The nervous system refers to a complex and intricate system that involves the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves. The brain and spinal cord are responsible for regulating movement, sleep, vision, balance, memory and control of the bladder or bowels. Sometimes an infection or trauma can disrupt the nervous system and lead to different nervous system disorders.
Hydrocephalus
The Mayo Clinic says that hydrocephalus, a condition in which fluid accumulates in the brain, affects 1 out of every 500 children born.
Specific symptoms of hydrocephalus include vomiting, irritability, seizures, drowsiness, a large head and a developmental delay in infants. In children and adults, hydrocephalus is associated with such symptoms as headache, vomiting, nausea, memory loss, confusion, blurry vision, changes in personality and fatigue.
The Mayo Clinic says that hydrocephalus results when fluid in the nervous system (cerebrospinal fluid) cannot be absorbed.
Treatment involves placing a shunt into the brain's fluid-filled regions (ventricles) to help drain the cerebrospinal fluid. A surgeon can perform a ventriculostomy procedure in which a hole is made at the bottom of the ventricle so that the cerebrospinal fluid can drain.
Guillain-Barre Syndrome
Guillain-Barre syndrome is a condition in which the body's immune system mounts an attack against the nervous system. MedlinePlus, a website of the National Institutes of Health, says that symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome include a lack of reflexes in the arm or leg and muscle weakness that can start in the arms and move downward or start at the feet and move upward. Numbness, muscle pain, blurry vision, clumsiness, falling and trouble moving the facial muscles are other symptoms of Guillain-Barre syndrome.
It is unclear what leads to Guillain-Barre syndrome but it is frequently associated with gastrointestinal or lung infections. This condition has also been linked to AIDS, mononucleosis and herpes.
Plasmophoresis is a treatment method that cleanses the blood of the antibodies that attack the nervous system. High-dose immunoglobulin therapy can also be given to manage symptoms. Blood thinning medications, narcotics and anti-inflammatory medications are used to manage Guillain-Barre syndrome.
Acute Spinal Cord Injury
The University of Virginia Health System says that an acute spinal cord injury refers to a bruise or tear of the spinal cord. About 11,000 people in the United States suffer from an acute spinal cord injury annually.
Symptoms can include partial or total paralysis, muscle weakness, trouble breathing, a lack of bladder or bowel function and a lack of feeling in the chest, arms or legs.
An acute spinal cord injury can be caused by injuries during birth, falls, a car accident, a diving accident or a sports injury.
Treatment involves hospitalization and corticosteroid therapy to decrease spinal cord swelling. A breathing or feeding tube are sometimes necessary.
