Neurology Flashcards
Define Bell’s palsy
Idiopathic LMN CNVII palsy
What is the most common cause of Bell’s palsy?
Viral infection
Describe the onset of Bell’s palsy
Prodromal pre-auricular pain
Unilateral facial weakness (never >2 days)
Hyperacusis
What is the cause of hyperacusis in Bell’s palsy?
Stapedius paralysis
Does Bell’s palsy affect the ipsilateral or contralateral side to the lesion?
Ipsilateral
How can Bell’s palsy be differentiated from UMN palsies?
Does not spare upper facial muscles
What is Bell’s phenomenon?
When trying to close eyes, eyes roll up but eyelid doesn’t close
What signs would be seen on sensation testing in Bell’s palsy?
None - it should be normal
Recall the steps of management for Bell’s palsy
- Protect cornea with patch
2. Give high dose prednisolone within 72 hours
What is the caution with giving prednisolone in Bell’s palsy?
If they have Ramsay Hunt syndrome (complication of shingles) it shouldn’t be given
What is a cluster headache?
- Unilateral
- Excruciating pain
- Numerous times per day, typically at night
What is the most common trigger for cluster headaches?
Alcohol
What other symptoms are associated with cluster headache?
- Ipsilateral lacrimation
- Rhinorrhoea
- Eyelid/ facial swelling
- Partial Horner’s
Recall the 4 main types of dementia
Alzheimer’s
Vascular
Lewy-body
Frontotemporal
Describe the pathophysiology of alzheimer’s
Degeneration of cortex leading to cortical atrophy and reduced ACh transmission
Describe the pathophysiology of vascular dementia
Brain damage due to several cerebrovascular disease events
Describe the pathophysiology of Lewy Body dementia
Deposition of Lewy Body proteins in BRAINSTEM and NEOCORTEX
Differentiate the onset of each of the 4 main types of dementia
Alzheimer’s: insidious
Vascular: step-wise decline
Lewy-body: fluctuating levels of consciousness
Frontotemporal: changes in behaviour
What is encephalitis?
Inflammation of brain parenchyma
What is the most common pathogen implicated in encephalitis?
HSV
Always viral
Describe the symptoms of encephalitis
Like a subacute version of meningitis in terms of symptoms
May produce seizures
What is Cushing’s response and what is it used to identify
Triad of HTN, bradycardia and irregular breathing - used to identify raised ICP (eg due to encephalitis)
Differentiate simple and complex seizures
Simple does not affect consciousness, complex does
Recall the 5 types of generalised seizure
Tonic-clonic Myoclonic Absence Atonic Tonic
Seizures in which lobe causes motor convulsions?
Frontal
Seizures in which lobe causes aura and hallucinations?
Temporal
What is an absence seizure also known as?
Petit mal
Define absence seizure
Loss of consciousness with maintained posture
Which form of seizure is difficult to differentiate from dementia?
Non-convulsive status epilepticus
Which blood marker is increased following a seizure?
Prolactin
What investigation is used to classify epileptic seizures?
EEG
Recall the 3 steps of management for status epilepticus
- Glucose if hypoglycaemic
- IV/PR diazepam
- Treat cause
After how many seizures should epileptic medication be started?
2
Recall 2 medications that can be used to treat focal seizures
Carbamazepine
Lamotrigene
Which medication is used to treat most generalised seizures?
Valporate
Define guillain-barre syndrome
Acute demyelinating polyneuropathy
Describe the symptoms of guillain barre syndrome
Ascending symmetrical limb weakness, paraesthesia and arreflexia
What would be seen on lumbar puncture in guillain-barre syndrome?
High protein
Recall the triad of symptoms in Horner’s syndrome
Miosis
Anhydrosis
Ptosis
What is Horner’s syndrome caused by?
Disruption of SNS supplying face
What is the most likely neoplastic cause of Horner’s syndrome?
Apical lung tumour
What is the inheritance pattern of Huntingdon’s disease?
Autosomal dominant
What are the 2 main symptoms of Huntingdon’s disease?
Chorea and dementia