Polyneuropathy is a disease in which peripheral nerves are damaged. Depending on what became the cause of polyneuropathy, there are various localizations of this process, as a rule, having a symmetrical character.
Classification of polyneuropathy
Depending on what caused the defeat of the nerves, polyneuropathy is divided into:
- inflammatory;
- toxic;
- traumatic;
- allergic and others.
The remaining types of polyneuropathy are of a mixed nature and are rare.
According to the nature of the course, polyneuropathy is divided into 3 groups:
- acute;
- subacute;
- chronic.
Pathomorphology:
- demyelinating;
- axonal.
Symptoms of peripheral polyneuropathy
Symptoms of polyneuropathy of the lower extremities are similar to polyneuropathy of other parts of the body. Since the groups of nerves have the same structure and functions, the disease flows approximately the same way with the difference in the area of ​​sensations.
Demyelinating polyneuropathy - symptoms
With Guillain-Barre syndrome - an inflammatory polyneuropathy caused by a previous infection (some scientists tend to believe that its cause is an allergy , not an infection), the patient feels weak and feverish. In the limbs, he can experience pain, which has a girdling character. A characteristic feature of the disease is muscle weakness. After a while there are obvious symptoms of sensory polyneuropathy - paresthesia. Decreased sensitivity in the limbs, and in more severe cases in the tongue and around the mouth. With this polyneuropathy, there is rarely a strong sensitivity disorder, but motor disruptions occur: first in the legs and then in the hands. If you palpate the nerve trunks, then the sensations are painful. The development of this disease can last about 4 weeks.
In diphtheritic polyneuropathy, lesions of the cranial nerves occur in two weeks, and thus the paresis of the palate and tongue takes place, the person is hampered in swallowing food and saliva. Disturbance of breathing is also likely, if a diaphragm nerve was affected in the process. It is also possible to defeat oculomotor nerves. Often polyneuropathy of this type causes paresis of the limbs not immediately, but for 4 weeks. They can be accompanied by a slight disturbance of sensitivity.
Subacute demyelinating polyneuropathies are accompanied by a wave-like current and are characterized by periodic relapses. The symptoms do not differ from the previous form, but it remains unknown what is the trigger mechanism for relapses.
Chronic demyelinating polyneuropathies can be hereditary, medicinal or inflammatory, they have a prolonged progression.
Diabetic polyneuropathy develops against the background of diabetes and often has a progressive nature. In the early years, there may be a decrease in achilles reflexes, this is the first variant of the course of the disease. In the second variant, the symptoms can appear in both acute and subacute form - the sciatic, ulnar or median nerve is affected. It is characteristic that in the heat of pain can intensify. There may be a gangrenized tissue,
Symptoms of axonal polyneuropathy
In acute axonal polyneuropathy there are symptoms of toxic polyneuropathy, as they are often caused by severe poisoning due to suicidal or criminal reasons. Often, symptoms occur against a background of severe intoxication caused by arsenic, carbon monoxide, methyl alcohol or phosphorous compounds. Symptoms of this form of polyneuropathy are manifested by the paresis of the upper and lower extremities, after several weeks, the healing comes.
When subacute axonal polyneuropathy symptoms occur within a few months.
Chronic axonal polyneuropathy develops long - from half a year, and often it arises because of alcohol dependence. It begins with soreness in the calf muscles, and then there is weakness and paralysis of all limbs.