused by degeneration of an intervertebral
disc, which protrudes laterally to compress a lower
lumbar or an upper sacral spinal nerve root.The onset
may be sudden, brought on by an awkward lifting or twisting
movement.
|
Pain felt down the back and outer side of the thigh,
leg, and foot. The back is stiff and painful. There
may be numbness and weakness in the leg.
|
