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Differential Diagnosis for Unilateral Pain, Weakness, and Muscle Spasms potentially caused by EBV

Single Most Likely Diagnosis

  • Multiple Sclerosis (MS): Although not directly caused by EBV, there's a known association between EBV infection and an increased risk of developing MS. MS can present with unilateral neurological symptoms including pain, weakness, and muscle spasms due to demyelination in the central nervous system.

Other Likely Diagnoses

  • Radiculopathy: EBV can cause radiculopathy, leading to unilateral pain, weakness, and muscle spasms due to nerve root inflammation or compression.
  • Neuralgic Amyotrophy (Parsonage-Turner Syndrome): This condition can be triggered by viral infections, including EBV, and presents with acute, severe pain and subsequent weakness and atrophy of the affected muscles, often unilaterally.
  • Myelitis: EBV can cause myelitis, an inflammation of the spinal cord, which may result in unilateral or bilateral symptoms of pain, weakness, and muscle spasms, depending on the level and extent of spinal cord involvement.

Do Not Miss Diagnoses

  • Guillain-Barré Syndrome: Although typically presenting with bilateral symptoms, Guillain-Barré Syndrome can occasionally start unilaterally. It's a post-infectious autoimmune condition that can be triggered by EBV and leads to ascending paralysis.
  • Spinal Cord Compression: Due to a tumor or abscess, which could be related to EBV infection in rare cases (e.g., lymphoma), spinal cord compression can cause unilateral or bilateral neurological deficits, including pain, weakness, and muscle spasms.
  • Transverse Myelitis: A condition that can be associated with viral infections, including EBV, and involves inflammation across a segment of the spinal cord, potentially leading to severe neurological symptoms.

Rare Diagnoses

  • EBV-associated Meningitis or Encephalitis: While EBV is more commonly associated with infectious mononucleosis, it can rarely cause meningitis or encephalitis, which might present with unilateral or bilateral neurological symptoms, including pain, weakness, and muscle spasms.
  • Neurolymphomatosis: A rare condition where lymphoma infiltrates the peripheral nerves, which could potentially be related to EBV infection, given its association with certain types of lymphoma. It can cause a variety of neurological symptoms, including pain, weakness, and muscle spasms.

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This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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