Myelitis
| Definition: |
Inflammation of the spinal cord. Relatively common etiologies include infections; AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES; SPINAL CORD; and ischemia (see also SPINAL CORD VASCULAR DISEASES). Clinical features generally include weakness, sensory loss, localized pain, incontinence, and other signs of autonomic dysfunction. |
| Notes: |
do not confuse with inflamm of the bone marrow ( = OSTEOMYELITIS); SMON (subacute-myelo-optico-neuropathy) is indexed here + OPTIC NEURITIS + SYNDROME; coord IM with specific cause (IM) if pertinent |
| Also Called: |
Infectious Myelitis,Subacute Necrotising Myelitis |
Myelitis Categories.
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Paraparesis, Tropical Spastic - A subacute paralytic myeloneuropathy occurring endemically in tropical areas such as the Caribbean, Colombia, India, and Africa, as well as in the southwestern region of Japan; associated with infection by human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HUMAN T-LYMPHOTROPIC VIRUS 1). Clinical manifestations include a slowly progressive spastic weakness of the legs, increased reflexes, Babinski signs, incontinence, and loss of vibratory and position sensation. On pathologic examination inflammatory, demyelination, and necrotic lesions may be found in the spinal cord. (Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, p1239) |
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Poliomyelitis - An acute infectious disease of humans, particularly children, caused by any of three serotypes of human poliovirus (POLIOVIRUS). Usually the infection is limited to the gastrointestinal tract and nasopharynx, and is often asymptomatic. The central nervous system, primarily the spinal cord, may be affected, leading to rapidly progressive paralysis, coarse FASCICULATION and hyporeflexia. Motor neurons are primarily affected. Encephalitis may also occur. The virus replicates in the nervous system, and may cause significant neuronal loss, most notably in the spinal cord. A rare related condition, nonpoliovirus poliomyelitis, may result from infections with nonpoliovirus enteroviruses. (From Adams et al., Principles of Neurology, 6th ed, pp764-5) |
Myelitis Definitions and Terms
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