Medline Pubmed

Guillain-Barre syndrome Guillain-Barré syndrome is a rare disorder of the nervous system that may affect between 40 and 80 each year. Symptoms include muscle weakness or paralysis of limbs, the face and respiratory system.  It can be a fatal condition but most people with the syndrome will make a complete recovery.   Guillain-Barré (pronounced ghee-yan bah-ray) can affect anyone but men are more commonly affected than women.  Its incidence increases with age and it is most common in those aged 50 – 74 years.   Causes Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disorder, where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues.  In Guillain-Barré syndrome, immune cells attack the myelin sheath - the fatty substance covering nerve fibres.  The myelin sheath insulates and protects the nerve fibres and assists with the transmission of electrical impulses throughout the nervous system.  If the myelin sheath is damaged, messages from t...

Kleine Levin syndrome Kleine-Levin syndrome is a rare neurological disorder characterised by recurrent episodes of excessive sleep and altered behaviour. People affected by this syndrome may sleep for up to 20 hours per day (hypersomnia), waking only to eat or go to the bathroom.  The start of each episode is characterised by progressive drowsiness and episodes may last for days, weeks, or even months.  During episodes, other symptoms experienced may include:   Compulsive overeating Irritability Disorientation Lack of energy Lack of emotion Hypersensitivity to noise and light Impulsive behaviour Hallucinations Abnormally uninhibited sex drive. Episodes are debilitating and during an episode normal daily activities, such as work or school, stop.  On recovery, total or partial loss of memory (amnesia) of what has happened is usual. There may be a short period of depression, or sometimes euphoria and sleeplessness.    Episodes may no...

Motor neurone disease - symptoms, diagnosis, treatment Motor neurone disease is a neurological condition that causes the progressive degeneration of specialised nerve cells, called motor neurons, in the brain and spinal cord. It has no known cause and is invariably fatal, with a likely life expectancy of 2 - 4 years from diagnosis.  Motor neurone disease symptoms can include generalised muscle spasms, exaggerated reflexes and a progressive wasting and weakness of muscles responsible for speech, chewing and swallowing. As the condition progresses, sufferers may be unable to walk, speak, use their arms and hands, or hold up their head. General information Motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord convey electrical messages from the brain to the muscles to stimulate movement in the arms, legs, trunk, neck and head. As motor neurons degenerate, the muscles do not work properly and gradually weaken and waste away. This muscle weakness and wasting affects speech, swallowing, mo...

Multiple sclerosis - symptoms, diagnosis, treatment Multiple sclerosis (often referred to as 'MS') is a progressive disease of the central nervous system that affects movement, sensation and body functions.  Symptoms vary considerably in nature and severity, making the condition difficult to diagnose in some cases.  There is no cure but treatment can be effective in managing symptoms. Causes and risk factors Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease, where the body’s immune system attacks its own tissues. In multiple sclerosis the autoimmune response destroys the myelin sheath that insulates nerve fibres in the brain and spinal cord. The reason that this autoimmune response occurs is unknown. As well as protecting the nerves, the myelin sheath assists the conduction of electronic signals or messages from the brain along the nerves. With multiple sclerosis, the myelin sheath becomes scarred (sclerosis) causing the messages from the brain to become slowed or...

Post-polio syndrome   Post-polio syndrome (PPS) is a chronic (long-term) condition of the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord). As its name suggests, it occurs following infection with the contagious polio virus (poliomyelitis) which affects the central nervous system and can cause paralysis.   Epidemics of polio occurred during the 1940s and 1950s.  Since the widespread introduction of polio vaccines, the condition has largely been eradicated in the Western World. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has targeted the eradication of polio and by 2006 there were only four countries in which it was still prevalent.   In the 1970s many survivors of the polio epidemics noticed new problems such as muscle weakness, increasing fatigue, decreased endurance for activity and painful muscles. The terms “post-polio syndrome”, “post-polio sequelae” or “late effects of polio” were coined to describe the phenomenon.   PPS is usually diagnosed ...

Neurofibromatosis Neurofibromatosis is a genetic condition that affects the skin, soft tissue, bone and nervous system. It is characterised by the development of soft tumours called neurofibromas that develop on nerves, or grow on or under the skin.  As they grow, the tumours can press on important areas in the body, affecting the way the body functions with varying degrees of severity. Neurofibromas are usually non-cancerous but in a small percentage of cases may become cancerous.   Types of neurofibromatosis As neurofibromatosis is a genetic condition, it can be passed from a parent to their child.  However, about half of all cases are due to new mutations of the genes that are not inherited from the parents. There are two distinct types of neurofibromatosis: NF 1 (Neurofibromatosis 1) This type is most common, representing about 90% of all neurofibromatosis cases. It is caused by a defect on chromosome 17. NF 1 may also be called von Recklinghausen disea...

Slapped cheek disease (fifth disease) Slapped cheek disease, also known as fifth disease, is a common and usually mild childhood viral infection. It is caused by the human parvovirus B19 and is called "slapped cheek disease" due to its characteristic symptom - a hot, red facial rash. Treatment will involve rest and relieving discomfort.    General information The disease mainly occurs in children and is usually accompanied with mild, cold-like symptoms. However, complications can occur in those with weakened immune systems and blood disorders.  If a woman contracts slapped cheek disease during the first half of her pregnancy, there is a small risk that the unborn child can develop a serious form of anaemia, or that the baby may miscarry. This occurs in less than 10% of pregnant women infected with the condition.  After infection with slapped cheek disease, lasting immunity to the condition is developed, protecting against future infec...