Common infections like colds and flu can cause multiple sclerosis (MS) to worsen, new research has found. The study, led by scientists from the University of Southampton and University Hospital Southampton, suggested that inflammation, which can be caused by infections like colds, flu and urinary tract infections (UTIs), is linked with the loss of nerve cells in the spinal cord, causing MS to progress. MS is caused by the immune system mistakenly attacking the nerves in the brain and spinal cord. Over time, this can lead to the loss of nerves, causing the condition to worsen. Over 150,000 peop…