Alcoholic polyneuropathy
Alcoholic polyneuropathy (pronounced: al-ko-hol-ik pol-ee-noo-rop-uh-thee) is a neurological disorder in which multiple peripheral nerves throughout the body malfunction simultaneously. It is defined by nerve damage caused by excessive consumption of alcohol. The condition can lead to a variety of symptoms, including numbness, tingling, and loss of reflexes.
Etymology
The term "alcoholic polyneuropathy" is derived from three words: "alcoholic," referring to the cause of the condition; "poly," a Greek root meaning "many"; and "neuropathy," which refers to disease or dysfunction of one or more peripheral nerves.
Symptoms
The symptoms of alcoholic polyneuropathy can vary greatly depending on the specific nerves affected. Common symptoms include:
- Numbness and tingling in the hands and feet
- Muscle weakness
- Loss of coordination and balance
- Pain in the muscles or bones
- Heat intolerance
- Urinary incontinence
Causes
Alcoholic polyneuropathy is primarily caused by chronic alcohol abuse, which can lead to vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency. This deficiency can damage the peripheral nerves, leading to the symptoms of the condition.
Treatment
Treatment for alcoholic polyneuropathy primarily involves abstaining from alcohol and improving diet to correct nutritional deficiencies, particularly vitamin B1. In some cases, medications may be used to manage symptoms.
See also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Alcoholic polyneuropathy
- Wikipedia's article - Alcoholic polyneuropathy
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski