In the case of Multiple Sclerosis, the myelin sheath disappearance is accompanied by diminishing the ability of nerves to conduct electrical impulses to and from the brain and this dysfunction causes various symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. Places where myelin is not present anymore(plaques or lesions) appear as scars: in Multiple Sclerosis these scars appear at different times and in different areas of the brain-stem and spinal cord. Multiple Sclerosis in simply term means many scars.
Diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis
Unlike many other diseases, there is not 100% positive or negative test for diagnosing Multiple Sclerosis, and none of the tests available will help doctors to provide a result 100% sure. So the doctor can diagnose a person with Multiple Sclerosis only after he take into account the person's symptoms, but after the patients rules out other possibilities. This method is called "clinical diagnosis".
Problems with diagnosis
Unfortunately for 10-15% of potential patients, a definite diagnosis can not be given yet even after all the available tests performed until now. However, may be excluded some important causes and symptoms of other diseases, and after a certain time, regular reviews and monitoring changes that occur in the person's condition, diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis can be given in most cases.
New diagnostic criteria for Multiple Sclerosis
International Medical and Scientific Committee of the International Federation of Multiple Sclerosis developed some criteria to help doctors to distinguish Multiple Sclerosis from other diseases that may have similar symptoms. This new diagnosis criteria for Multiple Sclerosis even after a single proliferation period symptoms, analyzing MRI results. Using the new criteria, a person can be diagnosed as having Multiple Sclerosis for surely as there can have MS or MS definitely lacking.
Clinical diagnosis
Early symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis are characterized by vague symptoms that occur sporadically over a prolonged period of time, and can also be attributed to other diseases. Even when a person shows classic symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis, they must to perfectly feet with the established criteria for clinical diagnosis, before doctor give certain diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. The criteria are the follows: "two different regions of the central nervous system are affected, and their effects were felt in at least two different moments located at least one month difference from each other, and the person falls into the specific age of onset Multiple Sclerosis". With all that it is possible to be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis at the first visit to a neurologist, and is quite likely to be called for further tests.
