Neuro Flashcards
What are the common bacterial causes of meningitis?
Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Tuberculosis, Neisseria meningitidis
What are the common viral causes of meningitis?
Enterovirus, mumps
What is the pathophysiology of meningitis?
Hematogenous spread → endothelial injury → meningeal invasion → inflammation → bacterial entry into CSF
What are the classic symptoms of meningitis in children?
Fever, headache, photophobia, neck stiffness, back pain, altered mental status
What is Kernig’s sign?
Painful knee extension when the hip is flexed
What is Brudzinski’s sign?
Neck flexion leads to knee flexion
What are the contraindications for a lumbar puncture?
Brain mass, increased ICP, recent head injury, tumor, blood dyscrasias, localizing neurological signs
What is the first-line empiric antibiotic therapy for neonatal bacterial meningitis?
Ampicillin + gentamicin or Ampicillin + cefotaxime
What is the first-line empiric antibiotic therapy for non-neonatal bacterial meningitis?
Ceftriaxone or cefotaxime + vancomycin
What are the complications of meningitis?
Encephalitis, cerebral abscess, sensorineural hearing loss
What is the most common cause of cerebral palsy?
Non-progressive insult or injury to the developing brain
What are the three main types of cerebral palsy?
Spastic, Dyskinetic, Ataxic
What are the risk factors for cerebral palsy?
Prematurity, birth asphyxia, neonatal infections, hypoxia-ischemic insult, kernicterus
What are the common symptoms of cerebral palsy?
Developmental delay, spasticity, abnormal movements, difficulty with feeding and speech
What are the signs of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?
Gower’s sign, proximal muscle weakness, waddling gait
What is the primary pathology in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy?
Deficiency of dystrophin protein leading to progressive muscle degeneration
What are the clinical features of hydrocephalus in infants?
Irritability, poor feeding, vomiting, large head, bulging fontanelle
What are the common causes of communicating hydrocephalus?
Failure of CSF resorption (e.g., post-meningitis) or overproduction (choroid plexus papilloma)
What are the common causes of non-communicating hydrocephalus?
Obstruction due to tumors, aqueductal stenosis, Chiari malformation
What is the management of hydrocephalus?
Mannitol, propped-up position, urgent neurosurgical referral, CSF shunt (VP, VA, ventriculopleural)
What is the definition of epilepsy?
At least two unprovoked seizures occurring more than 24 hours apart
What are the different types of seizures?
Focal onset, Generalized onset, Unknown onset
What is the treatment for focal epilepsy?
Carbamazepine
What is the treatment for generalized epilepsy?
Valproate, Lamotrigine
What precautions should parents take for a child with epilepsy?
Avoid sleep deprivation, no unsupervised swimming, educate teachers, emergency seizure management
What is status epilepticus?
Seizure lasting >5 minutes or recurrent seizures without recovery between episodes
What is the first-line treatment for status epilepticus?
IV or PR Diazepam (0.25-0.5 mg/kg)
What is the management if status epilepticus persists for 5-30 minutes?
IV Phenytoin (20 mg/kg) over 20 minutes
What are breath-holding spells?
Benign paroxysmal non-epileptic disorder seen in children 6 months - 5 years, triggered by emotions or minor injuries
What are the two types of breath-holding spells?
Cyanotic (due to crying and apnea) and Reflex anoxic seizures (due to vagal response)
What is the pathognomonic EEG finding for Infantile Spasms?
Hypsarrhythmia
What is the EEG pattern for Absence Seizures?
3 Hz spike-wave pattern
What is the EEG pattern for Temporal Lobe Epilepsy?
Epileptiform discharges in the temporal lobe
What is the incidence of febrile seizures?
2-5% in children aged 6 months to 6 years
What are the red flags for febrile seizures?
Meningitis signs, prolonged seizures, focal seizures, recurrent seizures in 24 hours
What is the prognosis of febrile seizures?
Generally good, but complex febrile seizures may increase epilepsy risk
What is the management of febrile seizures?
Antipyretics, tepid sponging, lateral positioning, seizure monitoring
What are the risk factors for recurrent febrile seizures?
Young age, family history, low fever at onset, short fever duration before seizure
What is the main feature of Acute Necrotizing Encephalopathy?
Rapid neurological deterioration with seizures and UMN signs
What are the common bacterial causes of meningitis? (Variant)
Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Tuberculosis, Neisseria meningitidis
