Headache Flashcards
Meningism definition:
- Irritation of the meninges
Meningsm: clinical signs (3)
- Headaches
- Neck stiffness
- Photophobia
Kernig’s sign
- Test for?
- Positive test if???
- Test for meningism
- inability to straighten the leg where the hip is flexed to 90 degrees
Brudzinski’s sign:
- Tests for what?
- Positive test if?
- Meningism
- Patient’s hips and knees to flex when the neck is flexed
Encephalitis definition:
- Inflammation of the brain parenchyma
Encephalitis symptoms:
- Specific symptoms (3)
- General symptoms
- Personality/behavioural changes
- Seizures
- Focal neurological deficit (body function issues)
- Fever, headache, confusion
Causes of viral encephalitis: (3)
H
E
T
- HSV
- Enteroviruses
- travel related viruses
Meningitis definition:
- Inflammation of the meninges
Causes of meningitis: (2)
- Neissera meningitidis
- Streptococcus pneumoniae
Meningitis symptoms:
- Specific (4)
- General
- Rash
- Neck stiffness
- Vomiting
- Shock
- Fever, headache, confusion
Cerebral abscess definition:
- Focal collection within the brain parenchyma, which can arise as a complication of a variety of infections, trauma, or surgery
Cerebral abscess: symptoms
H
S
F
C
F N
- Headache
- Seizures
- Fever
- Confusion
- Focal neurology
Cerebral abscess: causes (2)
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Streptococcus spp
Cerebral malaria: definition
- Severe form of P.falciparum malaria that causes cerebral manifestations
Cerebral malaria: symptoms
F
H
G M
GI
R C
S
- Fever
- Headache
- General malaise
- GI symptoms in children
- Reduced consciousness
- Seizures
Cerebral malaria: causes
- P. falciparum (parasite) transmitted following bite from infected female anophele’s mosquito
Features of severe malaria:
H
A
S B
P O
S
- Hypoglycaemia
- Acidosis
- Spontaneous bleeding
- Pulmonary oedema
- Shock
Clinical features of headache due to sinusitis:
- Pain
- At least 2 of these N…. symptoms
- Frontal Headache
- At least two of these nasal symptoms:
1. Nasal blockage
2. Rhinorrhoea/discharge
3. Loss of smell
4. Facial pressure/tenderness
Imaging modalities for cranial infections: (2)
- CT scan for head
- MRI for brain
Microbiological investigations for diagnosis of cerebral infections: (3)
- Blood cultures (prior to antibiotics)
- Bacterial and viral throat swabs
- CSF (if safe)
Microbiological investigations for:
- Meningococcal
- Enterovirus
- Meningococcal: blood
- Enterovirus: pneumococcal PCR stool
What to do if meningococcal infection is suspected?: (3)
- MEDICAL EMERGENCY
- Treatment required before results of investigation
- Immediately administer benzylpenicillin or ceftriaxone
What to do if HSV Encephalitis is suspected?:
- Drug : IV A…
- NEUROLOGICAL EMERGENCY
- Requires treatment before results of investigation
- Administer IV Aciclovor 10mg/Kg TDS for 14-21 days
What factors enhance Antibiotic CSF entry?: (3)
- High lipid solubility
- Low molecular weight
- Low protein binding