Myasthenia Gravis
With the recent trends and developments in the realm of science and medicine, physicians have created new alternatives and procedures that can tackle the condition brought about by Myasthenia Gravis. Through this, doctors can now effectively diagnose and treat the condition efficiently while at the same time guaranteeing success on the patient’s part.
The condition
Looking at the disorder, it can be classified into two categories namely (1) congenital myasthenia gravis and (2) acquired myasthenia gravis. Each one has their own unique characteristics that distinguish them from each other. The first one is a condition acquired from birth mostly from a mother who also has the same condition. Such happens when the “patient is born without normal neuromuscular junctions to striated muscles”[1] On the other hand, the second type involves the process called “Autoimmune Disease”. This showcases how the “immune system is destroying neuromuscular junctions as if they were foreign invaders.”[2]
Locating Symptoms
Determining the early symptoms of such disease is really difficult to ascertain. This is because the patient has to undergo several important tests before the condition can be seen by the physician. “Although myasthenia gravis may affect any voluntary muscle, muscles that control eye and eyelid movement, facial expression, and swallowing are most frequently affected.”[3] Also, the relative degree of muscle failure can also be a determinant for the condition of myasthenia gravis. “The degree of muscle weakness involved in myasthenia gravis varies greatly among patients, ranging from a localized form, limited to eye muscles (ocular myasthenia), to a severe or generalized form in which many muscles – sometimes including those that control breathing – are affected.”[4] The extent of such disease varies and can happen to anyone whether an infant, teenager or adult.
Diagnosing the ailment
There are various ways for the physician to determine whether the patient has the condition or not. These include tests (blood tests, edrophorium tests, single fiber electromyography and pulmonary function) can be exhausted to correctly know the condition and proper facilitative approach be given. But the first step in doing such is by the examination of the patient. “The signs a physician must look for are impairment of eye movements or muscle weakness without any changes in the individual’s ability to feel things.”[5]
Treatment
There are various ways that a physician can do to foster treatment for such condition and these include (1) prehospital care, (2) emergency department care and (3) consultations.[6] Also, medications are now available for patients suffering such disorder. “Medications used to treat the disorder include anticholinesterase agents such as neostigmine and pyridostigmine, which help improve neuromuscular transmission and increase muscle strength”[7] Lastly, the individual can engage in surgery for the affected part to be removed. One example is the process of Thytectomy which can help reduce the effects of myasthenia gravis and restore the balance of the immune system.[8]
Bibliography
Emedicine. Myasthenia Gravis. 2007. retrieved 10 July 2008 from,
<http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/TOPIC325.HTM>
Mar Vista Animal Medical Center. Myasthenia Gravis. 2004. retrieved 10 July 2008 from,
< http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_myasthenia_gravis.html>
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Myasthenia Gravis Fact Sheet. retrieved
10 July 2008 from,
<http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myasthenia_gravis/detail_myasthenia_gravis.htm>
[1] Mar Vista Animal Medical Center. Myasthenia Gravis. 2004. retrieved 10 July 2008, <http://www.marvistavet.com/html/body_myasthenia_gravis.html>
[2] Ibid.
[3] National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Myasthenia Gravis Fact Sheet. 2008. retrieved 10 July 2008, <http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/myasthenia_gravis/detail_myasthenia_gravis.htm>
[4] Ibid.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Emedicine. Myasthenia Gravis. 2007. retrieved 10 July 2008, <http://www.emedicine.com/emerg/TOPIC325.HTM>
[7] National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke…
[8] Ibid.