Nervous Flashcards
Traumatic Brain Injury
Diagnosis: Assessment of brain function(Glasgow Coma Scale), information about probable cause, and brain imaging
Treatment: Depends on severity of injury, mild injuries can be resolved overtime with rest, surgery to remove foreign objects or broken bones, drugs(induce coma to reduce activity and inflammation), physical occupational, speech and language therapy
Spinal Cord Injury
Diagnosis: History, assessment of motor and sensory functions, after swelling subsides(motor and sensory functions are tested again), CT, x-ray, MRI
Treatment: Immobilization of head and neck, surgery(removal of fluid or bone fragments, fuse broken discs)
Epilepsy
Diagnosis: EEG, MRI and CT
Treatment: Antiseizure medications, no cure but can be controlled
Strokes
Diagnosis: CT, MRI, cerebral angiography
Treatment: Ischemic strokes(clot-busting drugs that are injected intravenously or directly near the brain), Hemorrhagic strokes(medicine that controls blood pressure, control intracranial pressure, counteract blood-thinning medications), surgery, intense rehabilitation of physical, speech, cognitive, and emotional complications of stroke
Trigeminal Neuralgia(Tic Douloureux)
Diagnosis: Physical exam and history
Treatment: Antiseizure medication, antidepressants, and analgesics
Bell’s Palsy
Diagnosis: Physical exam of the face, history(to rule out stroke, Lyme Disease, tumors), MRI, CT
Treatment: Anti-inflammatory medications, antiviral medications
Bacterial Meningitis
Diagnosis: Physical exam, history, analysis of CSF(spinal tap)(In bacterial meningitis CSF has low glucose and elevated leukocytes and protein), CT, MRI
Treatment: IV antibiotics, corticosteroids(control swelling)
Viral Meningitis
Treatment: Rest, analgesics, and anti-inflammatories
Encephalitis
Diagnosis: Lumbar puncture for CSF analysis, blood analysis, CT or MRI
Treatments: No specific treatment, symptoms can be treated with rest, analgesics, and anti-inflammatories
Rabies
Treatment: Begin as soon as exposure near the wound, immunoglobulin injections, vaccine
Shingles(Herpes Zoster)
Treatment: Antiviral agents, ice lotions, anti-inflammatories
Tetanus
Diagnosis: Patient history
Treatment: Cleaning and disinfecting wound, immunoglobulin injections to neutralize the toxin, immunization
Botulism
Diagnosis: Physical exam, patient history
Treatment: Infant(immunoglobulin), foodbourne(medications that promote vomiting and bowel movements), injected antitoxin, respiratory assistance may be needed
Reye Syndrome(RS)
Diagnosis: Patient history, liver biopsy(provides definitive diagnosis), blood test(reveals elevated fatty acids)
Treatment: Nonspecific, aims to lower intercranial pressure
Alzheimer’s Disease
Diagnosis: Examination and history, neurological exam, blood tests, CT and MRI, autopsy
Multiple Sclerosis(MS)
Diagnosis: History and neurological exam, MRI
Treatment: Physical and occupational therapy, antispasmodics(for muscle spasms), corticosteroids(control inflammation), antiseizure medications(tingling and numbness), immune system modulators
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(ALS)
Diagnosis: History of signs and symptoms, electromyogram, nerve conduction study, MRI
Treatment: Medications for symptoms, medication can slow the progression likely by lowering level of neurotransmitter glutamate, physical occupations and speech therapy
Parkinson’s Disease
Diagnosis: Physical exam, neurologic exam, history
Treatment: Levodopa(L-dopa) can reduce motor problems, Carbidopa can prolong levels of L-dopa, deep brain stimulation(for severe and advanced PD), counselling and medication for depression
Essential Tremors
Diagnosis: History, physical exam, blood tests, imaging tests
Treatment: Beta blockers, antiseizure medications, tranquilizers, physical and occupational therapy, deep brain stimulation
Huntington’s Disease
Diagnosis: History, patient interview, neurological exam, psychiatric exam, imaging(MRI) may appear normal, EEG can reveal changes, genetic testing can reveal and confirm the presence of defective genes
Treatment: Aimed at restoring muscle flexibility and movement, treating depression and related psychiatric conditions
Spina Bifida
Diagnosis: Measuring maternal levels of alpha feto protein, ultrasound and amniocentesis used to visualize the defect
Treatment: Surgery for meningocele, meningomyelocele, and myelocele, prenatal surgery, physical therapy, occupational therapy, and counselling help children adapt and develop classroom, mobility and bathroom skills
Hydrocephalus
Diagnosis: Physical exam, imaging with MRI or CT
Treatment: Implant shunt to help move and drain CSF to the jugular vein or peritoneal cavity(likely used for life)
Cerebral Palsy
Diagnosis: Depends on physical and neurological exams, CT, MRI, or brain ultrasound
Treatment: Anticonvulsant drugs, casts and braces, muscle relaxants, traction or surgery, physical and occupational and speech therapy
Brain Tumors
Diagnosis: Neurological exams, imaging via CT and MRI
Treatment: Chemotherapy or immunotherapy, surgery, radiation, rehabilitation, physical, occupational and speech surgery
