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Suggest Treatment For Myasthenia Gravis

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Posted on Mon, 17 Nov 2014
Question: I would like to know about the effects of agent orange on the immune system. I am a Vietnam veteran and was diagnosd with myasthenia gravis mild bulbar witch is found more in Asian people then white americans. I also was contaminated with powerful levels of deets insect repellant and also malaria pills that my body rejected. I also have skin rashes and lost most of my teeth. do you think its more likely the not that their is a service connection to my damaged immune system?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (54 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Immune system Dysfunction

Detailed Answer:
Good evening

thank you for writing on health care magic

I have gone through your history. Is agent orange being used yet? i thought it was only during the 1960's that it was used.

As for connection of immune system to Insect repellents and agent orange, i am not too sure of the connection here. Immune sytem can be triggered by anything like a simple viral infection or some environmental agent. Whether these agents triggered it or not, is a hard thing to say.

As for the skin rashes and loss of teeth, i would like to know:

1.How are the skin rashes like and which part of the body they are present

2. Are they itchy

3. Do you have lot of dry mouth and dry eyes

4. Do you experience lot of hair fall..

5. If fluorosis prevalent in your population

6. Did you get your ANA levels tested

Do let me know these queries.
Myaesthenia Gravis does look unrelated to the agents you have been exposed. It is an autoimmune condition with the most common cause being Autoantibodies against the Acetycholine receptor.

Do let me know these queries
Would be happy to discuss it out with u..

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Naval Mendiratta (2 hours later)
agent orange is banned from use today. I was in the Vietnam war in 1968 and it was used as a defoliant. all veterans of the boots on the ground in Vietnam are considered contaminated by the veterans admin. between the stress of war and all the chemicals I was contaminated with I think it could not of bin good for my immune system. a lot of the diseases the V A approves are auto immune diseases. diabetes, heart disease, parkinsons, cancer, and it takes many years for these diseases to show. the skin rashes are blotchy and scale and sometimes itchy.fluorosis is not prevalent were I live that I know of. I don't experience a lot of hair fall but some. remember you don't have to be 100% sure just more likely than not (51% to 49%. to many things happened at the point of injestion to me. what are A N A levels?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Naval Mendiratta (51 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Immune system Dysfunction

Detailed Answer:
Good evening.


Well it is very difficult to say that the agents activated your immune system at that stage. IT can get dysfunctional itself or can be triggered by some factors. You are right in saying that the diseases present at a later stage, but if they really were triggered by those agents is hard to say

ANA levels is the Anti nuclear Antibody test which is used to detect the presence of Autoimmune phenomenon. It can be present in a variety of conditions,( even in normal people) but at the same times, it s presences indicates the autoimmune disease to be present. If you havent done it yet, you can get ANA and ENA Profile checked, which will give a better clue to the underlying condition

Do let me know your further queries

Regards
Dr naval
Note: For more detailed guidance, please consult an Internal Medicine Specialist, with your latest reports. Click here..

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
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Answered by
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Dr. Naval Mendiratta

Rheumatologist

Practicing since :2007

Answered : 754 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Myasthenia Gravis

Brief Answer: Immune system Dysfunction Detailed Answer: Good evening thank you for writing on health care magic I have gone through your history. Is agent orange being used yet? i thought it was only during the 1960's that it was used. As for connection of immune system to Insect repellents and agent orange, i am not too sure of the connection here. Immune sytem can be triggered by anything like a simple viral infection or some environmental agent. Whether these agents triggered it or not, is a hard thing to say. As for the skin rashes and loss of teeth, i would like to know: 1.How are the skin rashes like and which part of the body they are present 2. Are they itchy 3. Do you have lot of dry mouth and dry eyes 4. Do you experience lot of hair fall.. 5. If fluorosis prevalent in your population 6. Did you get your ANA levels tested Do let me know these queries. Myaesthenia Gravis does look unrelated to the agents you have been exposed. It is an autoimmune condition with the most common cause being Autoantibodies against the Acetycholine receptor. Do let me know these queries Would be happy to discuss it out with u.. Regards