Polyneuritis is a disease in the form of multiple disorders of nerve endings. It can manifest as paresis, decreased sensitivity, or various trophic disorders. Polyneuritis leads to autonomic, motor and sensory disorders of the nerves. The disease can occur in acute or chronic form.
Types of Polyneuritis
There are several types of polyneuritis:
- Alcoholic. This species is characterized by sensitive and motor disturbances. The determining symptom is mental disorders. Pronounced include memory gaps, which are replaced by fiction or distortion of events. Polyneuritis begins. Legs and hands turn blue, lose mobility and sensitivity.
- Renal polyneuritis. Development occurs with severe pyelonephritis and glomerulonephritis. In this case, glomerular filtration is impaired. Edema appears first, then arms and legs weaken.
- Acute. Development occurs during or after viral ailments. After eliminating the cause, the limbs begin to break, the temperature changes and burning pains arise. Symptoms increase from a few hours to a few days.
- Diabetic. Patients with diabetes are exposed to it. Often disorders in the limbs begin earlier than the main symptoms of the disease. They can persist for long if the treatment is successful. It is difficult for the patient to walk, precisely manipulate his fingers, accompanied by paresis and muscle atrophy.
- Chronic. It develops gradually if the provoking factor acts constantly. Atrophy and weakness in the muscles of the limbs begins. Speech disorder and inflammation of the brain appear.
- Toxic polyneuritis. It starts due to alcohol or heavy metal salts. May have an acute and subacute form. A sharp poisoning is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and pain. Then there are clear signs of polyneuritis, the general condition worsens.
- Vegetative. Appears with intoxication, poor working conditions or thyrotoxicosis. The disease is characterized by burning pains throughout the body. Trophy of tissues worsens, body temperature changes, excessive or insufficient sweating appears.
- Infectious. It starts due to the causative agent of the infection. There is a fever, a nervous lesion of the limbs. Moreover, it is developing along an ascending path.
- Alimentary. It begins due to a lack of vitamins, especially B. Or its improper absorption. In addition to pathological signs, there is a violation of cardiac activity.
Features of the disease
With polyneuritis, mainly pathological damage to distant nerve endings in the extremities occurs. At the same time, sensitivity and a decrease in strength in the feet and hands are reduced. If nerve damage begins higher, it is already a neglected form. Treatment depends on the original cause.
Polyneuritis of the extremities affects the nerves, so the disease is associated with the feet and hands. At the beginning of the disease, they become colder, and later a violation of sensitivity begins. Since changes characterized by dystrophic changes occur in the nerves, inflammation is not typical.
Types of Polyneuritis
Polyneuritis is of several types:
- Infectious. The reason is catarrh of the upper respiratory tract. In this case, the temperature rises, the cells become inflamed.
- Diphtheria. The reason is improper or untimely treatment. In this case, the sky is paralyzed, vocal nasal appears. Eating is difficult.
- Lead. Appears due to sour berries jam, not stored in earthenware dishes. At the same time, the radial nerves are affected, abdominal pain and lead plaque on the gums appear.
- Arsenic. It can be domestic or professional. Symptoms include stomach pain, vomiting, and paralysis of the limbs.
- Diabetic type. It affects the nerve endings of the limbs or face.
- Professional. Appears in those who work with vibrating tools, or who, due to labor activity, exert muscles. In this case, pains in the hands, sweating, and fingertips turn pale.
Causes of the disease
Polyneuritis is divided into two groups - axonopathy and demyelinating neuropathy. In the first case, the nerve axes suffer. Most often, this form occurs due to toxic poisoning. In the second case, the myelin sheath of the nerves suffers. It can be inherited, there is an autoimmune species.
Causes of polyneuritis:
- poisoning of the body with dangerous poisons that can not or with difficulty are excreted by the kidneys;
- improper treatment of polyneuritis with isoniazid, bismuth or other antibiotics to which the kidneys respond;
- bacterial, viral and oncological diseases;
- problems in the work of the endocrine gland - endogenous intoxications that develop with thyroid pathologies, nephritis, and diabetes mellitus;
- metabolic disease;
- pancreatic, liver, or kidney disease;
- vitamin deficiency (vitamin B deficiency);
- encephalopathy;
- work in the cold and with vibrating tools;
- genetic disorders.
A separate variety is alcoholic polyneuritis. Symptoms are found in patients who abuse alcohol. This form of polyneuritis affects the nerves in the kidneys, and they no longer cope with the poison entering the body.
Symptomatology
Often people have a disease such as polyneuritis. Symptoms
- Goosebumps, a feeling of numbness and burning of limbs.
- When viewed on affected areas, the skin is pale, with a marble pattern. The touch is much colder than the rest of the body. Due to the excess sweating wet.
- Muscle weakness, manifested by discomfort during the simplest household operations - fastening buttons, holding small objects in hands, etc.
- Often, gastrointestinal diseases begin, symptoms - vomiting, diarrhea, etc. The cause may be a metabolic disorder.
- On the feet, the back muscles weaken (with flexion). As a result, the leg “hangs”, when walking the patient has to raise his limbs high.
- Violation of sensitivity. Patients do not feel temperature changes, sharp injections and touch. At the same time, severe pain and burning are manifested.
- Lack of coordination, insecure gait and trembling hands.
- Thinning of the skin on the extremities. Puffiness and the acquisition of a dark crimson hue. Change the structure of nails.
- Severe pneumonia with pronounced tachycardia and shortness of breath.
Diagnostics
The doctor conducts a survey and a general examination of the patient. Assigns tests that help determine the toxic substances in the body. The endocrine system and internal organs are examined. Oncology tests are being tested. Electromyography is performed.
Treatment
How to treat polyneuritis? Symptoms may indicate a specific cause of the disease. After its establishment, the necessary treatment is prescribed. It depends not only on the cause, but also on the degree of violation of sensitivity or nerve damage.
If polyneuritis is in the initial stage, then drug therapy is used. Prescribed drugs:
- anti-inflammatory;
- painkillers;
- vitamin (thiamine hydrochloride);
- to speed up the metabolism;
- to stimulate the movements of the feet and hands.
If the disease is in an acute form, UHF therapy and electrophoresis are prescribed. Often with polyneuritis, it is necessary to treat gastrointestinal diseases. Symptoms that manifest themselves in this case will allow you to establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe a special diet. Emphasis should be placed on products containing vitamin B.
Doctors prescribe physical therapy, mud baths and massage. With an exacerbation of the disease, rest and bed rest are necessary. To supplement vitamin B in the body, thiamine hydrochloride may be prescribed (in ampoules for intramuscular injection, capsules or tablets).
Alternative methods of treatment
Alternative methods can treat a disease such as polyneuritis. Symptoms may suggest the cause of the disease. A doctor's consultation is necessary, since initially acute symptoms must be eliminated. And alternative methods are secondary treatment.
Decoctions of herbs that improve metabolism are recommended. As well as special baths or application to the affected areas of compresses. For them, birch branches, wormwood, pine shoots or eucalyptus are taken. Insist in a proportion of 100 g / liter of boiling water. Then the resulting infusion is poured into water or applied to a sore spot as a compress.