Myelitis is a disease involving swelling of the spinal cord, which disrupts central nervous system functions linking the brain and limbs.

Symptoms and signs

Symptoms vary by region of the CNS affected, and include fever, headaches, tingling, pain or loss of feeling, and may extend to central or peripheral paresis and loss of bladder control. Meningeal signs may develop.

Prognosis

Untreated myelitis may rapidly lead to a permanently damaged spinal cord.

See also

• Transverse myelitis