drugs

Medications to Treat Flaccid Paralysis

Definition

"Flaccid paralysis" is a clinical manifestation characteristic of numerous diseases, such as botulism and polio; it is a progressive paralysis involving the muscles - in particular the respiratory and swallowing ones - able to induce death by suffocation. Weakness and loss of muscle tone are the characteristic signs of this condition.

Causes

In addition to botulism and poliomyelitis, 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 alterations and Guillain syndrome - Barè (pathology of the peripheral nervous system). The abuse of some 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 acetylcholine release.

Symptoms

Flaccid paralysis begins with a sudden weakness of the upper and lower limbs, accompanied by the progressive weakening of the respiratory muscles. In general, an evident hypotonia (reduction of muscle tone) is observed in flaccid paralysis. In botulism, flaccid paralysis initially involves the muscles of the neck, to then affect those of the face, swallowing, up to hit the respiratory muscles and the remaining ones.

Information on Flaccid Paralysis - Drugs 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 - Drugs for the Treatment of Flaccid Paralysis.

drugs

Treatment for flaccid paralysis is symptomatic, therefore aimed at alleviating symptoms. Particular attention must be paid to the control of respiration, since - when flaccid paralysis progresses to involve the respiratory muscles - the probability of a negative prognosis is very high. The death following flaccid paralysis is in fact always due to a respiratory arrest.

According to this, the seriousness of the clinical manifestation is well understood: the operation must be immediate, and must be performed by ventilation with assisted breathing; in some cases it is necessary to intervene with the tracheotomy.

As far as medical therapy is concerned, science has yet to refine its research: controversial results have emerged from the studies carried out on the efficacy of some pharmacological specialties.

Among the possible therapies, although still ambiguous and questionable, the plasmapheresis (not to be considered in the child with flaccid paralysis), the administration of corticosteroids and the intravenous therapy with high-dose human immunoglobulins stands out.

Cortisone drugs 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 for some patients has created further damage. For children with flaccid paralysis, cortisone therapy was instead completely abandoned. Below are listed some of the most widely used cortisone drugs, of which, however, the posology will not be described, exclusively medical:

  • Prednisone (eg. Deltacortene, Lodotra):
  • Prednisolone (eg. Solprene, Deltamidrina).
  • Cortisone (eg Cortis Acet, Cortone)
  • Methylprednisolone (eg. 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 pathology in which there is a reduction in the quantity of nicotinic receptors) or to other autoimmune diseases. In general, the dosage suggests taking a single bolus of 2mg / kg (or several days) to avoid the progression of flaccid paralysis.

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

  • 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 cases of proven bacterial infection. The choice of a drug rather than another depends on the responsible causative agent. Consult your doctor.

Therapy for infection with the West Nile virus : flaccid paralysis is a symptom that is common to all superinfections supported by the West Nile virus. Therefore, it is necessary to intervene promptly with medical therapies; unfortunately, however, it seems that even in this case the drugs often report controversial results. For example, the drugs Ribavirin (eg Rebetol, Three Rivers, Ribavirin Teva) and Interferon alpha 2-B (eg Introna) were tested in vitro: the active molecules, tested in vitro, are able to block the virus replication. However, when tested in humans, the drugs did not produce the same desired results.

In the context of West Nile virus superinfections, also to treat flaccid paralysis, it seems that only the administration of immunoglobulins can somehow report significant improvements.

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

  1. Infanrix Hexa
  2. Poliovax-in imsc 1 f 1 ml (inactivated poliomyelitis vaccine)
  3. Infanrix Penta
  • For further information: read the article on drugs for the treatment of poliomyelitis

In the context of flaccid paralysis, physiotherapy is essential for the recovery of strength and muscle tone.