Christina Applegate hospitalized: Inside her double kidney infection amid MS struggles (symptoms, risk factors, treatment)

Time of India

17 hours ago

Christina Applegate, the 53-year-old actress known for Dead to Me and Married… with Children, has been hospitalized in Los Angeles after a painful kidney infection spread to both kidneys.
While visiting family in Europe, she began feeling unwell, then suffered excruciating pain during her return flight. She checked into a hospital immediately and underwent an emergency CT scan, which confirmed the infection.
The painful crisis comes amid her ongoing battle with multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic nerve condition she's openly shared since her diagnosis in 2021.
What happened
While visiting family in Europe, Applegate began feeling unwell.
Rather than wait it out, she sought immediate care upon returning to Los Angeles. She described intense pain, sudden onset on her right flank, radiating from back to front, so severe she thought her appendix might burst.
An emergency CT scan at 2 a.m. confirmed the diagnosis: a serious kidney infection that had spread from her right kidney to her left. Doctors initially suspected a urinary tract infection (UTI), but the CT revealed a deeper, more dangerous infection.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
This new air conditioner cools down a room in just seconds
News of the Discovery
Undo
What is MS and how it affects Applegate's health
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease that affects the central nervous system, specifically the brain and spinal cord. In MS, the immune system mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath, a protective covering of nerve fibers, causing inflammation and damage. This damage disrupts the communication between the brain and the rest of the body, leading to a wide range of neurological symptoms.
To break it down a bit more…
In MS, the body's immune system, which normally fights off infections, mistakenly attacks the myelin sheath that insulates nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord.
Central nervous system:
The central nervous system (CNS) is comprised of the brain and spinal cord, which are crucial for controlling bodily functions and transmitting messages.
Myelin damage:
The myelin sheath acts like insulation on electrical wires, allowing nerve impulses to travel efficiently. When the myelin is damaged (demyelination), it disrupts the signals, causing a variety of neurological symptoms.
Scar tissue formation:
As the myelin is damaged, scar tissue (sclerosis) may form in the CNS, further interfering with nerve signal transmission.
MS is unpredictable, and symptoms can fluctuate over time, with periods of relapse (worsening of symptoms) and remission (improvement).
Applegate, diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in 2021, has shared that MS has caused more than 30 hospital stays due to gut motility issues, vomiting, and diarrhea.
MS can slow down organ function, including the bladder and kidneys, raising the risk of UTIs and serious infections.
When the immune system is stressed and nerve communication is impaired, fighting infections becomes harder, a major concern for Applegate.
Symptoms of MS
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) symptoms vary widely but can include vision problems, numbness or tingling, muscle weakness and spasms, fatigue, cognitive changes, and bowel or bladder dysfunction. Symptoms can fluctuate and are often worse with heat or fever, according to the
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
.
Common symptoms include:
Vision problems:
Blurred or double vision, optic neuritis (painful vision loss), color distortion.
Numbness and tingling:
Can occur in the limbs, face, or other areas.
Muscle weakness and spasms:
Can affect walking, standing, and overall mobility.
Fatigue:
Can be debilitating and persistent.
Cognitive changes:
Problems with concentration, memory, and decision-making.
Bowel and bladder dysfunction:
Incontinence or difficulty with urination and bowel movements.
Pain:
Can include sharp, shooting pains or muscle spasms.
Speech problems:
Slurred speech or difficulty speaking clearly.
Dizziness and balance problems:
Can affect coordination and gait.
Depression:
Can be a common symptom or a secondary consequence.
Sexual problems:
Difficulty with arousal or maintaining an erection in men and decreased enjoyment in both men and women.
MS symptoms can be relapsing-remitting (periods of relapse and remission) or primary progressive (gradual worsening).
It's important to note that these symptoms can be similar to other neurological conditions, so a proper diagnosis is crucial.
Risk factors
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) is a complex disease influenced by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Key risk factors include age, sex, family history, certain infections, race, climate, vitamin D levels, obesity, smoking, and potentially the gut microbiome.
Let's take a detailed look:
Age:
Onset typically occurs between 20 and 40 years of age, though it can occur at any age.
Sex:
Women are 2 to 3 times more likely than men to develop relapsing-remitting MS.
Family history:
Having a first-degree relative with MS increases the risk of developing the disease.
Certain infections:
Exposure to viruses like Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is a strong risk factor.
Race:
People of white (particularly Northern European) descent have a higher risk.
Climate:
MS is more common in regions with temperate climates (further from the equator).
Vitamin D:
Low levels of vitamin D and limited sun exposure are associated with increased risk.
Obesity:
Obesity, especially in childhood, is a risk factor.
Smoking:
Smoking increases the risk of developing MS and can worsen the disease.
Gut microbiome:
Individuals with MS may have a different gut microbiome composition.
Moreover, having other autoimmune conditions can slightly increase MS risk.
Treatment
Since there is no cure for the disease yet, treatment for multiple sclerosis (MS) focuses on managing symptoms, slowing disease progression, and improving quality of life.
Treatment approaches include disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) to reduce relapses and slow progression, medications for specific symptoms, and rehabilitation therapies.
Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs):
Injectable medications:
These include interferon-beta and glatiramer acetate.
Oral medications:
Examples include dimethyl fumarate, fingolimod, teriflunomide, and siponimod.
Infusion therapies:
Examples include natalizumab, ocrelizumab, and alemtuzumab.
Treating relapses:
Corticosteroids:
Intravenous or oral corticosteroids can be used to reduce inflammation and shorten the duration of relapses.
Plasma exchange (plasmapheresis):
This is an option when corticosteroids are not effective.
Symptom management:
Muscle relaxants:
To reduce muscle stiffness and spasms (e.g., baclofen, tizanidine).
Fatigue management:
Exercise, healthy sleep patterns, and avoiding medications that worsen fatigue.
Pain management:
Various medications like amitriptyline, pregabalin, and gabapentin.
Bladder and bowel problems:
Medications and other therapies to manage these symptoms.
Cognitive and emotional issues:
Medications and therapies to address depression, anxiety, and cognitive problems.
Rehabilitation therapies:
Physical therapy:
To improve mobility, balance, and coordination.
Occupational therapy:
To help with daily living activities and adaptive equipment.
Speech therapy:
For communication and swallowing difficulties.
Some other considerations:
Stem cell transplant:
This is a more intensive treatment option for some individuals, involving the removal, treatment, and replacement of a person's own cells to reset the immune system, according to
Mass General Brigham
.
Nutritional counseling:
To support overall health and well-being.
Multidisciplinary approach:
Working with a team of healthcare professionals, including neurologists, physical therapists, and other specialists, is essential for comprehensive care.
In the case of Applegate, the actress has reportedly been receiving intravenous antibiotics (IV) around the clock, which is standard for bilateral kidney infections. She remained hospitalized for a week, undergoing extensive testing to ensure a correct diagnosis and rule out other conditions. Her goal: exhaustive testing until she fully understands what's triggering her intense pain and symptoms.