Nervous System Flashcards
what are common signs and symptoms of brain neoplasms
- gradual onset
- focal neuro defects
- seizures
- headache
- confusion
- n/v, papilledema
diagnostic study of choice for brain neoplasm
MRI with contrast
% of brain neoplasms that are metastasis from other primary sites
1/2
what primary cancer sites metastasis to the brain?
lung, breast, melanoma, colon
which inherited disease increase risk of brain tumors?
neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1
retinoblastoma
most common type of brain neoplasm?
gliomas in the brain or spinal cord
List the major subtypes of gliomas
astrocytoma (35%) oligodendeogliomas, ependymomas (2%)
gliomas are more common in
males
what are the most common brain neoplasms in women?
Meningiomas (20%) schwannomas
what are the common signs and symptoms of acoustic neuroma? (vestibular schwannoma)
hearing loss (cochlear nerve) imbalance ( vestibular nerve)
diagnostic imaging for acoustic neuroma?
MRI with gadolinium enhancement
what causes botulism?
Clostridium botulinum: neurotoxin
what are the 2 routes to be infected with botulism?
- foodborne from canned food or raw honey
2. wound from trauma or IV drug use
adult prodromal signs & sxs of foodborne botulism?
GI: N/V, dysphagia, dry mouth
neuro: sudden onset diplopia, dilated, and fixed pupils
wound-borne vs foodborne botulism?
no GI symptoms in wound botulism
how fast does botulism progress?
12-36 hours and progress quickly over 1-2 days
how would you describe the paralysis in botulism?
bilateral DESCENDING flaccid paralysis
what are the SENSORY deficits associated with botulism?
blurred vision
how high is the fever in botulism?
no fever
what is a likely sequelae of botulism?
respiratory arrest and/or death
if you have recovered from botulism, will you have future immunity?
NO
what is an inflammation of the brain called?
encephalitis
what usually causes encephalitis?
- secondary to virus : HSV or west nile
- bacterial: mycoplasma pneumonia
- fungal
- autoimmune SLE or Hashimotos
- trauma
signs and sxs of encephalitis
fever altered conciousness personality changes, confusion seizures stiff neck n/v focal neurological deficits rash
Diagnostic test for encephalitis
CSF
ddx for encephalitis
- meningitis (can coexist with encephalitis)
- lyme
- syphilis
- CVA
- drug or alcohol intoxication
- intracranial tumor
RAPIDLY PROGRESSIVE INFLAMMATORY DEMYELINATING POLYNEUROPATHY
guillan-barre
what are common causes of Guillan barre syndrome
- post-viral 2-4 weeks or bacterial illness (2/3 cases) - resp most common and then GI
- post vaccination
- medication use: penicillin and anti-motility drug
bacteria associated with GBS
C JEJUNI
signs and symptoms of GBS
- progressive ASCENDING symmetric muscle weakness starting in the fingers and lower extremities
2. parasthesias, numbness
3. pain: shoulder girdle, back, butt, thighs
4. autonomic changes
5. SOB, resp
6. bladder/bowel change
- progressive ASCENDING symmetric muscle weakness starting in the fingers and lower extremities
what do you find in CSF analysis of GBS?
INCREASE CSF protein
normal WBC
what are stages of progession with GBS
3rd week= greatest weakness
recovery in 3-4 weeks after progression ceases
30% HAVE SXS FOR 3 years
Causative agents of bacterial meningitis?
- neisseria meningitides
- haemophilus influenza B
- streptococcus pneumonia (*80%)
signs and sxs of bacterial meningitis
rapid onset f/c stiff neck headache photophobia confusion seizures
how rapid is onset of bacterial meningitis?
very rapid
sequelae of bacterial meningitis
seizures
deafness
death
when do you see a petechial rash?
MENINGOCOCCAL
meningitis
what are the viral agents that cause viral meningitis
ENTEROviruses: coxsackie or echovirus (85%)
mumps
hsv 1 and 2
HIV
signs and sxs of viral meningitis
fever headache stiff neck altered mental status milk photophobia
which type of meningitis can have spontaneous recovery?
viral
2 positive physical exam signs for positive meningitis
Brudzinskis sign (Severe neck stiffness causes a patient's hips and knees to flex when the neck is flexed.) Kernigs Sign (Severe stiffness of the hamstrings causes an inability to straighten the leg when the hip is flexed to 90 degrees.)
diagnostic technique to diagnose meningitis
CSF exam and culture
what type of meningitis has low glucose in 60% of patients
BACTERIAL
what type of meningitis has lymphocytes in the CSF
VIRAL
ddx for meningitis
ecephalitis brain abcess febrile seizures subarachnoid hemmorahge toxoplasmosis CVA / stroke
how does herpes zoster most commonly present
painful unilateral vesicle eruption alone a single dermatome
physical therapy modality helpful for herpes zoster
UV light
what drug is primarily used to treat parkinsons disease can be used for herpes zoster
LEVODOPA
sequelae of herpes zoster
post-herpatic neuralgia
vaccination used to prevent herpes zoster
ZOSTAVAX
common signs and symptoms of acute poliomyelitis
5-10% develop symptoms
3 presentations:
1: abortive- flu like
2. non-paralytic - (aseptic meningitis) 3-7 days of abortive + stiff neck and back
3. paralytic - features above plus ASYMMETRIC, FLACCID LOWER MOTOR NEURON WEAKNESS AND INTENSE MYALGIA
common signs and symptoms of tetanus
- sore throat with dysphagia
- local muscle rigidity at site of entry
- headache
- lockjaw and risus sardonicus (sustained spasm of the facial muscles that appears to produce grinning)
- NO FEVER**
- muscle spasms and seizures
- respiratory compromise
tx for patient suspected of having tetanus
tetanus immunoglobulin immunization: diazepam IV: mag sulfate IV, and metranidazole
risk factors associated with strokes
advanced age diabetes hypertension smoking AFIB anti-coagulant therapy
defects caused by brainstem stroke
respiratory
heart rate
what are 2 causes of inadequate perfusion of brain in a stroke
infarction or ischemia
hemorrhage
what position do you put a stroke victim in
head and back 30 degree elevation to relieve intracranial pressure
what effect does smoking have in women on oral contraceptives
increase risk of MI and hemorrage stroke
what are some of side effects of HRT
CV: stroke, MI migraine headaches breasts; fibrocystic and breast cancer GI: cholelithiasis, N/V Uterus and ovaries : endometrial cancer, worsening of leimyomata
what determines the types of defects seen with TIAS
the location of ischemia in the brain
what are some of the symptoms of carotid artery deficit
ipsilateral blindness
contralateral hemiparesis with paresthesias
what are some of the symptoms of vertebrobasilar deficit
vertigo - main
confusion
sudden sensorineural deafness
ataxia: falling to the side of the lesion