Myasthenia Gravis - Medtick

Myasthenia Gravis

What is it?

This condition is the most common autoimmune neuromuscular disorder.

  • It is a condition that makes voluntary muscles (muscles you control) weak around the body by affecting the normal message signals between nerves and muscle.
  • Symptoms can vary and is not usually painful except for neck muscles.

Myasthenia gravis symptoms can get worst (myasthenic crisis) by certain triggers these include:

Conditions:

Medication i.e.

Cause

  • An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks its own body tissue by producing antibodies that block signals from our nerves to our muscles

Symptoms

  • Eye(s)/eyelid muscles drooping causing blurred or double vision any visual problems, colour blindness, double vision, vision loss, difficulty focusing, and/or pain behind eye (One or both eyes can be affected)?
  • Muscles on the face affected, is one showing a change in facial expression e.g. a snarling smile?
  • Difficulty using arms, body and legs,lack of stamina and/or walking difficulties?
  • Aching, painful muscles, muscle cramps/spasms/stiffness?
  • Symptoms Improve with rest/sleep and/or symptoms worsen during activity?
  • Difficulty breathing or short of breath (particularly when exercising or lying flat)?
  • Difficulty chewing, swallowing, talking, slurred speech?
  • General discomfort (muscle weakness), uneasiness or ill feeling (malaise) and/or fatigue (tiredness)?

Complications /Information to beware of/General tips:

Medical Emergency Condition

And/or do not wait, phone for an ambulance if have or develop:

  • Myasthenia gravis symptoms become dramatically worst
  • Myasthenic crisis

Myasthenic crisis symptoms:

  • Difficulty breathing or speaking?
  • Skin between your ribs, around your neck, or on your abdomen pulls in when you breathe?
  • Morning headaches, or feeling tired during the daytime?
  • Waking up frequently at night or feeling like you are not sleeping well?
  • Weak cough with increased secretions (mucus or saliva) or an inability to clear secretions?
  • Weak tongue, trouble swallowing or chewing?
  • Weight loss?

This condition can be associated with:


Pregnancy

This condition can lead to:

Transient neonatal myasthenia gravis

Infants of mothers who have myasthenia gravis may develop a temporary (transient) form of the disorder beginning within approximately 48 hours after birth.

  • It is caused by genetic defects of muscle and nerve communication of the infant.
  • Symptoms include (Such abnormalities may be present for days to weeks, after which affected infants have normal muscle strength):
    • Generalized muscle weakness and low muscle tone (hypotonia)
    • Impaired sucking or swallowing
      A weak cry;
    • Breathing difficulties
    • Little spontaneous movement

Driving Authority


This condition may show similar symptoms to (all are Medical Emergency conditions):

Detailed Information

Please copy and paste any key words from the title: Myasthenia Gravis in the following respective 'Medtick References and/or Sources' to find out more about the disease (this also may include diagnosis tests and generic medical treatments).

  • NHS

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  • Cleveland Clinic

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  • Drugs.com

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  • National Organisation of Rare Diseases

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  • Verywell Health

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