Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Cervical spine infection
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Myelitis is a disease involving swelling of the spinal cord, which disrupts central nervous system functions linking the brain and limbs.
Symptoms and signs
Symptoms and signs
Symptoms vary by region of the CNS affected.
- fever
- headaches
- tingling
- Bladder dysfunction (loss of bladder control)
- pain
- Meningeal signs may develop
- (central or peripheral paresis
- Numbness; Altered sensation, Sensorimotor paralysis below the level of the inflammation (Absent tendon reflexes below the level of the inflammation), loss of feeling
- Leg weakness
- Arm weakness
- Paresthesia
- Back pain
- Leg pain
- Arm pain
- Bowel dysfunction
- Muscle spasms
- Malaise
- Anorexia
- Leg paresthesia
- Urinary retention
- Sexual dysfunction
- Fecal incontinence
- Abdominal muscle paralysis
Differential Diagnosis of Causes of Myelitis
Differential Diagnosis of Causes of Myelitis
Infections
- Certain viruses – causing viral myelitis:
Myelitis as a complication
Other conditions that might have Myelitis as a complication might be potential underlying conditions. The list of conditions listing Myelitis as a complication includes:
- Gnathostoma Infection
- Poxviridae disease
Myelitis as a symptom
- Bing-Neel syndrome
Prognosis
Prognosis
Untreated myelitis may rapidly lead to a permanently damaged spinal cord.
Editor-In-Chief: Template:Search infobox C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] There can be one or more than one Editor-In-Chief. You may also apply to be an Associate Editor-In-Chief of one of the subtopics below. Please mail us [2] to indicate your interest in serving either as an Editor-In-Chief of the entire topic or as an Associate Editor-In-Chief for a subtopic. Please be sure to attach your CV and or biographical sketch.