MORE COMMON IMMUNE-SYSTEM DISEASES: MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS AND MONONUCLEOSIS

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MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS: a progressive disease of the central nervous system, characterized by loss of the covering of nervous tissue (de’myelination) of the brain and spinal cord. MS may lead to a weakened condition, which, in turn, leads to death.

Signs and Symptoms: weakness; fatigue; dizziness; weakness of hands or legs; transitory weakness or stiffness of a limb or extremity. Difficulty in walking may occur. May be pain in an extremity, also numbness and tingling. May be pain in one eye, blurring or dimness of vision. Problems with bladder control may occur. Victim may be easily upset emotionally. May be a tendency toward slow, hesitant speech. Disease is characterized by periods of advancing symptoms, then remission.

MONONUCLEOSIS: formerly called the kissing disease. Caused by the EB virus.

Signs and Symptoms: may last a week to a month, or may linger for several months. Symptoms include fatigue; weakness; headaches; irritability; chills, then a fever, which may be high. Sore throat often predominates at this point. Glands enlarge, especially glands in the neck. Liver tests are generally abnormal, and liver may be enlarged in some people. Spleen (under the left front ribs) is enlarged in about half those with mononucleosis. Often there is a red rash that passes quickly, and there may be little red spots inside the mouth on the hard and soft palate. Rarely, there may be a cough or chest pain. The disease can involve the brain, and not commonly lead to encephalitis and other brain inflammations.