Definition

1. Noun:
   • A medical condition involving inflammation of many or all of the peripheral nerves: This term refers to a neurological disorder characterized by the simultaneous inflammation of multiple peripheral nerves. It is often associated with systemic diseases, infections, or nutritional deficiencies.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The patient was diagnosed with multiple neuritis, which explained the widespread pain and weakness.
  • Leprosy is a classic cause of multiple neuritis, leading to nerve damage and sensory loss.

Advanced Usage

• Clinical Context: The term is primarily used in medical and clinical descriptions to specify a pattern of nerve inflammation that is diffuse rather than isolated to a single nerve.
  • The differential diagnosis included Guillain-Barré syndrome and multiple neuritis.

Variants and Related Words

• Polyneuritis (n): A synonym often used interchangeably with "multiple neuritis," meaning inflammation of several peripheral nerves simultaneously.
  • Polyneuritis can result from chronic alcoholism or vitamin B deficiency.
• Peripheral neuropathy (n): A broader term for damage or disease affecting the peripheral nerves, which can include inflammatory (neuritis) and non-inflammatory causes.
• Neuritis (n): Inflammation of a nerve or nerves, which can be singular (mononeuritis) or multiple.

Synonyms

• Polyneuritis: Inflammation of many nerves.
• Peripheral polyneuritis: Specifies the inflammation affects the peripheral nervous system.

Notes on Meaning

• The term specifically denotes an inflammatory process. It is not used for peripheral nerve damage from compression, trauma, or metabolic causes without inflammation.
• It often implies a symmetrical, bilateral presentation affecting sensory and motor functions.

Noun

1. inflammation of many or all of the peripheral nerves (as in leprosy)