neuro DDx

Question 1

Cluster headache

Answer 1

pain that is generally situated in, behind or around one eye, but may radiate to other areas of your face, head and neck

unilateral headache, last 15min-3hrs, ptosis on affected side, constant moving

Question 2

Encephalopathy

Answer 2

encephalopathy describes any disease that affects the whole brain and alters its structure or how it works, and causes changes in mental function

asterixis, myoclonus, ataxia, impaired cognition

Question 3

Horner’s syndrome

Answer 3

Damage or disruption to sympathetic nerve pathways, particularly ipsilateral abducens nerve (VI).

ptosis, miosis, anhidrosis

Question 4

Ischemic Stroke

Answer 4

Acute onset of neurologic deficit due to a cerebral embolism

FAST positive, dizzy, headache

Question 5

Meniere’s disease

Answer 5

issue with the regulation of fluid (endolymph) within the inner ear. An excess of endolymph causes increased pressure within the labyrinth

vertigo, dizziness, tinnitus, decrease hearing

Question 6

Migraines

Answer 6

neuronal dysfunction leads to a sequence of changes intracranially and extracranially

photophobia, not moving, pulsating, nausea and vomiting

Question 7

Posterior Stroke

Answer 7

embolism affects the vertebral arteries, cerebral arteries, and basilar arteries

dizziness, diplopia, dysphagia

Question 8

Subarachnoid Haemorrhage (SAH)

Answer 8

Bleeding into the subarachnoid space of the brain, which is located between the arachnoid and pia mater meningeal layers

photophobia, nausea and vomiting, decreased consciousness

Question 9

Subdural haemorrhage (SDH)

Answer 9

Collection of blood between the dura mater and arachnoid mater in the brain

confusion, headache, nausea and vomiting, ataxia

Question 10

seizures

Answer 10

A period of abnormally excessive neural activity (focal) potentially leading to synchronous activation of larger groups of connecting neurons (generalised)

tonic/clonic movements, post ictal confusion, preceding auras, transient level of consciousness, event “evolves”

Question 11

Tension Headache

Answer 11

Most common headache resulting in a band like pain around the frontal/temporal and occipital regions of the head

Bilateral Frontal/ Occipital/ temporal site pain

Question 12

transient ischaemic attack

Answer 12

embolism within the cerebral vessels

headache, limb weakness, ataxia

Question 13

BPPV

Answer 13

benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, vertigo triggered by head movement, which can resolve within 1 mon of rest

unsteady gait, N&V, positional trigger (moving of head)