Neurological Disease Flashcards
Care of child with common neurological system
It usually encompass a wide array of problems resulting from congenital problems, acquired dysfunction, infection or trauma
What would occur during fetal development?
Central nervous system arises from the neural tube during embroyonic development
Cerebrum and cerebellum begin to develop at week 8 to 12
What would occur during extra-uterine life?
Number of brain neurons increases rapidly - CNS Myelinization
What would occur during infant?
Neurologic system is incompletely integrated at birth
Most functions are primitive reflexes and most disappear by the time infant is 12 mths
All cranial nerves myeliniated except optic and olfactory nerves.
What would occur during toddler/preschooler? ( 1 to 6 years )
Brain reaches 80% of adult size by 2 yrs
Myelination almost complete by 2 yrs, enabling child to increase movement and to be toilet trained.
(1 to 6 yrs)
Specialisation of hemispheres -hand preferences
Limbic system matures to better regulate sleep, wakefulness, and emotion.
What would occur during school age? ( 6 to 12 years )
Brain reaches 90% of adult size by 7 yrs
(6 to 12 yrs) Brain reaches adult size by 12 yrs
Myelination is complete, the child is better able to listen, remember
Nerve impulse transmission improves - allows better balance and greater gross-and fine-motor development
What would occur during adolescent?
Brain growth continues. Neurons do not increase in number, but there is increase in the no. of support cells.
There is expansion in cognitive development
What are the differences between child and adult in nervous system response?
Neonate :
• Spinal cord ends at L3 in neonate
Adults :
in adults, L1 to L2
• Children
have 65-140mls of CSF a
•adult have 90-150mls
What is the growth of nervous system from child to adult?
• Child’s brain constantly undergoes organization in function and
myelinization – full impact of insult not immediately apparent
• Open sutures and fontanels – early signs of increased in intracranial
pressure may not be apparent in infant
What are the common neurological condition in children?
- Seizure disorders
2. Increased intracranial pressure conditions
What are seizure disorders?
- Neonatal seizures
- Febrile seizures
- Epilepsy
- Head Injury
- Migraines
- Cerebral Palsy
What are the increased intracranial pressure condition?
- Craniocerebral trauma
- Hydrocephalus
- Brain Tumour
- Meningitis or encephalitis
- Intracerebral haemorrhage
What are the neurological assessment?
Health History
- Onset, duration, location, precipitation
Cardinal signs and symptoms
- Headache
- Fainting and dizziness
- Altered level of consciousness
- Abnormal gait, movement or coordination
- Developmental lags or loss of milestones
Explore
- Prenatal: Maternal drug use, illness
- Personal: Prematurity, birth trauma, congenital disorder
- Family History: Chromosomal, seizure/neurological disorder
What are the examination for neurological disorders?
Vital signs
• Measure head circumference (<2 years): increase in ICP
• Altered vital signs: hypertension, tachycardia leading to bradycardia
Assessment of cerebral tissue performance
• Conscious Level: conscious, confusion, disorientation, lethargy, coma
• Behavioral: appearance, affect/mood, interaction, speech
• Development: alterations in cognitive, psychosocial, gross or fine motor
• Pupillary response
• Assess taste, olfaction and tactile sense
• Movements: abnormal movement, balance or gait
• Reflexes and muscle tones
• Fontanels (<18months) - fullness
what are the laboratory studies and diagnostic tests for neurological disorders?
• Blood studies – FBC, blood culture, test for toxic substance
• Urinalysis – infection or toxicology
• Lumbar Puncture (LP) – measure presses and obtain CSF
for chemistries and detect infection
• Radiography – skull fractures
• Electroencephalogram (EEG)– abnormal electrical brain wave discharges
• Echoencephalography – abnormal structure
• Computer Tomography (CT) – tissue and structure
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) – visualization of structure and tissue
features at more detail level
• Nuclear brain scan (radioactive contrast) – identifies focal brain lesion,
CSF pathway
What is seizure?
Defined as an abnormal electrical discharge in the brain
What are the types of seizures?
- Generalized seizure
2. Focal or partial seizure