Neurodevelopment Flashcards
Autism red flag signs
12 months
- no babbling
- no pointing or waving
- no single words
- no spontaneous 2 word phrases
- any loss of any language or social skills
Side effects of Ritalin
headache and stomachache
suppression of appetite
can cause insomnia
hearing defects need to be referred first
Epilepsy
enduring predisposition to generate seizure with neurological cognitive psychological and social consequences
- at least 2 unprovoked / reflex seizures > 24 hours apart
- one unprovoked/ reflex seizure + a probability >/= 60% of further seizures over the next 10 year
- diagnosis of an epilepsy syndrome
recurrent unprovoked seizures
Treatment of epilepsy
First line
absence - sodium valproate
focal and generalised TC - carbamazepine
Side effects of drugs
Phenobarbitone - increases hyperactivity
Valproate - liver toxicity
Carbamazepine - exacerbates absence and myoclonic seizures
Phenytoin - worsen MG, headache, N and V
Lamotrogine - N/V
Benzodiazepines - induce T/C seizures in LGS
Status epilepticus
seizures for 30 minutes or remains unconscious between seizures
DONT wait 30 min before treating
start on flow chart if fitting for 10 min
- Maintain vital function - ABC
- Stop convulsions - drugs
- IV line
- draw blood
- give bolus glucose
- see the two tables for the drugs to be given - Determine the cause
- Prevent more convulsions
Step 1 = Lorazepam (Ativan) or Diazepam (Valium)
Step 2 = Phenytoin (Epanutin) or Sodium Valproate (Epilim) - 20mg/kg
Step 3 = Thiopentone infusion or Midazolam or Propofol
Neonate treatment
Step 1 = phenobarbitone or lorazepam
Step 2 = phenytoin - NO VALPROATE
Step 3 = thiopentone or midazolam infusion
Febrile seizures
6m-3-4(5) years
fever without evidence of intracranial infection
average age onset 18 to 22 months
boys more girls
1/3 have at least one recurrence
2% risk developing epilepsy
fever can come after seizure
simple - GTC, < 15min, no recurrence in 24hr
complex - focal, > 15min, cluster 2 or more within 24hr
Management febrile seizures
identify underlying disease - LP CT/ MRI - NOT simple routine EEG seldom necessary LT use AED not indicated unless complex - phenobarbitone or sodium valproate rectal diazepam antipyretics?
Contraindication to LP
decreased level of consciousness Glascow < 13
focal deficit - unequal pupils
too sick - haemodynamically unstable or respiratory compromise
septicaemia with petechiae or purpura
low platelets - bleeding disorder
local infection
relative CI - increased ICP
absolutely CI if following is seen on CT - midline shift, loss of cisterns, mass in post fossa
BUT
do blood cultures and start treatment
Clinical signs of raised ICP
Papilloedema
decreased LOC
pushing reflex
CSF findings
bacterial - predominantly neutrophils
increased protein decreased glucose
viral - predominantly lymphocytes
mildly increased protein WNL glucose
TBM - predominantly lymphocytes -
severely increased protein
decreased glucose
Causes of aseptic meningitis
Partially treated meningitis TBM viral meningitis leukaemia uncommon infections - syphillis - mycoplasma - toxoplasmosis
Coma
Unarousable for at least 1 hour total unawareness with closed eyes lack of wakefulness lack of movement noxious stimuli - inappropriate responses
Persistent vegetative state
wakeful unconsciousness diagnosed 1 month after onset of coma
or a period of at least 3 months is required in a baby younger than 6 months
sleep and wake cycles are present
brainstem function and spinal reflexes are present
no cortical fx
autonomic fx is preserved
may shed tears
Complications of TBM
Communicating hydrocephalus Brain abscess Brain oedema SIADH Convulsions Subdural effusions Deafness and blindness Learning problems
Tics
most common movement disorder in children
sudden twitches, movements or sounds
motor, vocal or sensory
involuntary but CAN be suppressed
aggravated by stress/anxiety/fatigue
provisional tic disorder - motor or vocal tics less 12 months in a row
persistent or chronic tic disorder - motor or vocal tics for more than a year
Tourette syndrome - at least 2 motor and at least one vocal tic for at least a year
treatment rarely needed - can give haloperidol or risperidone
PANDAS
Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Strep infection tics and dystonia post GABHS infections auto-antibody at basal ganglia - prepubertal - tics or OCD - sudden onset/fluctuating course - Associated with GABHS infection - neurological abn
Developmental regression
SSPE AIDS Anti-epileptic drugs Corticosteroids SLE Sturge Weber TBM Sickle cell Huntington Spinocerebellar ataxia HAS CHILD LOST ANY SKILL THAT HE HAD PREVIOUSLY ACQUIRED? IT IS NEVER OK TO LOSE ANY PREVIOUS MILESTONES RECOGNISE AND REFER
How does the neural system develop?
