400 new cases of disease emerging every year in Pakistan
LAHORE
Pakistan Society of Neurology (PSN) has announced observing World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day on the last Wednesday of May. This year’s theme is ‘Life with MS’ centering on empathising with MS patients by helping others to better understand this complex and unpredictable disease.
“The international day will be bringing the global Multiple Sclerosis (MS) community together to share stories, raise awareness and campaign with and for everyone affected by multiple sclerosis. The events and campaigns take place throughout the month of May,” said Prof Dr Athar Javed, Vice President PSN and Head of Department of Neurology, King Edward Medical University while speaking at a seminar on Multiple Sclerosis (MS) at a local hotel on Thursday.
Prof Athar Javed said Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is one of the most common neurological disorders and causes of disability in young adults. It is a chronic inflammatory demyelinating condition, caused by damage to myelin – a fatty material that insulates nerves, acting much like the covering of an electric wire. There are 2.3 million people with MS worldwide with around 400 new cases emerging in Pakistan each year. Most people with MS are diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 31, with around twice as many women diagnosed than men.”
According to Prof Athar Javed, “The most common symptoms of MS are fatigue, vision impairment, tingling and numbness, vertigo and dizziness, muscle weakness, spasms and problems with balance and coordination. Symptoms vary a great deal from one patient to another – no two people have the same combination of symptoms. ”
He adds: “There were less MS patients reported in the country 20 years ago due to a lack of proper diagnosis. Today, however, more patients are emerging because there is greater awareness among doctors as well as the general public and more widely available diagnostic facility like MRI. A neurologist who specialises in treating the disease should be able to look into the patient’s condition and help figure out if the symptoms indicate MS or another problem.”
He elaborated that tests are often used, along with a medical history and neurological exam, to diagnose MS and rule out other causes of symptoms. More than 90pc of people with MS have scar tissue that shows up on an MRI scan. A spinal tap can check for abnormalities in the fluid that bathes the brain and spinal cord. Tests to look at electrical activity of nerves can also help with diagnosis. Lab tests can help rule out other autoimmune conditions or infections such as vasculitis and ischemic demyelination.
"Evidence suggests that the best time for a person with MS to start treatment is as early as possible during the course of the disease. It is important for a person with MS to be committed to the treatment thereafter. The earlier treatment is started and maintained, the greater the long term benefits may be for the person with MS. As it is a long-term chronic disease, so it is important for a person with MS to remain on disease-modifying therapy." MS took several forms, with new symptoms either occurring in isolated attacks or building up over time. Intermittently, symptoms might go away completely, but permanent neurological problems often occurred. He said that besides the disease modifying medications, alternate therapies such as exercise can help ease stiffness, fatigue and other symptoms of MS. Aerobics, swimming and yoga are good options to consider but prior consultation with your neurologist is required. Physical therapy can also help strengthen muscles, combat stiffness, and get around more easily, when balance and coordination is affected. Prof Athar claimed that hardly 10 percent of the patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis were being treated in Pakistan as treatment therapy was immensely costly in the country and beyond the reach of common people. “Treatment cost is very high” he informed, adding that with the use of medicines, MS patient could live a normal life. People living with MS often show scarce audacity, persistence, and grace in dealing with extraordinary challenges thrown up by their disease. "Coordinated efforts from all stakeholders including doctors, government institutes, NGOs, philanthropists, families, pharmaceutical companies, and patient support societies are greatly needed to combat MS with the government taking the lion’s share of responsibility in this regard," said Prof Athar. He concluded that it was time to acknowledge MS as a prevailing neurological disorder in Pakistan.
