What is tropical spastic paraparesis?

What is tropical spastic paraparesis?

For several decades the term “tropical spastic paraparesis” (TSP) has been used to describe a chronic and progressive disease of the nervous system that affects adults living in equatorial areas of the world and causes progressive weakness, stiff muscles, muscle spasms, sensory disturbance, and sphincter dysfunction.

How do you get tropical spastic paraparesis?

Tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1–associated myelopathy is a slowly progressive disorder of the spinal cord caused by the human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1). The virus is spread through sexual contact, use of illegal injected drugs, exposure to blood, or breastfeeding.

What bacteria causes spastic paraparesis?

Tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP), is a medical condition that causes weakness, muscle spasms, and sensory disturbance by human T-lymphotropic virus resulting in paraparesis, weakness of the legs. As the name suggests, it is most common in tropical regions, including the Caribbean.

What are the symptoms of HTLV?

Initial symptoms are subtle and include gait problems, unexplained falls, low back pain, constipation, urinary urgency/incontinence and numbness or pain in the lower limbs. Over the years, progressive leg weakness ensues followed by the exacerbation of the urinary and sensory symptoms.

What causes Paraparesis?

Paraparesis: What you need to know. Paraparesis is the partial paralysis of both legs due to disrupted nerve signals from the brain to the muscles. Paraparesis can be caused by genetic factors and viral infections.

What is the difference between paraplegia and paraparesis?

Paraparesis occurs when you’re partially unable to move your legs. The condition can also refer to weakness in your hips and legs. Paraparesis is different from paraplegia, which refers to a complete inability to move your legs.

Is spastic paraparesis treatable?

There are no specific treatments to prevent, slow, or reverse HSP. Symptomatic treatments used for spasticity, such as muscle relaxants, are sometimes helpful. Regular physical therapy is important for muscle strength and to preserve range of motion. There are no specific treatments to prevent, slow, or reverse HSP.

Can HTLV-1 be cured?

There is no cure or treatment for HTLV-1 and it is considered a lifelong condition; however, most (95%) infected people remain asymptomatic (show no symptoms) throughout life.

Can you walk with paraparesis?

Most people diagnosed with paraparesis walk independently or with very little support. Some individuals with paraparesis may benefit from the use of crutches, cane, or splints. Very few people with paraparesis will require a wheelchair to maintain mobility.

Can Paraparesis be cured?

Currently, there is no cure for paraparesis. Symptom management is the main aim of treatment. It usually includes physical therapy and medication, such as muscle relaxants. Physical therapy and exercises may improve mobility by strengthening muscles and increasing endurance.

Is spastic paraparesis fatal?

Their blood pressure, pulse rate, and body temperature are also irregular. People with spastic paraplegia type 49 can develop recurrent episodes of severe weakness, hypotonia, and abnormal breathing, which can be life threatening.

What causes spastic paraparesis?

Most people with pure hereditary spastic paraplegia will have inherited a faulty gene from 1 of their parents. People with the complicated form of the condition will have usually inherited a faulty gene from both parents. The gene abnormality causes the long nerves in the spine to deteriorate.

How long can you live with HTLV-1?

For smoldering and chronic ATLL, median survival is estimated to be ∼30 to 55 mo (9), whereas survival is estimated to be 10 mo for the lymphomatous and 8 mo for the acute subtype, respectively (9). Of HTLV-1–infected patients, 0.25 to 3.8% develop HAM/TSP.

Will I get sick from HTLV?

HTLV-1 is a virus that can infect humans, similar to the influenza and hepatitis viruses. HTLV-1 infection has a long history in Japan, and being infected with it does not necessarily mean that you will get sick.

Can HTLV go away?

Most people infected with HTLV-I or HTLV–II will have few to no symptoms but can pass the infection on to others. After the initial infection, the virus never completely goes away but remains in the body in an inactive (latent) form.

Is spastic paraparesis inherited?

Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), also called familial spastic paraparesis (FSP), refers to a group of inherited disorders that are characterized by progressive weakness and spasticity (stiffness) of the legs. Early in the disease course, there may be mild gait difficulties and stiffness.

Can paraparesis be cured?

How does tropical spastic paraparesis happen?

Tropical spastic paraparesis/HTLV-1–associated myelopathy (TSP/HAM) is a slowly progressive viral immune-mediated disorder of the spinal cord caused by the human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1). It causes spastic weakness of both legs.

How is HTLV treated?

No treatments exist for acute or chronic HTLV infection. Antiretroviral agents have demonstrated the ability to inhibit HTLV replication, but there has been limited research in asymptomatic carriers of HTLV-1, in whom the proviral load is already typically low.

What is the spasticity?

Spasticity is a condition in which there is an abnormal increase in muscle tone or stiffness of muscle, which might interfere with movement, speech, or be associated with discomfort or pain. Spasticity is usually caused by damage to nerve pathways within the brain or spinal cord that control muscle movement.

Should I worry about HTLV?

Although a few individuals have severe symptoms, most patients remain asymptomatic throughout their lives and their infections may be unknown to many health professionals. HTLV-1 can be considered a neglected public health problem and there are not many studies specifically on patients’ needs and emotional experiences.

How do you get rid of spastic paraparesis?

Baclofen (a muscle relaxant) is the drug of choice to reduce spasticity. Alternatively, botulinum toxin (a bacterial toxin used to paralyze muscles or to treat wrinkles), clonazepam, dantrolene, diazepam, or tizanidine may be used. Some people benefit from using splints, a cane, or crutches.

Is there a cure for spastic paraparesis?

What do you need to know about tropical spastic paraparesis?

What is tropical spastic paraparesis? Tropical Spastic Paraparesis is a chronic and progressive disease of the nervous system and immune system that causes progressive weakness, stiff muscles, muscle spasms, sensory disturbance, and sphincter dysfunction. This condition occurs predominantly in tropical countries.

What are the symptoms of paraparesis in legs?

Paraparesis is the partial paralysis of both legs. It is characterized by progressive weakness and spasms in the legs. Symptoms can start anytime in life.

How does familial spastic paraparesis affect a child?

This type of paraparesis is known as familial spastic paraparesis, as develops from an inherited gene. The nerves of the carrier or parent increasingly deteriorate over time, causing the muscles to become weak and numb. This condition is then passed along to the child, resulting in the paralysis. 2. Tropical Spastic Paraplegia

What are the causes of tropical spastic paraplegia?

As the name implies, tropical spastic paraplegia is commonly seen in warmer regions or after a visit to a tropical area. The causes of paraparesis are highly dependent on the specific type of condition, either heredity spastic paraplegia or tropical spastic paraplegia.