Guide To The Types Of Myelitis

Poliomyelitis

Poliomyelitis is a form caused by an infection of a highly transmittable virus. This virus is part of the Picornaviridae family. It infects an individual by invading the oropharynx and then colonizing in their tonsils, neck lymph nodes, Peyer patches, and small intestine. Symptoms begin anywhere from two to thirty-five days following initial exposure. Initially, the poliovirus produces flu-like symptoms for three to five days. It then enters the bloodstream and moves to the central nervous system. Once here, it damages the spinal anterior horn cells. The virus then spreads to the posterior horn cells, hypothalamus, and motor neuron of the thalamus.

This central nervous system invasion causes symptoms of paralysis in multiple parts of the body. It also summons an immune response that characterizes poliomyelitis. This immune response is the congregation of plasma cells, microglia, neutrophils, and other macrophages, which consume cells infected by poliovirus. The result is damage to the white matter of the spinal cord. Severe cases cause respiratory paralysis. Elimination of the infection and rehabilitation of lost nerve and muscle function are the focuses of treatment.

Meningococcal Myelitis

Meningococcal myelitis is inflammation of the spinal cord caused by Meningococci or a type of bacteria with the ability to produce serious infections in the body. It causes meningitis more often than it does myelitis. However, both may occur together. The first symptoms include fever, vomiting, stiff neck, and intense headaches. This type of infection can affect both the white and grey matter of the spinal cord, producing the classic symptoms. In such cases, the inflammation of the spinal cord is caused by a direct infiltration and infection of the spinal cord tissues by the bacteria itself.

However, meningococcal myelitis can also occur when the immune system responds to the bacteria that have invaded tissues elsewhere. This is often seen with meningococcal encephalitis and meningococcal meningitis. The immune system reacts to the bacteria by destroying different types of healthy cells and infected cells in the central nervous system. This process causes severe inflammation in the spinal cord or myelitis precipitated from the meningococci bacteria.