- A slow acting virus or delayed reaction to a virus
- An autoimmune reaction in which the body attacks its own tissues
- A combination of both of the above factors
Research is being undertaken all over the world, including New Zealand, into the cause, diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Who Gets Multiple Sclerosis?
MS is not inherited, however people may inherit susceptibility to the disease. About 10% of people with MS also have a near relative with the disease.Symptoms usually appear for the first time between the ages of 20 and 40. Diagnosis before the age of 15 is rare and the disease seldom appears for the first time after the age of 50. Women are more susceptible than men are. Between 12 and 20 women are affected for every 10 men.
MS is more common in Caucasians. Incidence among the Maori and Pacific Island races is extremely low. Generally the disease becomes more common the further away from the equator one moves. Therefore, the incidence of MS is higher in regions such as the South Island of New Zealand, Scotland and Canada.
Diagnosis
The neurological (of the nervous system) symptoms of MS are varied and difficult to diagnose in the initial stages. However, the sequence of an attack, remission and another attack suggests MS. If MS is suspected, a referral to a neurologist (a doctor who specialises in the nervous system) will be recommended. Laboratory tests may be used to help establish the diagnosis. Recordings of the electrical activity in the brain when the senses are stimulated may be taken. Other tests can include magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerised tomography scan (CT scan) and lumber puncture (to check the concentration of immune cells and proteins in the cerebrospinal fluid).Treatment
Currently there is no cure for the disease, however much can be done to help manage symptoms. Treatment will vary depending on the symptoms experienced. Medications are sometimes used for suppressing muscle spasticity. For severe attacks, corticosteroid drugs may be prescribed to reduce inflammation and provide temporary relief. Several experimental drugs are being evaluated; most of them are designed to suppress the immune system.Physiotherapy, occupational therapy, diet, rest, and a less stressful lifestyle also have an important role in the management of this disease.
While the long-term effect of MS is unpredictable, life expectancy of people with MS has increased by 10 to 15 years in the last few decades. This is a result of better medical care, particularly in dealing with complications of the disease.
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.southerncross.co.nz)
