Neurology Flashcards
HA red flags that prompt further eval
dramatic increase in HA severity HA that awakens CH from sleep change in est. HA pattern gradually increasing frequency & severity suggests increasing ICP
PE finding for intracranial HTN
papilledema
PE for HA
growth, HC, BP
intracranial HTN (papilledema)
focal neurologic signs
general- rhinitis, dental abscess, bruit, head trauma, hematoma, skull step-off
red flags in hx/PE for HA may entail further investigation with what
head imaging (CT for hemorrhage, MRI for tumor & cerebellar imaging)
electroencephalography (EEG)
+/- sleep deprivation
tension HA
diffuse
symmetric
often related to fatigue
cluster HA
extreme deep pain in & around one eye
migraine
triggered by stess
vomiting
FH
migraine classification
migraine w/ aura (visual or otherwise)
“ “ w/o aura
complicated migraine (transient focal abnormality)
migraine equivelent
paroxysmal torticollis
attacks of head tilt, +/- vertigo, vomiting
requires r/o posterior fossa pathology
benign paroxysmal vertigo
attacks of unsteadiness w/ nystagmus & vomiting followed by sleep
may precede development of typical migraine
requires r/o epilepsy & CNS tumor
cyclic vomiting
protracted attacks of vomiting, 1-4x/hr, up to 5 days
requires r/o epilepsy, GI d/o, urea cycle d/o
abdominal migraine
attacks of migraine lasting 1-72 hrs, untreatable by other means
midline, dull, mod-severe pain
assoc. w/ anorexia, n/v, pallor
dx often by response to anti-migraine therapy
requires r/o other GI d/o
confusional migraine
episodic disorientation/ combativeness, sometimes followed by HA
requires r/o drug abuse, epilepsy, CNS ischemia
Therapy for migraine acute episode
sleep
acute tx- acetaminophen, ibuprofen, sumatriptan, other triptans
rescue tx- NSAIDs, promethazine, metoclopramide
migraine prophylaxis
create mgnt plant to prevent stressors
biofeedback (stress reduction)
physical modalities (massage, PT, exercise)
meds (usu. involves a neurologist)
cyproheptadine
antihypertensives (propranolol, verapamil)
TCAs- amitriptyline, nortriptyline
anticonvulsants- valproate, topiramate, gabapentin
HA summary
r/o underlying pathology address exacerbating factors mgnt plan meds (start w/ acetaminophen, ibuprofen) abortive agents daily prophylaxis (neurologist)
pseudotumor cerebri
increased ICP in absence of identifiable intracranial mass/ hydrocephalus
postulated to be d/t impaired CSF reabsorption
Risk factors of pseudotumor cerebri
obesity female sinus thrombosis head injury chronic CO2 retention SLE
Acute S&S of intracranial HTN in pseudotumor cerebri
HA pulse synchronous tinnitus pain behind the eye pain w/ eye movements transient visual obscurations blurred vision/double vision CN VI paresis vomiting macrocphaly altered behavior
Chronic S&S of intracranial HTN in pseudotumor cerebri
growth impairment
optic atrophy
visual field loss
total blindness
Diagnosing pseudotumor cerebri (one of exclusion)
CT- r/o hydrocephalus
MRI- r/o intracranial mass, hydrocephalus
Ophthalmologic- papilledema, optic n. changes
LP- measurement of opening pressure, normal CSF pnl & cx
Tx of pseudotumor cerebri
tx underlying causes- wt loss is mainstay of therapy, tx anemia
medical tx-
diuretics
acetazolamide (Diamox) causes peripheral paresthesias &
metabolic taste to carbonated soft drinks
furosemide (Lasix)
glucocorticoids
lumbar puncture
surgical tx- optic n. sheath decompression, lumboperitoneal shunt
Seizures
a sudden, transient disturbance of brain function, manifested by involuntary, motor, sensory, autonomic, or psychic phenomena, alone or in a any combo often accompanied by alteration of LOC
epilepsy
repeated seizures w/o evident cause
recurrent, unprovoked seizures
classification of seizures
symptomatic- cause is identified/ presumed
idiopathic- cause is unknown/ presumed to be genetic
Examples of symptomatic seizure
infxn (meningitis/encephalitis) trauma metabolic (hypoglycemia, hyponatremia) hypoxic tumor malformation (hydrocephalus)
nonepileptic paroxysmal events
benign nocturnal myoclonus shudder attacks tics & Tourette's syndrome sleep orders- night terrors, sleepwalking/talking, cataplexy, narcolepsy nightmares migraine- BPV, paroxysmal torticollis conversion rxn & pseudoseizure GERD masturbation hypoglycemia temper tantrums & breath-holding syncope & vasovagal events paroxysmal dystonia/ choreoathetosis
Seizure
hx- events prior, during, after exam lab- CBC, metabolic abnormalities CT scan/ MRI EEG- not sensitive or specific, may help classify seizure type to determine therapy, may reveal subclinical seizures
Seizure Tx
ABCs- protect against self-injury, airway clearance, monitor ABCs
anticonvulsants- if seizures are prolonged/hindering ABCs
education- seizure precautions, meds, daily life swimming, adequate sleep, driving, pregnancy
Seizure meds
abortive meds: benzodiazepines lorazepam parenterally diazepam orally/rectally midazolam nasally, PO, rectally phenobarbital & fosphenytoin LT anticonvulsants- different drug classes used for different types of epilepsy
febrile seizure is a convulsion assoc. w/ a temp > than
38.0 C
MC type of CH seizure
febrile seizure
incidence 2-5% of CH under 5 yo
peak occurrence 18-24 mo
When are febrile seizures most likely to occur (age)
6 mo-5yo
seizure in younger infant should concern you
some CH under 5 yo who develop febrile seizures may have persistant febrile seizures further on into CH
Febrile seizures are not d/t
CNS infxn/ inflammation
no acute systemic metabolic abnormality that may produce convulsions
no hx of previous febrile seizures
Criteria for simple febrile seizure (SFS) (65-90%)
duration under 15 min, total duration less than 30 min if in series
no recurrence in 24 hrs
no focal features
Complex febrile seizure (CFS)- meets 1+ criteria
duration > 15 mins
recur in series for total duration > 30 min or more than 1 seizure in 24 hr period
focal features
etiology of febrile seizure
infxn: HSV 6 (roseola), influenza, rotavirus
immunization-related fever
predisposing factors
heredity, inhibitory NT production, maternal alcohol intake &
smoking during pregnancy raises risk 2-fold
fever variability in febrile seizures
degree of fever is widely variable
ht of fever does not seem to correlate w/
onset of seizure
often the first sign of illness
simple febrile seizures MC are generalized & tonic-clonic
DDx for febrile seizure
chills/rigors b/c of fever meningitis encephalitis intracranial tumor metabolic d/o meurologic d/o (developmental delay)
fevers in infants under 3 mo old
10% who appear well have a T > 38 C have a serious bacterial infxn or meningitis