Neuro Exam Notes Flashcards
Tx for ADHD
Stimulants:
Methylphenidate (Ritalin and Concerta)
Amphetamine (Adderall and Dexedrine)
Nonstimulants:
Atomoxetine
Clonidine
Side effects of anti epileptic drugs (5/6)
Sedation
Agitation
Headache
Rashes
Hair loss
Tremors
Swollen gums
Features of Trisomy 21
epicanthic folds on widely spaced eyes, poor tone, single transverse
(“simian”) palmar crease, sandal gap between 1st and 2nd toes, 3rd fontanelle,
associated cardiac murmur from ventricular septal defect.
List the manifestations of neurofibromatosis NF1 (presentation) (9)
Cafe-au-lait spots
Axillary freckling and in groin area
Neurofibromas
Lisch nodules (small nodules in iris of eye)
Optic Glioma (tumour in optic nerve)
Bone deformities (scoliosis or bowed lower leg)
Learning difficulties
Larger than average head
Short statue
Differentiate between NF1 and NF2
NF1 tumours develop anywhere in the nervous system including brain, spinal cord and nerves, dx early in childhood by age 10
NF2 is less common, tumours develop in nerves that carry sound and balance from inner ear to brain, in both ears (acoustic neuromas) resulting in hearing loss also called vestibular Schwannoma.
Manifestations of NF2 (4)
Gradual hearing loss
Ringing in both ears
Poor balance
Headaches
What is Schwannomatosis
Rare type of Neurofibromatosis
Affects people after 20. (25-35)
Tumours develop in cranial, spinal and peripheral nerves. Rarely affects nerve carrying sound and balance, don’t affect both ears like NF2.
Symptoms of Schwannomatosis
Chronic pain
Numbness or weakness in various parts of the body
Loss of muscle
What can cause delay in closure of fontanelle
Normal variation
Hydrocele
Hypothyroidism
Bone disorders
AVM
Causes of meningism
Meningitis
Encephalitis
Acute OM
Severe tonsillitis
Pneumonia
Cervical lymphadenitis
How would palsies in CN 3 (oculomotor), 4 (Trochlear), and 6 (Abducens) be apparent
III- ptosis and mydriasis down and out
IV- inability to adduct with downwards gaze there may be a head tilt
VI- inability to abduct eye
What conditions cause Developmental regression in paeds
HIV encephalopathy
Subacute Sclerosing Panencephalitis
Inherited metabolic disease involving brain
Infections and tumours
Types of acute recurrent headache
- Migraine
-Throbbing
-Unilateral
-Aura present
-Relieved by sleep
-Ass/ nausea and vomiting
-Family hx
Common in childhood, characterised by episodic, periodic paroxysmal attacks of vasoconstriction and vasodilatation of cerebral vessels following waves of cortical depolarisation
Causes of chronic progressive headaches
Raised ICP
Traction headaches
Brain tumours
Space occupying lesions
Benign raised intracranial pressure
Causes of chronic non progressive headaches
Tension headache
Psychogenic headache
Medication overuse
Triggers or precipitating factors for migraines
Anxiety
Stress
Fatigue-lack of sleep
Head trauma
Exercise
Menstruation
Diet (tyrannies containing food-release serotonin, ice cream, red wine, cheese)
Medication- contraceptive
Dose of paracetamol in paeds
15-20mg/kg/dose
Prophylactic meds for headaches in paeds
- Sodium channel blockers (sodium valproate)
- Beta-blockers -Propanolon (don’t use in asthmatics)
Use in severe cases, most children won’t need this
What areas of the brain maintain consciousness (awareness of self and environment)
- Ascending Reticular Activating System (ARAS) in brain stem (maintains aroused state)
- Cerebral hemispheres (controls contents of consciousness)
causes of acute non-recurrent headaches
Infection and fever
Toxins
Post convulsions
Anaemia
Electrolyte imbalance
HPT
Post LP
Hunger
Trauma
What causes acute and recurrent headaches
Migraines
Management of comatose patients
8 Principles
1.Maintain oxygenation
2. Maintain circulation
3. Control glucose
4. Lower ICP
5. Stop seizures
6. Treat infections
7. Restore acid base balance and electrolytes
8. Adjust body temperature.
(jUst think A,B,C then Hs and Ts applicable here)
What are the features of an organic brain lesion
Severe headache of recent onsert
chronic or progressive
localised pain
Wakes the child up at night
Exacerbated by straining or change in position
Associated with neurological symptoms and signs
Change in headache pattern or severity
dIfferentiate between a communicating and a non-communicating hydrocele
Communicating is due to failure to reabsorb CSF
-Subarachnoid haemorrhage
-Meningitis (e.g. TB, Pneumococcal)
Non-communicating is due to obstruction in the ventricular system
-Congenital malformation
1. Aqueduct stenosis
2. Atresia of the outflow of the foramina of the 4th ventricle
3. Chiari malformation
- Posterior fossa neoplasm or vascular malformation
-Intraventricular haemorrhage in a preterm infant
How do you manage raised ICP
EVD- External Ventricular Drainage or Shunt
Define epilepsy
2 or more unprovoked epileptic seizures more than 24 hours
what is status epilepticus
Epileptic seizures that last more than 5min or more than 2 discrete seizures with incomplete recovery of conciousness in between
Outline the aetiology of epilepsy
Structural
Infections
Genetics
Metabolic
Immune
Unknown
Causes of neonatal seizures
HIE
Intracranial haemorrhage
Cerebral infarct
Metabolic causes (hypoglycemia)
Infections
Drug withdrawal eg heroin
cortical dysplasia and malformations
RIsk factors for epilepsy following febrile seizures
Complex febrile seizures
Afebrile seizures in a 1st degree relative
Abnormal neurological signs prior to the febrile seizures
Management of febrile seizures
Antiepileptics (decrease core temp)
Antiseizure not indicated for febrile seizures
FIrst aid advise
Recue medicine for seizure lasting more than 5min
EEG nor indicated
LP to exclude meningitis in less than 18months
Neuroimaging in complex febrile seizures
What is West’s syndrome and what is the classical triad of West’s syndrome
infantile spasms syndrome was also called West syndrome. Infantile spasms syndrome is considered an epileptic encephalopathy, conditions in which children have both seizures and cognitive and developmental impairments
- Epileptic spasms (extensors or flexors
- Hypsarrhythmia on interictal EEG
- Cognitive and developmental regression
Treatment of West’s syndrome
Hormonal
-0ACTH
-Prednisone
Vigabatrin
Tx for childhood absence seizures
Firts line tx is Ethosuximide, Valproate, lamatrogine (less effective but side effects)