Neurological disorders Flashcards
what is the cause of a epileptic seizure?
caused by an acute disturbance of normal electrical activity in the brain which is usually under 2 mins
what is the difference between primary and secondary epilepsy?
primary - idiopathic in origin
secondary - disease of the brain (tumour/infection)
what does tonic mean?
- stiffening of the muscles
- usually at the beginning of seizures
what does clonic mean?
rapid, twitching motions
what does tonic-clonic mean?
combination of stiffness and twitching seizures
what does petit mal/absence seizures mean?
- altered mental state
- sometimes called focal seizures
- difficult to diagnose
what is the pre-ictal stage?
- prior to seizure
- can be resting or asleep
- become restless or anxious
what is the ictal stage?
- seizure
- tonic/clonic/tonic-clonic
what is the post-ictal stage?
- period after a seizure
- disorientated and exhuasted
what is a syncopal episode?
temporary loss of consciousness caused by a lack of oxygen to the brain
what is vasovagal syncope?
occurs when you faint because your body overreacts to certain triggers
how do you diagnose seizures?
- history
- bloods
- CSF tap
- MRI
- CT
- electroencephalography
what are some anticonvulsant medications?
- diazepam
- phenobarbitone
- imepitoin
- potassium bromide
- levetiracetam
what is status epilepticus?
repeated seizures with no return to consciousness in between
what are some consequences of status epilepticus?
- hyperthermia
- hypoxaemia
- brain damage
- metabolic acidosis
- death
what are convulsions?
a series of involuntary contractions of the muscles
what are seizures?
clinical manifestation of a paroxysmal cerebral disorder resulting from a transitory disturbance of brain function due to abnormal electrical activity
what is epilepsy?
an intracranial disorder that produces recurrent seizures
what is paresis?
weakness of one or more limb
what is hemiplegia?
paralysis of one side of the body
what is paraplegia?
paralysis of the caudal limbs
what is tetraplegia?
paralysis of all four limbs
what are some clinical signs of a spinal injury?
- ataxia
- paresis
- paralysis
- incontinence
- loss of deep pain
- lack of anal tone
what are some causes of spinal injuries?
- trauma
- IVDD
- tumour
- vertebral abnormalities
- cauda equine syndrome
what is discospondylitis?
A bacterial and fungal of the intervertebral discs and adjacent bones
what are some medical treatment options of spinal injuries?
- analgesia
- restricted or supported exercise
- urinary and faecal management
- physiotherpay
what are some ways of diagnosing a spinal injury?
- radiography
- myelography
- MRI/CT
- CSF analysis
how are brain tumours diagnosed?
- MRI/CT
- posthumously
what are some clinical signs of brain tumours?
- seizures
- abnormal behaviour
- circling
- ataxia
what do infectious neurological disorders result in?
- meningitis
- encephalitis
- meningoencephalitis
what are some causes of infectious neurological disorders?
- parasitic infections
- viral infections
- bacterial
what are some clinical signs of infectious neurological disorders?
- hypertension
- pyrexia
- ataxia
- anisocoria
- bradycardia
what is hydrocephalus?
- an excess of cerebrospinal fluid that puts pressure on the brain and may damage the cerebrum
what is hepatic encephalopathy?
neurologic condition that develops secondary to liver disease
what does a cerebellar disorder result in?
- tremors
- abnormal stance
- lack of coordination
what is cerebellar hypoplasia?
condition where the cerebellum does not develop completely
what can brain stem disorders result in?
- dysfunction of the cranial nerves
- weakness
- inability to balance, walk or stand
what does congenitial vestibular disease result in?
- permanent deafness
- balance and posture dysfunction
what are some nerve and muscle congenital abnormalities?
- congenital myasthenia gravis
- peripheral nerve and muscle disorders
