4. The Difference to Other Disorders
Although the disease does bear some similarities to other neurological conditions and shares common traits in terms of symptoms, there are plenty of examples of differences in terms of early-onset, eventual symptoms, and possible treatment options that set CIDP to one side. A major difference is that with CIDP, it is unlikely that a patient will be able to recall any preceding illness or infection, whereas, with similar disorders, the lead-up infection can be pretty conclusive in determining what comes next.
The symptoms of CIDP usually last up to 8 weeks, making them almost twice as long as the symptoms experienced by someone suffering from a similar disorder. Other disorders, such as GBS, may not bring about recurrences, however, the chronic nature of CIDP can leave a person with ongoing symptoms.
One of the only useful tools in a doctor’s toolkit, when it comes to diagnosing this illness, is the fact that it is quite different from other illnesses that affect the body in a similar way.