Trigeminal neuralgia - a condition characterized by intermittent shooting pain in his face. Trigeminal neuralgia affects the trigeminal nerve, one of the largest nerves in the head. The trigeminal nerve sends impulses of touch, pain, pressure and temperature to the brain from the face, jaw, gums, forehead and around the eyes.

What causes trigeminal neuralgia?

The most common cause of trigeminal neuralgia - nerve pressure on the blood vessel near the brain stem. Over time, changes in cerebral vessels can lead to the fact that the receptacles are constantly rubbing against the root of the trigeminal nerve. This friction with each heart beat erases nerve insulating membrane, which leads to continuous stimulation of the nerve.

What are the symptoms of trigeminal neuralgia?

Trigeminal neuralgia causes sudden severe pain similar to electric shock or piercing pain that lasts a few seconds. The pain may be felt in the face, around the lips, eyes, nose, back of the head and top of the head. Symptoms can occur at any touch-to-face, brushing teeth, applying makeup, swallowing or even with the breeze.

Trigeminal neuralgia is often considered the most painful medical condition. Usually the pain felt on one side of the face, but can rotate. Several bouts of pain can occur sequentially. They can occur over days, weeks or months, then suddenly disappear for months or years.

The disease is more common in women than in men and rarely affects people under the age of 50 years.

As diagnosed trigeminal neuralgia?

Magnetic resonance imaging is used to determine whether not cause irritation trigeminal The trigeminal nerve and its defeat: what happens in the body?   tumor or multiple sclerosis. In other cases, no study can not determine with certainty neuralgia Neuralgia - the scourge of the elderly   trigeminal nerve. However, surveys can find out whether there is some other disease. Usually, the diagnosis is based on the description of the patient's symptoms.

How is trigeminal neuralgia?

Trigeminal neuralgia is treated with anticonvulsants such as carbamazepine and gabapentin. Can be used as clonazepam and sodium divalproks in combination with anesthetics. Some antidepressants help to significantly alleviate the pain.

If the drug does not assist or cause unwanted side effects, can be recommended neurosurgical procedures to facilitate the pressure on the nerve or reducing its sensitivity.

Some patients report that they were able to get rid of the pain or significantly reduce it using the methods of alternative medicine - acupuncture, chiropractic, hypnosis and meditation Meditation - treats the body and the spirit .

Cryptococcal meningitis occurs when the introduction into the meninges yeast cryptococci. The infection affects mainly people with severely reduced immunity - this is one of the most frequent complications in AIDS patients, cancer patients after a course of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and the patients have immune suppression in organ transplants.

Cryptococcal (blastomikozny) meningitis - Causes and infection

Cryptococcus yeast is very common in nature. The main focus of the spread is now considered bird droppings and nests, especially dangerous doves, flocks of which constantly live in the cities (the birds themselves do not get sick). Cryptococcus into the soil, mixed with the dust and fall into the bronchi and human lungs by inhalation of contaminated dust. It is believed that the disease from person to person is not transferred. Men get sick more often than women.

To onset, single ingestion of infection low, you should also decrease the body's defenses - immune system. The disease occurs at a deep immunodeficiency, when the CD4 count is less than 50-100 per ml. Lymphocytes CD4 (T-Heller, assistant) - a type of white blood cells responsible for the immune response to the introduction of infection - they activate cellular and humoral immunity.

That is why cryptococcal meningitis Meningitis - an inflammation of the meninges   very often develops AIDS, and even one of the causes of death of these patients. The risk of infection Cryptococcus are cancer patients, people who have undergone organ transplants, as well as all patients receiving long-term glucocorticoid hormones - all of them have reduced immunity.

If you get a fungal infection in the bronchi and lungs there formed the primary focus of inflammation. Then, in the inflammatory process involves nearby lymph nodes. In the lesions formed granulomas (inflammation in the form of nodules) that can necrotic (Disintegrating) to form cavities. Of primary lesions bloodstream infection can get into the cranial cavity and cause meningitis.

Symptoms and characteristics of the course of cryptococcal meningitis

Pneumonic cryptococcal infection can occur in the form of bronchitis Bronchitis - protection if the body has malfunctioned , Pneumonia, and can completely asymptomatic. When immunodeficiencies cryptococcal infection can enter the bloodstream and spread to all the organs and tissues. Primarily affect the meninges and begins cryptococcal meningitis and meningoencephalitis. The vast majority of cases of cryptococcal meningitis reported in AIDS.

The disease develops gradually. The patient may be a little temperature rise (it may not be, but in rare cases, the temperature is high), periodic headaches (mainly headache in the forehead and temples), the intensity of which may increase, dizziness Dizziness - if the ground is slipping from under his feet , Blurred vision, irritability. Characterized by small seizures of Jacksonian type: against the clear consciousness of having spasms in some muscle or group of muscles limbs (usually the hand), or muscles of the face, followed by the spread of seizures on the same side limbs or facial muscles. Sometimes the cramps spread to the opposite side, and in some cases become generalized (common) character. They may also develop focal neurological symptoms (paresis, speech disorders, and so forth). In later stages of the disorder of consciousness can occur.

Cryptococcal meningitis occurs subacute and chronic. Chronic cryptococcal meningitis is sometimes the first manifestation of AIDS.

Diagnostics

Diagnosis is based on detection of an infectious agent or antibodies to it in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), taken by a puncture. In addition, the diagnosis of cryptococcal confirmed by the presence in the cerebrospinal fluid lymphocytic pleocytosis - increased content of blood cells which make up the bulk of lymphocytes.

If you want to do magnetic resonance or computed tomography (CT or MRI) - this study may reveal focal processes in the brain, or hydrocephalus phenomenon (water on the brain).

Treatment

Besides the usual pathogenetic (acting on the mechanisms of the disease) and symptomatic (relieving symptoms of meningitis) treatment of cryptococcal meningitis pi necessarily prescribe antifungal medications. The drug of choice is amphotericin B, moreover, are sometimes prescribed fluconazole Fluconazole - used with caution .

To prevent infection of people with reduced immunity is not necessary to sleep on feather pillows and down with the bird.

Galina Romanenko