Autoimmune Disease: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Essay
Autoimmune Disease: Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Essay
MS occurs when the immune system attacks the nerve cells acting as a protective covering to the brain nerve cells, spinal cord, and optic nerves, disrupting the brain-body communication. MS is caused by the autoimmune system; however, some factors increase a person’s risk of developing the disorder. The risk factors are age, genetics, low levels of vitamin D, sex (3 times higher for women), family history of the disease, race (whites of Northern European descent), temperate climate, and certain infections such as Epstein-Barr (Dobson & Giovannoni, 2018). The presenting symptoms include numbness and tingling, vision problems, fatigue, pain, muscle spasm, mobility problems, and speech and swallowing difficulties. In most cases, the symptom presentations differ from one person to another and each individual may only experience a few of the symptoms.
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Diagnosis is challenging because MS mimics other conditions and thus, involves eliminating other possible causes to determine the diagnosis (Dobson & Giovannoni, 2018). Moreover, diagnosis of MS is only considered after one has had more than one attack of MS symptoms. Other tests conducted to confirm the diagnosis include an MRI scan, neurological examination, lumber puncture, evoked potential test, and blood tests (McGinley et al., 2021). Treatment involves individual consideration of symptoms, for example, neuropathic pain is treated using duloxetine while muscle spasms are treated with physiotherapy. Exercise and health exercise helps with generally better health outcomes for people with MS.
MS can cause complications including paralysis, bladder problems, cognitive issues such as forgetfulness, vision loss, seizures, and depression or anxiety. With no cure, the complications of MS may be severe, making the prognosis of the condition 5 to years. The musculoskeletal sequelae associated with multiple sclerosis is muscle spasm that leads to the inability to walk or difficulties in movement. Similarly, MS also leads to paroxysmal neuropathic pruritus, causing skin itching (Ingrasci et al., 2023).
References
Dobson, R., & Giovannoni, G. (2018). Multiple sclerosis – a review. European Journal of Neurology, https://doi.org/10.1111/ene.13819.
Ingrasci, G., Tornes, L., Brown, A., Delgado, S., Hernandez, J., Yap, Q., & Yosipovitch, G. (2023). Chronic pruritus in multiple sclerosis and clinical correlates. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol, 37(1):154-159. https://doi.10.1111/jdv.18561.
McGinley, M., Goldschmidt, C., & Rae-Grant, A. (2021). Diagnosis and Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: A Review. JAMA, 325(8):765–779. https://doi.10.1001/jama.2020.26858.
please answer DQ question below minimum 250 words thank you
Respond to one of the questions below and support your answer with a minimum of two APRN peer-reviewed resources.
Choose one musculoskeletal chief complaint, such as “shoulder pain” or “hip pain” (but not “low back pain,” which will be covered in DQ 2 of this topic). Discuss four differential diagnoses and the pathophysiology behind each. Include subjective and objective data particular to the chief complaint and how risk factors impact your list of differentials.
Choose one autoimmune disorder and describe risk factors, presentation, diagnosis, treatment, complications, and prognosis. Include systemic manifestations, including dermatologic and musculoskeletal sequelae. Please avoid choosing a topic chosen by a classmate.