Paralysis

A complete loss of motor function, often accompanied by loss or impairment of sensation, in a body region due to dysfunction of the central or peripheral nervous system, resulting in inability to initiate or execute voluntary movement.

Causes

• Central nervous system causes

  • Stroke

  • Traumatic brain injury

  • Multiple sclerosis

  • Cerebral palsy

  • Spinal cord injury

  • Spina bifida

  • Meningitis

  • Encephalitis

  • Brain or spinal cord tumors

• Peripheral nervous system causes

  • Guillain-Barré syndrome

  • Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)

  • Peripheral nerve compression or injury

  • Nerve entrapment disorders

  • Peripheral neuropathies

• Infectious causes

  • Poliomyelitis

  • Viral or bacterial infections affecting motor pathways

• Toxic and metabolic causes affecting nerve function

  • Neurotoxins (kidney failure, liver failure)

  • Heavy metal neurotoxicity: Lead, mercury, arsenic, and manganese

  • Drug-induced neurotoxicity: Chemotherapy, antibiotics, antiepileptics, ketamine, nitrous oxide, amphetamine, cocaine, heroin

  • Metabolic disorders: Diabetes mellitus, hypothyroidism, porphyria, lack of vitamin B12/B1/B6/E

• Traumatic causes

  • Spinal cord trauma

  • Peripheral nerve trauma

  • Brain injury

• Congenital neurological disorders

• Autoimmune neurological diseases