Meganblase Syndrome: A Comprehensive Guide to Diagnosis
Meganblase Syndrome (MBS) is a rare, debilitating disorder that affects the parts of the brain that control mobility. The symptoms of MBS include difficulty speaking and swallowing, difficulty breathing, diminished consciousness, drooling, dysphagia, fatigue, fever, low blood pressure, seizures, and sensory impairment. Symptoms may be present early in life or manifest later on. There are currently no known methods to cure this disease. Read on to learn more about how it’s diagnosed and what treatments are available for MBS patients.
DEFINITION OF MBS AND SYMPTOMS
Meganblase Syndrome (MBS) is a rare, debilitating disorder that affects the parts of the brain that control mobility. Symptoms may be present early in life or manifest later on. There are currently no known methods to cure this disease. MBS is characterized by symptoms such as difficulty speaking and swallowing, difficulty breathing, diminished consciousness, drooling, dysphagia, fatigue, fever, low blood pressure, seizures and sensory impairment.
Early symptoms may include mild to moderate dysarthria. Later symptoms can be more serious and include dysphagia, which is a condition in which the muscles in your throat don’t work properly and cause choking. Dysphagia leads to a loss of appetite and in some cases leads to malnutrition in children who have MBS because it can impact their ability to swallow food or liquids for nutrition.
To diagnose a person with MBS a neurologist will conduct a comprehensive neurological exam to assess the following:
- Brainstem auditory evoked response (BAER)
- Cerebral spinal fluid analysis
- Electromyography
- Electroencephalogram
- Muscle strength testing
- Neck movement assessment
- Neurophysiological study of speech sound production
The diagnosis of MBS requires extensive tests and requires an expert to accurately assess if someone has this disease or not.
CAUSES OF MBS
MBS is an autoimmune disorder that causes inflammation in the brain. It begins in the cerebellum, which controls balance and coordination, and travels to other areas of the brain.
The disease is caused by a genetic mutation that leads to mutations in proteins or enzymes. These changes cause immune cells, called T lymphocytes, to attack healthy tissue in the cerebellum. This leads to inflammation and damage in the cerebellum.
Although MBS has no known cure, treatments are available for patients suffering from it. Treatments focus on reducing inflammation and preventing further damage in the cerebellum.
Some common treatments include medications like acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, steroids, immunosuppressants, antiepileptics and enzyme replacement therapy.
DIAGNOSIS OF MBS
In order to diagnose MBS, a patient must have had the disorder for at least three months and be experiencing at least one of the following:
- difficulty speaking or swallowing
- decreased consciousness
- drooling
- dysphagia
- fatigue
- fever
- seizures
The patient’s family members also need to know that he or she has been diagnosed with MBS. In some cases, a family member may suspect that their loved one is suffering from MBS. In these cases, a consultation with a neurologist can help determine if it’s true. The neurologist will then order lab tests and conduct an exam. Once they’ve determined that there is a chance that the patient has MBS, they’ll start treatment as soon as possible.
TREATMENT FOR MBS
MBS is the result of a developmental disorder that alters the way the brain responds to signals from the spinal cord. Currently, there are no known ways to cure MBS, but medication and physical therapy may help alleviate some symptoms.
The following guidelines can help in diagnosing MBS:
- A child with MBS will have difficulty speaking and swallowing, drooling, dysphagia, fatigue, fever or seizures
- A child with MBS will have difficulty breathing or have a diminished consciousness
- A child with MBS will not be able to walk independently
- A diagnosis is usually made after an examination by a physician
NON-MEDICAL TREATMENT
MBS is a rare disease that affects the parts of the brain that control mobility. The symptoms of MBS include difficulty speaking and swallowing, difficulty breathing, diminished consciousness, drooling, dysphagia, fatigue, fever, low blood pressure, seizures and sensory impairment. Symptoms may be present early in life or manifest later on. There are currently no known methods to cure this disease.
One type of treatment for people with MBS is physical therapy. Physical therapists can help teach patients how to move around in their homes and work environments more easily so they don’t drop anything or fall down. They also work on how patients balance themselves while walking so they can avoid falls when they get dizzy or want to stop moving at all costs.
Physical therapists can also work on improving how patients use their hands while doing activities like eating or drinking by showing them exercises that will better prepare them for these day-to-day tasks. Another option for treating MBS is occupational therapy where therapists can talk with patients about ways to perform everyday tasks more easily while avoiding certain movements that are painful or difficult for them.
MEDICAL TREATMENT
MBS is a rare genetic disorder that affects the nervous system. Diagnosis of MBS is difficult because the symptoms are similar to many other disorders. It can be challenging for doctors to pinpoint which symptoms are caused by MBS and which are due to another condition.
One of the most common treatments for MBS is physical therapy. Physical therapy for this disease often includes exercise, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and sensory stimulation techniques. However, no treatment can cure or prevent MBS. There is currently no known prevention method or cure for the disease.
Another popular treatment method for MBS patients is through medication. Medications may be administered orally or through intravenous infusions in order to control symptoms such as seizures and low blood pressure. However, both types of medications have been shown to be ineffective at times and may cause serious side effects, particularly with oral administration.
The disease is diagnosed through a combination of physical exam findings and neuroimaging studies such as CT scans or MRI scans. The diagnosis of MBS can be challenging because there are no specific criteria for the disease and it often presents in a variety of forms. Patients must undergo a thorough evaluation before being given a definitive diagnosis.
Meganblase Syndrome is a rare, debilitating disorder that affects mobility. There is currently no known cure for Meganblase Syndrome, but there are treatments available to help MBS patients manage the condition through rehabilitative care.