General Neuro Flashcards
Most common cause of meningitis in adults
Streptoccocus pneumoniea
Most common cause of bacterial meningitis in children
Infants: Group B strep
Older kids/adolescents: strep pneumoniea followed by neisseria
Most common cause of viral meningitis in kids
Enterovirus
Differences between bacterial and viral meningitis
1-Bacterial= rapid onset, severe/life threatening; how mortality w/o txt
2- viral= gradual onset, higher prevalence but rarely fatal, can cause long term effects
Patho of guillain-barre
-Bodies immune system attacks myelin in PNS
- antibodies target ganglio sides on peripheral nerves= immune mediated nerve damage
- t and b cell activation= inflammation and demyelination
Autonomic nervous system is responsible for…
Smooth muscle control
Fight or flight response
Divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic.
What is the defining clinical feature of Guillain Barre syndrome?
Bilateral Ascending paralysis
Pathophysiology of MS
-Autoimmune
- t and b cells activate inflammatory pathways and damage myelin
- oligodendrocytes damaged–> can’t repair myelin—> sclerotic plaques in white matter form
- Axonal damage causes irreversible neuronal loss
Hallmark of ALS
-Degeneration of motor neurons in brain and spinal cord
- causes progressive muscle weakness
Hallmark of myasthenia gravis
Muscle weakness that worsens with activity and improves with rest
Primary mechanism of bell’s palsy
Inflammation and edema of facial nerve canal
Primary mechanism of trigeminal neuralgia
Compression of trigemental nerve, usually by a blood vessel
Primary mechanism behind migraines
-Activation of the trigeminovascular system
- calcitonin gene related peptide= potent vasodilator, causes sensitization of pain pathways, neurogenic inflammation
Most common trigger for migraine with aura
Bright flashing lights
Stress
Sleep changes
Primary mechanism for chronic tension headaches
Central nervous hypersensitivity with the development of central sensitization
