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You are here : Healthopedia.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Diseases and Conditions > Multiple Sclerosis: Prevention & Expectations
      Category : Health Centers > Brain and Nervous System

Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple Sclerosis | Symptoms & Signs | Diagnosis & Tests | Prevention & Expectations | Treatment & Monitoring | Pictures and Images | Attribution


What can be done to prevent the disease?

There is no known prevention for multiple sclerosis.

What are the long-term effects of the disease?

Over the long term, the level of disability increases. People with the relapsing-remitting form of MS may notice sudden changes in function. People who have chronic, progressive MS will have a gradual loss of function.

A recent study showed that irreversible disability occurred earlier in individuals who had chronic, progressive MS from the onset. People with the relapsing-remitting form went longer before having irreversible disabilities. Once the irreversible disabilities started, however, these progressed at the same rate in both groups. MS eventually causes irreversible disabilities. It cannot be cured and never goes away.

Death in people with MS is generally related to complications of their disabilities. Common causes include:

  • bedsores that become infected
  • pneumonia
  • pulmonary embolus, or a blood clot that blocks the blood supply to the lungs
  • suicide
  • What are the risks to others?

    Multiple sclerosis is not contagious and poses no risk to others. However, it does tend to run in families.


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    Multiple Sclerosis: Diagnosis & Tests

     

    Multiple Sclerosis: Treatment & Monitoring

    Author: Gerald C. McIntosh, MD
    Reviewer: Eileen McLaughlin, RN, BSN
    Date Reviewed: 08/27/01









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    Page Last Updated: 6th April, 2009