Neuritis

Neuritis is the inflammation of a nerve or more nerves. Neuritis may be caused by infection, Injury (sciatica) or may be an Auto Immune Disease such as multiple sclerosis, leprosy. Neuritis is often unified with neuropathy, which depicts any disease that affects peripheral nervous system. Neuropathies are caused may be due to inflammatory or non-inflammatory process, whereas Neuritis refers specifically to the inflammatory process. Many nerves in the body may undergo inflammation but etiologies may preferentially affect specific nerves. The neuritis in a sensory nerve causes pain, numbness or paraesthesia, while that in motor nerve may cause weakness and paralysis. Rapid identification of an infectious cause of neuritis dictates treatment approach and often has a much more positive long term prognosis than other etiologies. Bacterial, viral, and spirochete infections all have been associated with inflammatory neural responses. The diagnosis of neuritis begins with the physical examination and by characterization of symptoms in the nerve. Medical tests include nerve biopsy, MRI, lumbar punctures. Treatment of neuritis centers on removing or managing any inciting cause of inflammation, followed by supportive care and anti-inflammatory or immune modulatory treatments as well as symptomatic management. Both active infections and post-infectious autoimmune processes cause neuritis.