Cranial Nerve Testing AND Acute Otitis Media Flashcards
Most frequent diagnosis in sick children visiting the pediatricians office
-80% of children under 2 have experienced this
Acute Otitis Media (AOM)
Acute otitis media is a
Bacterial infection of the middle ear
What are some major risk factors for AOM?
Age (6-18 months), day care, lack of breast feeding, tobacco smoke, pacifier use
Shorter and more horizontal in children, making it easier to get AOM
Eustachian tube
In AOM, we see inflammatory edema of the mucosa of the
Nose, nasopharynx, and Eustachian tube
In AOM, the Eustachian tube gets obstructed, which causes a negative middle ear pressure that leads to
Fluid accumulation
In AOM, the eardrum is initially stretched
Inward
Once the infection progresses and fluid pressure has built up, the tympanic membrane
Bulges outward
Fever, irritability, headache, poor feeding, and disturbed sleep are symptoms of
AOM in infants
The most common symptom of AOM in older children is
Ear pain (otalgia) and ear tugging
AOM is defined by examining the tympanic membrane, where we would see
Bulging of membrane, and posible whitish discoloration
How do we test the Opthalmic nerve (CN I)?
By recognition of odors (test one nostril at a time)
To test for the Optic nerve (CN II) we would do a
Visual field test and look for visual acuity and pupillary light reflex
How can we test cranial nerves III, IV, and VI?
The H test to check eye muscle movements
When testing CN III, it is important to distinguish the
Somatic motor function from the autonomic function
How can we distinguish the somatic motor and parasympathetic innervation from CN III?
Somatic motor will be inferior and medial rectus and inferior oblique
Parasympathetic will be to tet sphincter pupillae
Ptosis is going to be a lesion in either
CN III or a sympathetic lesion (we have to distinguish)
How can we test the Trigeminal nerve (CN V)?
Cutaneous sensation (for all 3 divisions) and mastication (for V3)
Testing sensation above the eyes tells us about the
Opthalmic division (V1) of V
Testing sensation between the eyes and mouth lets us test the
Maxillary division (V2) of the Trigeminal nerve
Testing sensation below the mouth tells us about the
Mandibular division (V3) of the trigeminal nerve
To test for the mandibular division, we can also check mastication. If there is a lesion, upon protrusion, the mandible will deviate
TOWARDS the side with the lesion (due to paralysis of ipsilateral lateral pterygoid)
How can we test the Facial Nerve (VII)
Facial movements, facial symmetry, posterior auricular sensation, and taste
If we test the ability to close the eyes tightly we are testing the
Orbicularis oculi which is innervated by VII