Mnemonics and stuff

Question 1

What is the mnemonic for cerebellar signs?

Answer 1

DANISH

Dysdiadochokinesis
Ataxia
Nystagmus
Intentional tremor
Slurred speech
Hypotonia

Question 2

Causes of pinpoint pupils?

Answer 2

Pinpoint Pupils are caused by oPiods and Pontine Pathology

Question 3

Valproate side effects?

Answer 3

VALPROATE

Vomiting
Alopecia (reversible)
Liver toxicity
Pancreatitis / pancytopenia
Retention of fat (weight gain)
Oedema (peripheral)
Anorexia
Tremor
Enzyme inhibition

Question 4

Causes of syncope?

Answer 4

HEAD, HEART & VESSELS!

CNS causes = HEAD
Hypoxia / Hypoglycaemia
Epilepsy
Anxiety / Ataxia
Dysfunctional brain stem (basivertebral TIA)

Cardiac causes = Heart

Stroke

Question 5

7 A’s of Alzeihmers?

Answer 5

Aphasia - Difficulty with language

Apraxia - Forgetting how to do common movements or activities when asked

Agnosia - Forgetting what common items are

Amnesia - Forgetting what you said in a short amount of time

Anomia - Difficulty finding words

Anosognosia - Inability to recognise something is wrong within oneself

Altered perception - Inability to judge changes to senses, e.g. day / night, depth perception so how far away or how high or low

Apathy - Not being able to initiate activities, need cues and hints

Question 6

4 A’s of Guillian-Barre Syndrome?

Answer 6

A - Acute inflammatory demyelinated polyneuropathy

A - Ascending paralysis

A - Autonomic neuropathy

A - Arrhythmias

Question 7

Four F’s of retinal detachment?

Answer 7

Floaters
Flashes
Field loss
Falling acuity

Question 8

Acquired causes of cataracts? (DAMAGED)

Answer 8

Diabetes
Age
Myopia
Anterior uveitis
Glaucoma
Electricity / radiation / trauma
Drugs (chlorpromazine, amiodarone, dexamethasone)

Question 9

Causes of optic atrophy (optic disc will look pale white bulging like ICING on a cake)

Answer 9

Ischaemia
Compressed nerve
ICP increased
Neuritis
Glaucoma

Question 10

Signs of optic neuropathy (PLAC 4F)

Answer 10

Pale optic disc
Loss of red colour vision / Loss of acuity
Afferent pupillary defect
Central scotoma

Flashers
Floaters
Falling acuity
Field loss

Question 11

Causes of optic neuropathy (NIGHT TIC)

Answer 11

Neuritis
Ischaemia (GCA, Vasculopathies)
Granulomatosis
Hereditary (e.g. Friedreichs ataxia)
Trauma

Toxins (methanol, amiodarone, methotrexate)
Irradiation
Compression