Polyneuritis or Neuritis

Neuritis is one of the most serious nervous disorders.



It refers to ail inflammation of the nerves, involving a single nerve or a series of nerves.



At times, several different groups of nerves in various parts of the body may be involved.



This condition is known as polyneuritis, It is also known as polyneuropathy, for strictly speaking, the condition is not an inflammation, but a change in, the state of the nerves resulting in weakness, loss of the reflexes and changes of sensation,

Symptoms of Neuritis

The main symptoms of neuritis are tingling and burning and stabbing pains in the affected nerves. In severe cases, there may be numbness and loss of sensation and paralysis of the nearby muscles, Thus, temporary paralysis of the face may result from changes in the facial nerves on the affected side, During the acute stage of this condition, the patient may not be able to close the eyes due to loss of normal tone and strength in the muscles on the affected side of the face, Neuritis may also be caused by pernicious anaemia, involving the nerves of the spine, The patient with this condition may find it very difficult to walk in the darkness,

Causes of Neuritis

The chief cause of neuritis is ,ironic acidosis, that is, an excessive acidic condition of the blood and other body fluids, All the body fluids should be alkaline in their reaction, but when the acid waste matter is continuously formed in the tissues over a long period due to a faulty diet, it results in acidosis, Wrong habits of living, overwork, etc., lower the tone of the nervous system and contribute towards neuritis. The disease can also result from a variety of nutritional deficiencies and metabolic disturbances such as faulty calcium metabolism, deficiencies of several 8 vitamins like B12, B6, B1, pan¬tothenic acid and 82 and general toxaemia.

Other causes of neuritis include a blow, a penetrating injury, a bad bruise or heavy pressure over a nerve trunk and dislocation or fracture of the bones. Any violent muscular activity or overextension of the joint as in sprains may injure the nerves and cause neuritis. The condition may also result from certain infections such as tuberculosis, diptheria, tetanus, leprosy and diabetes mellitus, poisoning with insecticides, mercury, lead, arsenic and alcohol.