THE transverse myelitis it is an inflammation of the spinal cord that triggers the impairment of motricity and also the sensory and autonomous functions of the individual affected by the problem. Patients with transverse myelitis may present weakness or partial paralysis in the lower limbs, in addition to evacuation and voiding disorders.
The disease can result from viral infections or bacterial or even associated with other health problems, such as vascular alterations and autoimmune diseases. It can also be idiopathic, that is, without a defined cause.
Recently, the disease was identified as the possible cause of the interruption of tests with a vaccine against COVID-19, being considered as a possible reaction to the immunizing agent. It can affect people of any age group and is considered a rare disease, being 1 to 4 new cases per million people are observed each year.
Read too: COVID-19 - what is it, symptoms, transmission, diagnosis, treatment
Spinal cord
Before we can better understand what transverse myelitis is, we must know what the spinal cord is. THE spinal cord is a cord formed by nervous tissuewhich is located inside our spine.
It is an extremely important structure for our body, being related, among other functions, to the transmission of information from the body towards the brain and also ensuring transportation in the opposite direction. The movement of our body is also directly related to the spinal cord, and injuries in this area are responsible, for example, for the loss of movement in the lower limbs. To learn more about this fundamental part of our body, read: Spinal cord.
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What is transverse myelitis?
Transverse myelitis is a term used to refer to an inflammation that affects the spinal cord. Your causes can be varied, being possible to highlight neoplasms, autoimmune diseases and vascular alterations. Transverse myelitis is also often associated with infections viral or bacterial and to vaccination. It is worth noting, however, that The cause-and-effect relationship between the disease and vaccination is not yet well established.
Among the infectious diseases related to transverse myelitis, we can mention the rubella, O measles it's the virus HIV. Transverse myelitis can still be considered as the first manifestation of demyelinating diseases, as is the case of multiple sclerosis. transverse myelitis it can also be idiopathic, that is, to have an unknown cause.
The evolution of the disease as well as the individual's recovery vary greatly from one person to another, being possible observe patients who have complete resolution of the condition quickly and others who have sequelae permanent. It is estimated that in 50% of cases, recovery is complete. It is also worth noting that spontaneous recovery from the disease can occur within weeks to months.
Read too: 5 myths about vaccines
What are the symptoms of transverse myelitis?
This inflammatory disease stands out for causing symptoms of motor, sensory and/or autonomic neurological dysfunction. In some patients, the disease develops rapidly within minutes or hours, in others, however, the progression may be slower, occurring within days or weeks. Among the most common symptoms of transverse myelitis, we can mention:
Pains in the back region.
Muscle aches.
Tingling in the feet.
Paraparesis (weakness or partial paralysis) of the lower limbs.
Sensory disorders.
Evacuatory and/or voiding disorders, such as urinary and bowel incontinence.
Diagnosis and treatment of transverse myelitis
To transverse myelitis diagnosis, the physician should evaluate the patient's signs and symptoms as well as the family history and rule out other changes that may cause the same clinical manifestations. The use of magnetic resonance imaging is important to rule out causes such as spinal cord compression or edema.
There is no consensus when it comes to the transverse myelitis treatment, however, some studies indicate the use of intravenous methylprednisolone in severe forms, in order to reduce the duration of the disease and also the deficits that may occur. Pain medications can also be used to relieve symptoms. Other non-pharmacological methods are recommended in the treatment of the disease, one of them being physical therapy.
By Vanessa Sardinha dos Santos
Biology teacher
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
SANTOS, Vanessa Sardinha dos. "Transverse myelitis"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/doencas/mielite-transversa.htm. Accessed on June 28, 2021.
