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Transverse militancy

What is transverse militancy?

Transverse myelitis is a neurological complication that occurs due to inflammation in the spinal cord. This inflammation can be caused by infection, immune system disorder, or damage to nerve fibers, which causes the loss of myelin sheaths. This slows down conduction in the nervous system. Because in this disease the inflammation spreads to the entire width of the spinal cord, it is called transverse myelitis.





Partial transverse myelitis or partial myelitis is a term used to describe this disease when part of the width of the spinal cord is inflamed.




Symptoms of transverse myelitis

The pain

Transverse myelitis pain starts suddenly in your lower back and moves to your legs or arms, or around your chest or abdomen.

Abnormal feelings

Some people with transverse myelitis report feelings of numbness, tingling, coldness, or burning. Some are especially sensitive even to the touch of clothes or extreme heat or cold. You may feel like something is rubbing the skin on your chest, stomach, or legs.

Weakness in the arms or legs

Some people notice heaviness in the legs, or that they are staggering or dragging a leg. Others may experience severe weakness or even complete paralysis.

Bladder and bowel problems

This may include the need to urinate frequently, urinary incontinence, difficulty urinating, and constipation.

Causes of transverse militancy

Herpes viruses, including those that cause shingles and chickenpox (zoster)
Cytomegalovirus
Epstein-Barr
HIV
Enteroviruses such as polio and coxsackie virus
West Nile
Echo virus
Zika
flu
Hepatitis B
Mumps, measles and rubella
Other viruses may cause an autoimmune reaction without directly infecting the spinal cord.
Bacterial infections associated with transverse myelitis include:
Lyme disease
Syphilis
Tuberculosis

Methods of diagnosis of transverse militancy

A doctor diagnoses transverse myelitis based on answers to questions about signs and symptoms, medical history, clinical assessment of nerve function, and test results.

Tests that may indicate inflammation of the spinal cord and rule out other disorders include:
An MRI can show inflammation of the spinal cord and other potential causes of symptoms, including abnormalities that affect the spinal cord or blood vessels.
Lumbar puncture: Uses a needle to withdraw a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).
In some people with transverse myelitis, the CSF may have abnormal numbers of white blood cells or immune system proteins that indicate inflammation. The spinal fluid can also be tested for viral infections or certain cancers.
Blood tests may include a test that checks for antibodies associated with neuromyelitis optica; Neuromyelitis optica is a condition in which inflammation occurs in both the spinal cord and the optic nerve. People who have a positive antibody test are at increased risk of multiple attacks of transverse myelitis and need treatment to prevent further attacks.

Other blood tests can identify infections that may be contributing to transverse myelitis or rule out other causes of symptoms.




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