FLACCID PARALYSIS - MEDICINES FOR THE TREATMENT OF FLACCID PARALYSIS - MEDICATIONS

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Medicines to Treat Flaccid Paralysis

Definition

Flaccid paralysis is defined as a clinical manifestation characteristic of numerous diseases, such as botulism and polio; this is a progressive paralysis involving the muscles - in particular the respiratory and swallowing muscles - capable of inducing death by suffocation. Weakness and loss of muscle tone are the hallmarks of this condition.

Causes

In addition to botulism and polio, there are many other diseases responsible for flaccid paralysis, including: potassium deficiency, West Nile virus infections, bone marrow syndrome, myasthenia gravis, Lyme disease, peripheral neuropathy, nerve changes and Guillain syndrome -Barrè (pathology of the peripheral nervous system). The abuse of certain pharmacological specialties (eg neuromuscular blockers) and severe neuronal trauma can also induce flaccid paralysis.

In botulism, flaccid paralysis is favored by the impossibility of muscle contraction, an expression of the suppression of the release of acetylcholine.

Symptoms

The flaccid paralysis begins with a "sudden weakness of the upper and lower limbs, accompanied by the progressive weakening of the respiratory muscles. In general, a" evident hypotonia (reduction of muscle tone) is observed in flaccid paralysis. In botulism, flaccid paralysis initially involves the muscles of the neck, and then affects those of the face, swallowing, until it affects the respiratory and remaining muscles.

The information on Flaccid Paralysis - Medicines for the Treatment of Flaccid Paralysis is not intended to replace the direct relationship between health professional and patient. Always consult your doctor and / or specialist before taking Flaccid Paralysis - Medicines to Treat Flaccid Paralysis.

Medicines

Treatment for flaccid paralysis is symptomatic and therefore aimed at relieving symptoms. Particular attention must be paid to the control of breathing, since - when the flaccid paralysis progresses to involve the respiratory muscles - the probability of a negative prognosis is very high. Death following flaccid paralysis is in fact always due to respiratory arrest .
According to this, the seriousness of the clinical manifestation is well understood: the "intervention must" be immediate, and must be performed by means of ventilation with assisted respiration; in some cases it is necessary to intervene with the tracheotomy.
As far as medical therapy is concerned, science still has to refine research: in fact, controversial results have emerged from the studies carried out on the efficacy of some pharmacological specialties.
Among the possible therapies, albeit still ambiguous and questionable, plasmapheresis stands out (not to be considered in the child with flaccid paralysis), the administration of corticosteroids and intravenous therapy with high-dose human immunoglobulins.

The following are the classes of drugs most used in the therapy against flaccid paralysis, and some examples of pharmacological specialties; it is up to the doctor to choose the most suitable active ingredient and dosage for the patient, based on the severity of the disease, the state of health of the patient and his response to treatment:

Corticosteroids for the treatment of flaccid paralysis: Corticosteroids are not always used in therapy in the context of flaccid paralysis, since each patient reacts differently. Before intervening with these drugs it is therefore necessary to be aware of the clinical history of the victim; just think that cortisone therapy has created further damage for some patients.For children with flaccid paralysis, cortisone therapy was instead completely abandoned. Listed below are some of the most widely used cortisone drugs, the dosage of which will not be described, however, exclusively of medical competence:

Prednisone (eg. Deltacortene, Lodotra):
Prednisolone (eg Solprene, Deltamhydrin).
Cortisone (eg. Cortis Acet, Cortone)
Methylprednisolone (e.g. Solu-medrol, Advantan, Depo-Medrol, Medrol, Urbason)

Immunoglobulins: the administration of high-dose human immunoglobulins is a "possible therapeutic option in the context of flaccid paralysis, especially when associated with myasthenia gravis (autoimmune disease in which there is a reduction in the quantity of nicotinic receptors) or other autoimmune diseases. In general, the dosage suggests taking 2mg / kg as a single bolus (or in several days) to avoid the progression of flaccid paralysis.

Therapies of flaccid paralysis caused by botulism: in botulinum infections, the progressive paralysis of the parasympathetic system and of the motor apparatus favors flaccid paralysis. The life-saving treatment with antitoxin is effective only if carried out before the symptomatological onset.

For further information: read the article on drugs for the treatment of botulism

Antibiotic therapy: the administration of antibiotic drugs in the context of flaccid paralysis is indicated in case of proven bacterial infection. The choice of one drug over another depends on the causative agent responsible. Consult your doctor.

Treatment for West Nile virus infection: flaccid paralysis is a symptom that unites all superinfections sustained by the West Nile virus. Therefore, it is necessary to intervene promptly with medical treatments; unfortunately, however, it seems that even in this case the drugs report often controversial results. To give an example, the drugs Ribavirin (eg Rebetol, Three Rivers, Ribavirin Teva) and Interferon alfa 2-B (eg Astrona) have been tested in vitro: the active molecules, tested in vitro, are in able to block the replication of the virus. When tested in humans, however, the drugs did not produce the same desired results.
In the context of West Nile virus superinfections, even to treat flaccid paralysis, it seems that only the administration of immunoglobulins can somehow bring about significant improvements.

Polio vaccine: considering that flaccid paralysis is a characteristic symptom of poliomyelitis, the prevention of this acute viral disease of the CNS is essential to prevent the insult of the poliovirus: