Neurologist raises awareness on multiple sclerosis

WORLD Multiple Sclerosis Day took place on Thursday, and local neurologist Dr Natanya Fourie said that multiple sclerosis (MS) is a complex neurological disease that affects 2.9 million people worldwide, with an average of 300 people diagnosed globally every day.

She said that in South Africa, its true extent remains unknown. “The disease may be more prevalent than previously thought, and a lack of comprehensive data and awareness means there may be many more undiagnosed or misdiagnosed sufferers with MS than realised.

Also read: Cyclist raises awareness for multiple sclerosis

The doctor has partnered with pharmaceutical company Novartis South Africa and patient support organisation Multiple Sclerosis South Africa (MSSA) to raise awareness of this condition, hoping that this campaign will advocate for early and accurate diagnosis.

“This year’s World Multiple Sclerosis Day campaign is ‘My MS Diagnosis’, with the tagline, ‘Navigating MS Together’, particularly appropriate in this context, as early diagnosis is critical in managing the disease and improving treatment outcomes. The sooner we make the diagnosis, the better the long-term outcome will be,” she said.

“Early diagnosis and treatment can significantly improve a patient’s quality of life, enabling them to lead a more normal lifestyle and potentially extending their life expectancy. Delayed diagnosis and treatment invariably result in a poorer outcome, often marked by significant impairment in mobility. Consequently, prognosis worsens when diagnosis and treatment are delayed.”

What is MS?
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). It is a disease in which the immune system eats away at the protective covering of nerves. In MS, resulting nerve damage disrupts communication between the brain and the body. It causes many different symptoms, including vision loss, pain, fatigue, slurred speech and dizziness. Other symptoms include numbness or weakness in one or more limbs that typically occurs on one side of your body at a time or your legs and trunk; electric-shock sensations that occur with certain neck movements, especially bending the neck forward (Lhermitte sign); tremor, and lack of coordination or bladder-function issues.

The symptoms

The symptoms, severity and duration can vary from person to person. Everyone’s symptoms are unique. Some people may be symptom-free for most of their lives while others can have severe, chronic symptoms that never go away. Signs and symptoms of MS vary widely and depend on the amount of nerve damage and which nerves are affected. Some people with severe MS may lose the ability to walk independently or at all while others may experience long periods of remission without any new symptoms. Although there is no cure for multiple sclerosis, treatments can help speed recovery from attacks, modify the course of the disease and manage symptoms.

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