Immunomodulating Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis — the Tasks and Role of a Neurological Nurse

Abstract

Multiple Sclerosis (SM) is the most common chronic inflammatory autoimmune demyelinating disease affecting the central nervous system. It affects mainly young people, aged 20–40.The onset of the disease usually takes the form or bouts followed by periods of remission. Immunomodulating treatment is a long-term therapy whose aim is to inhibit the occurrence of relapses and, in the long term-delay development of disability in a patient. The effectiveness of this treatment depends, among others, on the degree of preparation of the patient and their following the rules of the therapy. Most of the medication applied is administered by the patient at home as an injection or in the form of oral therapy. Nowadays two drugs are administered in hospitals. Since the very beginning of the treatment the patient and their family is provided with nursing care whose scope depends on the drug administered and on the condition of a patient. The procedures undertaken by the nurse include: educating the patient and their family in the preparation and administration of a drug, coping with adverse effects, monitoring the neurological and emotional condition of a patient and providing support during all treatment period. (JNNN 2018;7(4):160–165)