Neurulation Prosencephalization Neuronal proliferation Migration Formation of gyri Organization Myelination
Name preconceptual risk factors to neurodevelopment
Poor maternal health
Epilepsy
Genetic predisposition
Name antenatal risk factors to neurodevelopment
Poor maternal health
Toxins
Infections
Name postnatal risk factors to neurodevelopment
Environmental factors
Infections
Trauma
Discuss complications of an issue in each neurodevelopmental stage
Neuralation - NTD
Prosencephalization - holoprosencephaly spectrum (Dandy walker, hydrocephaly)
Hindbrain - cerebellar + rhombencephalic abnormalities
Neuronal proliferation - microcephaly, macrocephaly
Migration - gyral formation (schizencephaly, lisencephaly, pachygyria) , heterotopia
Organization (autism, schizophrenia, depression)
Myelination (dysmyelination, demyelination)
What is the spectrum of holoprosencephaly?
Alobar
Semilobar
Lobar
Middle interhemispheric variant (MIHV)
Name causes of microcephaly
AR (microcephaly vera) AD X-linked recessive Teratogenic Syndromic Perinatal hypoxia Intrauterine infections Chromosomal abnormalities Familial Severe metabolic disorders
Name causes of macrocephaly
Isolated macrocephaly Assoc growth disturbance Neurocutaneous syndrome Chromosomal abnormalities Hemimegalencephaly Hydrocephalus Storage disorder SOL Familial Sotos syndrome
Give examples of neurocutaneous syndromes
Neurofibromatosis
Sturge Weber
What is Dandy Walker syndrome?
A brain malformation that occurs during embryonic development of the cerebellum and 4th ventricle
How are neurons organized?
Differentiation Alignment Orientation Layering Synaptogenesis Cell death Glial proliferation
What is a common disorder of myelination?
Periventricular leukomalacia in spastic diplegia
What is your approach to a neurodevelopmental examination?
History General impressions Higher functions Head and face Cranial nerves Neck and back Signs of ICP Motor system Sensory system Basal ganglia Cerebellar function Autonomic system Markers Developmental assessment
What are neurodevelopmental warning signs?
- Inconsolable crying
- Bruxism
- Hand admiration after 20w
- Everything to mouth after 9m
- Purposeless throwing of toys after 9m
- Self-stimulating behaviour
- Self-injurious behaviour
What should you look at for higher functions?
Sensorium Behaviour Mood Thought content Communication and speech Intellectual ability
Name head shapes and their causes
Plagiocephaly
Scaphocephaly
Brachycephaly
What kinds of fontanels can you have?
Late closure
Bulging
Tense
Sunken
What causes a tense fontanel?
Raised ICP
Name causes of late anterior fontanel closure
Hydrocephalus T21 Hypothyroidism Rickets Skeletal dysplasia
What causes overriding sutures?
Craniosynostosis
Name myopathic facial features
Restricted eye movements
Long thin face
Drooping mouth
Lack of expression
What are you looking for on the back in a neuro examination?
Spinal dysraphism
Scoliosis
Kyphosis
Lordosis
Name causes of meningeal irritation
Meningitis
SAH
Apical pneumonia
Pyelonephritis