May 30th is the World Multiple Sclerosis Day, a chronic inflammatory disease that compromises patients’ lives by causing motor and sensory difficulties. The condition affects young people, mainly women between 20 and 40 years old.

The disease is rare and very difficult to diagnose in its early stages. Its main symptoms are tingling, difficulty walking, imbalance and vision problems – which happen in unpredictable outbreaks. Regardless of treatment, these symptoms always come and go.

Currently, the best test to diagnose Multiple Sclerosis is MRI, which shows if there is any damage or scarring in the myelin sheath (the layer that surrounds the nerves). It detects between 87 and 100% of patients, unlike Computed Tomography, which only reaches 52%.

In case of symptoms, seek medical assistance and demand a safe MRI!

Sources: Drauzio Varella and article “Magnetic resonance imaging in multiple sclerosis: analysis of 270 cases”.