Devic's Disease - Symptom, Treatment and cause of Devic's Disease

DESCRIPTION: Inflammatory condition of spinal cord and optic (eye) nervethat usually occurs in Asians.

CAUSE: Autoimmune condition often associated with a recent viral orbacterial infection.

SYMPTOMS: Eye pain and vision disturbances, neck or back pain, followedby altered sensations (eg. pins and needles, loss of sense of touch) andmuscle weakness in the body below the area of back pain.

INVESTIGATIONS: Diagnosed by an MRI scan.

TREATMENT: Steroids may be tried, but are often ineffective.

PROGNOSIS: May be some recovery, but effects usually permanent.