Neurology

Question 1

Name three causes of a provoked epileptic seizure in children

Answer 1

febrile
hypoglycaemia
hypocalcaemia + hyponatraemia
trauma
meningitis
encephalitis
gastroenteritis

Question 2

What is a reflex epileptic seizure?

Answer 2

stimulus brings on seizure e.g. flashing lights, stress, being in bath

Question 3

What are the two categories of epileptic seizures?

Answer 3

generalised and focal

Question 4

Name three types of generalised seizures

Answer 4

tonic-clonic
absence
atonic (sudden loss of muscle strength)
myoclonic
spasms
clonic (jerking)
tonic (stiffness)

Question 5

How can focal seizures be divided

Answer 5

hemisphere
lobe
features- motor, aura, autonomic

Question 6

Name four comorbidities of children with epilepsy

Answer 6

learning disability
anxiety
depression
ADHD
Autism
Cerebral palsy

Question 7

Name two causes of neurally-mediated syncope

Answer 7

vasovagal syncope/simple faints
breath holding
orthostasis- insuffieicent baroreflex on standing
reflex asystolic syncope

Question 8

Name three differentials for non-epileptic events

Answer 8

Syncope
Psychological
Derangement of sleep process
Migraine equivalents

Question 9

List one antenatal cause of cerebral palsy

Answer 9

teratogens, toxins

Question 10

List one perinatal cause of cerebral palsy

Answer 10

hypoxic insult, sepsis

Question 11

List one postnatal cause of cerebral palsy

Answer 11

meningitis, trauma

Question 12

List three neurological classifications of cerebral palsy

Answer 12

spastic
dystonic
Dyskinetic (increased activity)
ataxic (impaired coordination)
mixed

Question 13

Cerebral palsy patient is diplegic (lower limbs affected). What is the likely cause of this?

Answer 13

lesion of white matter of of posterior brain, typically associated with prematurity

Question 14

Name three comorbidities associated with cerebral palsy

Answer 14

epilepsy
learning disability
behaviour problems
GORD/feeding problems
osteoporosis

Question 15

List two signs seen when examining a child with spina bifida

Answer 15

flaccid weakness of lower limbs
absent reflexes
loss of sensation

Question 16

What is the chiari malformation?

Answer 16

brain pushes down into spinal canal. Hydrocephalus can ensue

Question 17

Name two patterns of cerebral palsy

Answer 17

hemiplegia
quadriplegia
diplegia

Question 18

List three aspects in the management of a patient with cerebral palsy

Answer 18

phsyio
OT
speech and language 
paediatricians
orthopaedic surgeons
social workers

Question 19

What is the most common cause of hydrocephalus?

Answer 19

aqueductal stenosis

Question 20

Two causes of hydrocephalus

Answer 20

chiari malformation
arachnoid cyst
aqueductal stenosis
chromosomal and conegnital malformations

Question 21

Two signs of hydrocephalus

Answer 21

Increasing occipito-frontal circumference (growth charts are important)
bulging anterior fontanelle
poor feeding and vomiting
sleepiness
poor tone

Question 22

List two types of muscular dystrophy

Answer 22

duchenne’s
becker’s
myotonic

Question 23

5 year old presents with muscle weakness, where they struggle to stand by using their hands on their legs/ What is this sign and likely diagnosis?

Answer 23

Gower’s sign

DMD

Question 24

A patient is unable to let go after shaking people’s hand and unable to release their grip on a doorknob after opening a door. What is the likely cause of this?

Answer 24

myotonic dystrophy

Question 25

Which reflex is normal in newborn babies which would be abnormal in adults?

Answer 25

Upward plantars

Question 26

What is a hallmark feature of Sturge-Weber syndrome?

Answer 26

neurological disorder
Too many capillaries in meninges
Port-wine stain over areas of face innervated by trigeminal nerve
also associated with eye abnormalities e.g. glaucoma

Question 27

What is bruxism?

Answer 27

condition in which you grind, gnash or clench your teeth. If you have bruxism, you may unconsciously clench your teeth when you’re awake (awake bruxism) or clench or grind them during sleep (sleep bruxism). Sleep bruxism is considered a sleep-related movement disorder.