Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects mostly people between the age group of 20 years to 40 years and affects a person’s central nervous, system leaving the person morbid.
Multiple sclerosis (MS) affects mostly people between the age group of 20 years to 40 years and affects a person’s central nervous, system leaving the person morbid. Although the mortality rate is between 5% and 10%, the morbidity rate due to this illness is over 80%.
On the occasion of Multiple Sclerosis Day on Wednesday, city neurologists and people working for such patients spoke to DNA about the disease whose cause and treatment are yet to be found.
The consultant neurologist from Ruby Hall Clinic, Dr Rajas Deshpande, said MS is the recurrent destruction of the coating of nerve fibres and no cause has been proven yet.
“The prevalence rate of MS in western countries is one among 150 to 200 people whereas in India, it is still unknown. There is no identified cause or a particular treatment but the morbidity and complications it causes is as high as 80%,’’ he added.
According to him, an MS patient in case of an attack undergoes sudden loss of central vision in eyes, loss of sensation below the chest or vertigo with doubled vision and tinnitus and disability in swallowing.
“There are two complications that lead to death and that are respiratory paralysis and sudden cardiac failure, but both are very rare. Also there are no drugs that can cure it, only the symptoms can be improved,’’ he said.
Dr Deshpande also said so far, 30 MS patients are registered with Ruby Hall Clinic and two new cases of MS are reported in a month.
“Many a times, a patient gets misdiagnosed as there is no particular diagnostic test as well that would determine MS. This is one area which is also a cause of concern,’’ he added.
The neurosurgeon of Jehangir Hospital Dr Mahendra Chitre said MS is a disorder that affects the central nervous system including brain and the spinal cord. The layer that protects the nerve is damaged due to which the brain fails to catch signals due to which patients often experience unusual sensory symptoms or visual disturbances.
“This disorder mainly affects youngsters in the productive age group that is between 20 and 40 and affects especially women for which the cause is unknown. Also the cause of MS is not known and hence, it cannot be confirmed whether it is passed on to the child genetically. Since there is no cause, there is no particular treatment except steroids that just help in curbing the symptoms. Long term treatment involves physiotherapy which is very
effective,’’ he said.
Dr Tariq Shaikh, physiotherapist who has treated MS patients said, “MS involves symptomatic treatment and physiotherapy is one way of treating it. Many patients suffer from difficulty of movement, clawing of hands, stiffness in joints and in this case physiotherapy and suggested exercises to relieve the rigid joints is effective.’’
The administrative officer of Pune chapter of Multiple Sclerosis Society of India, Sunita Lalwani, said, “Like HIV and cancer, there is less awareness about MS in India at present. In Western countries, there are MS registries and counsellors for MS patients. But in India, this illness not taken seriously as people are unaware of its gravity.”
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