World Multiple Sclerosis Day Celebrated in Nepal with Awareness Programs

Kathmandu. For the first time in Nepal, World Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Day has been celebrated with various awareness programs. This day was celebrated in Lalitpur through the joint efforts of Multiple Sclerosis Society Nepal and Alka Hospital.

This day is celebrated worldwide every year on May 30. Multiple Sclerosis is a complex health problem in which antibodies within the body fail to recognize the body itself and damage the nerve sheath. Although it is estimated that more than 80 million people worldwide are affected by this disease, there is no exact data of its patients in Nepal.

According to experts, this disease is more common in people aged 20 to 40 years in Nepal. Although women are more affected than men, according to clinical data, it can occur at any age from an 8-year-old child to an 80-year-old elder.

On this occasion, neurologist Dr. Avinash Chandra of Alka Hospital stated that various lesions appear in the nerves of people with Multiple Sclerosis. This disease particularly affects the human brain and spinal cord. This disease is found to be caused by low immunity and hereditary reasons.

Although the exact cause of this disease is not known, various studies have shown that Multiple Sclerosis is more common in individuals with Vitamin D deficiency, those who have experienced viral infections multiple times, and those living in very cold places. Since the body's immune system attacks its own nerves considering them as foreign enemies, it is considered an 'autoimmune' disease. According to Dr. Chandra, if human nerves are understood as electrical wires, then when the outer protective sheath (myelin sheath) wears off, the signals transmitted from the brain are obstructed, and the symptoms of the disease begin to appear.

The main symptoms of this disease include seeing the same object twice (double vision), dizziness, loss of body balance, extreme fatigue, and feeling like an electric shock in the body. These symptoms tend to worsen when bathing with hot water or during hot weather.

Dr. Chandra informed that since the symptoms of this disease resemble those of other common illnesses, there is a high risk of incorrect treatment and misdiagnosis in Nepal. In some cases, the extreme fatigue felt by patients is attributed to other simple causes, leading to the risk of missing the actual disease. Therefore, he suggested consulting a healthcare professional with the question, 'Could this be Multiple Sclerosis?' if suspicious symptoms appear.

Although no medicine has been found to completely cure Multiple Sclerosis so far, effective medicines are available to slow the progression of the disease and reduce the physical damage caused by it. Since tests like MRI and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) examination are expensive, its diagnosis and treatment are considered costly.

However, due to the continuous advocacy of the Nepali government and the Multiple Sclerosis Society, arrangements have been made for the subsidized and easy availability of medicines like 'Rituximab', currently used for cancer treatment, for MS patients as well, informed Dr. Chandra.

Although this disease cannot be cured completely, it can be kept under full control with treatment. As the disease progresses, problems with breathing, nerve issues, and heart vessel problems can occur simultaneously, and if it develops, it can even lead to the patient's death. Therefore, Dr. Chandra urged to seek medical attention and start treatment immediately upon the appearance of symptoms.

Doctors believe that widespread public awareness is the primary prevention, as timely diagnosis and treatment can prevent the body from becoming disabled.