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CJD
A guide for patients and carers
Are other conditions easily mistaken for CJD?
CJD is extremely rare.All the problems associated with it also occur in other less serious, potentially treatable and more common conditions.These need to be ruled out before a CJD diagnosis is made, and doctors will be very careful to do this, using the tests described above.
As mentioned, definite diagnosis requires brain examination and therefore can only be made following brain biopsy, which is rarely carried out, or only after the patient dies. However, doctors can usually make a very confident diagnosis on the basis of signs, symptoms and test results.
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Contents
- Introduction
- What is CJD?
- What are the different types of CJD?
- What precautions do I need to take to stop CJD spreading?
- Can I get CJD from eating meat?
- How does the brain of someone with CJD differ from normal?
- What causes CJD?
- What does "genetic susceptibility" to CJD mean?
- Is there a genetic test for CJD?
- Can CJD be avoided, and is it catching?
- What are the symptoms of CJD, and how does the disease progress?
- How is CJD diagnosed?
- Are other conditions easily mistaken for CJD?
- How is CJD treated?
- What impact can CJD have on families of poepl with the condition?
- What support is available for carers of people with CJD?
- Conclusion
- Organisations that may be able to help
