Polyneuritis is a disease in the form of multiple disorders of nerve endings. It can manifest itself as paresis, decreased sensitivity, or various trophic disorders. Polyneuritis leads to autonomic, motor and sensory disorders of the nerves. The disease can be acute or chronic.
Types of polyneuritis
There are several types of polyneuritis:
Alcoholic. This species is characterized by sensory and motor disturbances. The defining symptom is mental disorders. Pronounced memory lapses are replaced by fictions or distortions of past events. Polyneuritis begins. Legs and hands turn blue, lose mobility and sensitivity
- Polyneuritis of the kidneys. Development occurs with pyelonephritis and severe glomerulonephritis. This disrupts glomerular filtration. First, swelling appears, then the arms and legs weaken.
- Spicy. Development occurs during or after viral illnesses. After eliminating the cause, it begins to breaklimbs, temperature changes and burning pains occur. Symptoms escalate from hours to days.
- Diabetic. Patients with diabetes mellitus are subject to it. Often, disorders in the limbs begin earlier than the main symptoms of the disease. They can persist for a long time if treatment is successful. It is difficult for the patient to walk, accurately manipulate the 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 because of alcohol or s alts of heavy metals. May be acute or subacute. Acute poisoning is accompanied by vomiting, diarrhea and pain. Then there are obvious signs of polyneuritis, the general condition worsens.
- Vegetative. Appears with intoxication, poor working conditions or thyrotoxicosis. The disease is characterized by burning pains all over the body. The trophism of tissues worsens, body temperature changes, excessive or insufficient sweating appears.
- Infectious. It starts because of the causative agent of the infection. There is a fever, a nervous lesion of the limbs. Moreover, it develops along an ascending path.
- Alimentary. It starts 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
When polyneuritis mainly occurspathological lesion of distant nerve endings in the extremities. This reduces sensitivity and strength in the feet and hands. If the nerve damage began higher, this 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 cold, 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 can be of several types:
- Infectious. The reason is catarrh of the upper respiratory tract. At the same time, the temperature rises, the cells become inflamed.
- Diphtheria. The reason is incorrect or untimely treatment. At the same time, the sky paralyzes, voice nasality appears. Eating is difficult.
- Lead. Appears due to sour berry jam, not stored in earthenware. This affects the radial nerves, abdominal pain and lead plaque on the gums.
- Arsenic. It can be domestic or professional. Signs are stomach pain, vomiting and paralysis of the limbs.
- Diabetic type. Affects the nerve endings of the limbs or face.
- Professional. Appears in those who work with vibrating tools, or who overstrain their muscles due to work. This causes pain in the hands, sweating, and the tips of the fingers turn pale.
Causes of disease
Polineuritis 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. Can be inherited, there is an autoimmune variety.
Causes of polyneuritis:
- poisoning the body with dangerous poisons that cannot or are difficult to be excreted by the kidneys;
- incorrect treatment of polyneuritis with isoniazid, bismuth, or other antibiotics that the kidneys react to;
- bacterial, viral and oncological diseases;
- problems in the functioning of the endocrine gland - endogenous intoxications that develop with thyroid pathologies, nephritis and diabetes mellitus;
- metabolic disorder;
- diseases of the pancreas, liver or kidneys;
- avitaminosis (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 can no longer cope with the poison entering the body.
Symptomatics
Often, people develop a disease such as polyneuritis. Symptoms:
- Goosebumps, numbness and burning of the limbs.
- When looking atthe affected areas of the skin are pale, with a marbled pattern. Much colder to the touch than the rest of the body. Damp due to excess sweating.
- Muscular 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 reason may be a metabolic disorder.
- The dorsal muscles weaken on the feet (when flexed). As a result, the leg "hangs", when walking the patient has to raise the limbs high.
- Violation of sensitivity. Patients do not feel temperature changes, sharp injections and touches. At the same time, severe pain and burning appear.
- Incoordination, unsteady gait and hand trembling.
- Thinning of the skin on the limbs. Puffiness and the acquisition of a dark purple hue. Changing the structure of nails.
- Severe pneumonia with pronounced tachycardia and shortness of breath.
Diagnosis
The doctor conducts a survey and a general examination of the patient. Prescribes tests that help determine toxic substances in the body. The endocrine system and internal organs are examined. Testing for the presence of cancer. Electromyography is being done.
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 sensory impairment or nerve damage.
Ifpolyneuritis is in the initial stage, then drug therapy is used. Medicines prescribed:
- anti-inflammatory;
- painkillers;
- vitamin (thiamine hydrochloride);
- to speed up metabolism;
- to stimulate foot and hand movements.
If the disease is in an exacerbated form, UHF therapy and electrophoresis are prescribed. Often, with polyneuritis, it is necessary to treat diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. The symptoms that appear in this case will allow you to establish an accurate diagnosis and prescribe a special diet. Emphasis should be placed on foods containing vitamin B.
Doctors prescribe physical therapy, mud baths and massage. With an exacerbation of the disease, rest and bed rest are necessary. To replenish vitamin B in the body, thiamine hydrochloride can be prescribed (in ampoules for intramuscular injections, capsules or tablets).
Folk treatments
Folk methods can also treat a disease such as polyneuritis. Symptoms may suggest the cause of the disease. A doctor's consultation is necessary, since acute symptoms must be eliminated initially. And folk methods are secondary treatment.
Recommended decoctions of herbs that improve metabolism. As well as special baths or applying compresses to the affected areas. For them, birch branches, wormwood, pine shoots or eucalyptus are taken. Infused in a proportion of 100 g / liter of boiling water. Then the resulting infusion is poured into water or applied to the sore spot as a compress.
