MS is an autoimmune disease with an
unknown etiology, or "cause". It is
believed that some type of environmental
factor (a virus, maybe) can provoke the
immune system to start creating antibodies
against the myelin covering of the nerves
and nerve tracts, thus the onset of MS.
Brain plaques are places that experience
destruction of the nerves’ coverings, or
sheath. Most often during MS, the vision
is affected in a condition that doctors
have called "retro-bulbar neuritis" In
fact, retro-bulbar neuritis is the most
common manifestation of MS. Urinary
incontinency is a rarely a manifestation
of MS. Plaques during MS can be seen via
CT-scan or MRI. Other than plagues, a
person also experiences an increased
amount of immunoglobulins in the
cerebrospinal liquid. MS is mainly a
progressive disease with incomplete
remissions.
Meningitis, on the other hand, is an
inflammation of the brain coverings. Viral
meningitis is not so severe a disease as
the bacterial variety. Viral meningitis is
rarely accompanied with brain inflammation
(meningoencephalitis).
Encephalitis is a severe acute
inflammation of the brain or spinal cord
(myelitis) caused by viruses or an
allergic reaction to some types of
infections. Viruses that can cause
encephalitis could be: arbo-viruses,
polio, ECHO, and rabies A so called
"secondary post-infective encephalitis"
also exists which is due to an allergic
reaction to infections with other viruses
such as measles, chickenpox, smallpox,
influenza, mumps, or herpes simplex.
Similar occurrences of encephalitis can
occur after vaccination against smallpox
or rabies. These types of encephalitis
cause demyelinization (damaging the myelin
nerves’ covering) that are also present
during multiple sclerosis.
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