Overview
Meningitis is an inflammation (swelling) of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. A bacterial or viral infection of the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord usually causes the swelling. However, injuries, cancer, certain drugs, and other types of infections also can cause meningitis. It is important to know the specific cause of meningitis because the treatment differs depending on the cause.
Symptoms
Peripheral neuropathy, a result of damage to the nerves located outside of the brain and spinal cord (peripheral nerves), often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in the hands and feet. It can also affect other areas and body functions including digestion, urination and circulation.
Your peripheral nervous system sends information from your brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) to the rest of your body. The peripheral nerves also send sensory information to the central nervous system.
Peripheral neuropathy can result from traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited causes and exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes is diabetes.
Symptoms
• Signs and symptoms of peripheral neuropathy might include:
• Gradual onset of numbness, prickling or tingling in your feet or hands, which can spread upward into your legs and arms
• Sharp, jabbing, throbbing or burning pain
• Extreme sensitivity to touch
• Pain during activities that shouldn't cause pain, such as pain in your feet when putting weight on them or when they're under a blanket
• Lack of coordination and falling
• Muscle weakness
• Feeling as if you're wearing gloves or socks when you're not
• Paralysis if motor nerves are affected
If autonomic nerves are affected, signs and symptoms might include:
Heat intolerance, Excessive sweating or not being able to sweat ,Bowel, bladder or digestive problemsDrops in blood pressure, causing dizziness or lightheadedness
Causes
1. Vitamin deficiencies. B vitamins — including B-1, B-6 and B-12 — vitamin E and niacin are crucial to nerve health.
2. Diabetes. This is the most common cause.
3. Alchoholism, various drugs and poisons/chemicals
4. Autoimmune diseases. These include Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Guillain-Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy and vasculitis.
5. Infections. These include certain viral or bacterial infections like shingles, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis B and C, leprosy, diphtheria, and HIV.
6. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and other hereditary types of neuropathy.
7. Tumors (paraneoplastic syndrome)
8. Bone marrow disorders i.e. mayeloma,lymphoma
9. Systemic diseases. These include kidney disease, liver disease, connective tissue disorders and an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism).