Toxic Polyneuropathy

2024 Author: Josephine Shorter | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 21:43

Toxic polyneuropathy

Polyneuropathy is a disorder of the nerves of the lower and upper extremities. It is characterized by temporary paralysis, mainly manifested in the distant regions of the extremities, as well as a decrease or loss of sensitivity in these parts. The process starts from the distal regions, gradually spreading directly to the center.

The disease can appear on its own, or it can be the result of another infectious disease. So, the development of polyneuropathy can be promoted by diphtheria or dysentery, as well as diseases associated with metabolic disorders - for example, a disease such as diabetes mellitus. In many cases, the onset of polyneuropathy is associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, since the algorithm for the absorption of useful and nutrients necessary for nerve tissues and fibers is disrupted.

Types of toxic polyneuropathy

Toxic polyneuropathy, as one of the manifestations of polyneuropathy, most often occurs in chronic poisoning with substances such as mercury, lead or arsenic. It is also possible that a disease occurs if the rules for using household chemicals are violated. In addition, toxic polyneuropathy makes itself felt in chronic alcoholism due to the fact that alcohol has its toxic effect on the human nervous system and, to a large extent, contributes to the disruption of metabolic processes in the body.

In this article, we will consider several subspecies of toxic polyneuropathy caused by both external stimuli and toxic substances that are formed in the human body as a result of metabolic disorders. There are two forms of toxic polyneuropathy - acute and chronic.

Diphtheria polyneuropathy manifests itself as a complication after diphtheria and develops in adults much more often than in children. This form of the disease is characterized by various disorders of the nervous system, for example, impaired motor function and decreased sensitivity.

In practice, the disease is characterized by a disruption in the work of smooth muscles, especially the muscles, for the work of which the glossopharyngeal nerve is responsible. In this case, a disorder of the swallowing process is observed, nasalness appears in speech, sometimes tachycardia may occur with diphtheria polyneuropathy.

With appropriate treatment, the disease is usually managed, the disorders disappear within a few weeks, sometimes within several months. It is necessary to be especially careful in the initial stage of the disease, since there is a risk of cardiac arrest due to dysfunction of the vagus nerve, and due to impaired swallowing, one should beware of aspiration pneumonia. The occurrence of this disease is associated with the toxic effect of the causative agent of diphtheria.

The disease is characterized by motor disorders and various disorders of motor functions. The distal parts of the lower extremities are affected (the "drooping foot" effect) and, accordingly, the upper extremities (the "drooping hand" effect). Sensory disturbances are insignificant.

Lead enters the human body by entering the stomach or through the respiratory tract, the main localization sites are the liver and bones. The disease is manifested by irritability and lethargy, concentration of attention and memory are noticeably reduced, pain in the legs and arms occurs. Also, symptoms of the disease can be tremor of the fingers and the so-called "cock gait".

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For a successful cure, it is necessary to stop contact with lead as soon as possible, in this case, in conjunction with taking appropriate medications, the disease can be safely dealt with.

The cause of the disease is substances that include arsenic - these can be medicines or insecticides (although it should be noted that in recent years arsenic has not been used for medicinal purposes). Intoxication associated with the harmfulness of the profession can be detected in a mild form in workers of the smelting shop. A single high dose of arsenic in the body can lead to loss of consciousness and severe vomiting.

If after this the victim remains alive, at the end of the latent period (lasting up to three weeks), polyneuropathy occurs. The main symptom is muscle weakness of various localization, most often observed in the muscles of the lower extremities. If the exposure to arsenic is not stopped, and it continues to enter the body in small doses, distal sensorimotor neuropathy may develop, which is characterized by pain and decreased sensitivity up to complete loss.

Pigmentation of the skin appears, various rashes, peeling of the skin, transverse whitish stripes appear on the nails of the hands and feet. It can take many months to cure this condition. The disease is diagnosed on the basis of urine analysis for the presence of a large amount of arsenic in it, hair and nails are also taken.

In practice, there is an acute and subacute form of the disease. There is another option, called subclinical, when signs of the disease are detected only as a result of examining the patient. The nerve fibers responsible for motor functions and sensitivity are most affected in alcoholic polyneuropathy. But there are exclusively motor polyneuropathies with alcohol intoxication.

Medicine has not fully studied the pathogenesis of polyneuropathy with excessive alcohol consumption. First of all, the development of the disease is associated with a thiamine deficiency in the human body. However, one should not discount the toxic effects of alcohol itself.

Article author: Mochalov Pavel Alexandrovich | d. m. n. therapist

Education: Moscow Medical Institute. IM Sechenov, specialty - "General Medicine" in 1991, in 1993 "Occupational Diseases", in 1996 "Therapy".