Cases of Horner's syndrome are not too common in modern medical practice. The disease is associated with damage to the nerve fibers of the sympathetic system. It is worth considering that quite often such a pathology occurs against the background of other, extremely dangerous diseases. That is why, when the first symptoms appear, it is worth seeking help.
Horner Syndrome: Causes
In some cases, this disease is congenital. Sometimes nerve fibers are damaged during medical intervention or due to trauma. And it is worth noting that most often the disease has a benign course. On the other hand, the development of Horner's syndrome may indicate the presence of severe pathologies.
Sometimes, for one reason or another, there is a compression of the sympathetic chain in the thoracic or cervical region, which naturally affects the functioning of the nerves. In some cases, the syndrome occurs against the background of cluster headaches or inflammation of the middle ear.
Compression and damage to nerve fibers can be caused by tumor growth, particularly carcinoma of the apex of the lung or thyroid. Sometimes the disease appears against the background of multiple sclerosis, aneurysm or aortic dissection.
That is why, at the first signs of Horner's syndrome, it is necessary to conduct a complete examination of the body. Treatment of the disease itself is possible only if its primary cause is eliminated.
Horner's syndrome: symptoms
As a rule, the main signs of the disease appear on the face, so it is not so difficult to notice them. Due to damage to nerve fibers, innervation is disrupted, and, consequently, the work of certain tissues.
Interestingly, the damage is mostly on one side, making the disease even more noticeable. In particular, one of the most common symptoms is ptosis caused by a violation of the innervation of the tarsal muscle - one upper eyelid of the patient is constantly lowered. By the way, sometimes the opposite happens - the lower eyelid rises.
In addition, patients with this diagnosis often have miosis, as a result of which one pupil is constantly narrowed. In some cases, the pupil stops responding to light altogether. The symptoms can also include the retraction of the eyeball. If the disease appeared in childhood, then the child has heterochromia, in which the irises of the eyes have a different color.
Sometimes the skin of one half of the face swells and turns red. In some cases, normal excretion processes are disruptedsweat.
Diagnosis and treatment of Horner's syndrome
A number of tests are used to diagnose the disease. For example, drops of cocaine hypochloride are used, which, in the normal state of the body, cause a sharp expansion of the pupil - if the sympathetic system is disturbed, no reaction is observed. As for the treatment, it comes down to a complete examination of the body and the elimination of the causes of the syndrome. In some cases, such a disease goes away on its own. Sometimes the method of myoneurostimulation is used, which consists in exposing the affected nerve or immobilized muscle to certain discharges of electric current.
