Posted in Category : Common Ailments | April 9, 2010

Neuritis Symptoms and Treatment

Symptoms of Neuritis

The term neuritis is applied, in short, to inflammation of nerves. Now our bodies have many nerves and inflammation could be a common problem. Neuritis is thus varied and could take different forms. For instance, you have optic neuritis, where the inflammation takes place, as the name suggests, in the optic nerve. One of the common associated signs is reduced vision which strikes one quite unexpectedly, in one’s affected eye. Now this nerve is the important connection between one’s eye and one’s brain. Symptoms include color vision loss or possibly acute loss of vision. You might find that simply moving the eye brings on pain. Your doctor will notice that the manner in which the person’s pupils respond to the usual stimulus of bright light also changes. The cause behind such neuritis in the eye is still not understood. The sudden inflammation attack in this case results in the ruin of the outer shell (that is, the myelin sheath) as well as distension. The inflammation may occasionally be the result of some kind of viral infection. There is also the possibility that autoimmune diseases could be behind this optic problem, like the problem of multiple sclerosis. Both adults and children can face optic neuritis although the general category of ages would be 18 to 45 years. This could affect any nerve or possibly both such that both eyes are affected. Another fact about the presence of optic neuritis is that women are more likely to be affected by the condition. Risk factors in each case of neuritis would ultimately be linked to the various possible causes.

Treatment For Neuritis

Do check with you doctor if you face any kind of neuritis. Remember that multiple sclerosis has some early warning signs which include optic neuritis. Neuritis is not a condition you can self-diagnose and quickly treat at home. Treatment usually follows identifying the problems related to neuritis and those possibly causing it. The treatment would depend on the variety of neuritis. For instance, no treatment may be necessary in optic neuritis as visual acuity usually comes back in a span of 2 to 3 weeks itself. Most people resort to measures like carrot juice and getting more vitamins in supplemental form or in one’s diet. Usually, with neuritis, vegetables and fruits become important. However, if the problem behind it is multiple sclerosis then it is that problem which will have to be subsequently addressed. A complication associated with optic neuritis is vision loss and therefore it should not be taken lightly.

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