myelitis

Myelitis is inflammation of the spinal cord which can disrupt the normal responses from the brain to the rest of the body, and from the rest of the body to the brain. Inflammation in the spinal cord can cause the myelin and axon to be damaged resulting in symptoms such as paralysis and sensory loss. Myelitis is classified to several categories depending on the area or the cause of the lesion; however, any inflammatory attack on the spinal cord is often referred to as transverse myelitis. Types of myelitis Myelitis lesions usually occur in a narrow region but can be spread and affect many areas. Acute flaccid myelitis: a polio-like syndrome that causes muscle weakness and paralysis. Poliomyelitis: disease caused by viral infection in the gray matter with symptoms of muscle paralysis or weakness Transverse myelitis: caused by axonal demyelination encompassing both sides of the spinal cord Leukomyelitis: lesions in the white matter Meningococcal myelitis (or meningomyelitis): lesions occurring in the region of meninges and the spinal cord Osteomyelitis of the vertebral bone surrounding the spinal cord (that is, vertebral osteomyelitis) is a separate condition, although some infections (for example, Staphylococcus aureus infection) can occasionally cause both at once. The similarity of the words reflects that the combining form myel(o)- has multiple (homonymous) senses referring to bone marrow or the spinal cord.