Neurology Flashcards
Define Ataxia
Abnormality in gait that is wide based/staggering/unsteady
Give three causes of Ataxia in children
Posterior fossa tumours
Brainstem Encephalitis
Friedreich’s Ataxia
Give four other clinical features that might be associated with a presentation of Ataxia
Increased separation of speech syllables
Abnormal Proprioception
Positive Romberg
Nystagmus
How could you investigate Ataxia in a child?
Cerebral Imaging
Plasma and CSF samples (particularly for Varicella, Strep, and Inborn Errors of Metabolism)
What is Chorea? Give four causes
Jerk like movements that may involve face/arms/legs
Drugs (anticonvulsants), SLE, Sydenhams Chorea, Benign Familial
What is Sydenham’s Chorea?
Chorea often associated with streptococcal infection, occurring in older children
Child is normally well
20% Rheumatic Fever
How is Syndehams Chorea managed?
High dose Pen V then daily prophylaxis
If IEM is excluded, then start Sodium Valproate
Can give Benzodiazepines/Haloperidol as symptom management
What is PANDAS?
Paediatric Autoimmune Neuropsychiatric Disorder Associated with Streptococcus
How does PANDAS present?
OCD
Tics
Irritability
Anxiety
Define Athetosis
Sinuous, slow, involuntary writhing movements affecting fingers/hands/toes/feet
Name three causes of Athetosis
Asphyxia
Neonatal Jaundice
Trauma
How is Athetosis managed?
Diazepam/Haloperidol
Surgery and restraining technique
What is Primary Pure Dystonia?
Autosomal Dominant dystonic spasms of legs on walking
Progresses to whole body within ten years
What are Tics?
Repetitive stereotyped movements that can be initiated voluntarily and also suppressed voluntarily
Can be simple (twitch in same site, occurring in 25%) or complex (multiple tics, associated with tourettes)
What could the term ‘floppy’ mean?
Decrease in muscle tone
Decrease in muscle power
Ligamentous laxity/increased ROM
Define Hypotonia
Low resistance to passive stretch around the joint
What is Phasic Tone?
Response of muscles to rapid stretch
What is Postural Tone?
Response to sustained low intensity stretch
What in their antenatal history would you want to know about a ‘Floppy Infant’?
Reduced foetal movements
Polyhydramnios
Breech
What in their family history would you want to know about a ‘Floppy Infant’?
Muscle Disease
Stillbirth
Consanguinity
What in their birth history would you want to know about a ‘Floppy Infant’?
Duration of labour Method of delivery Rescucitation Apgar Score Cord Gases
What associated features might you see in a ‘Floppy Infant’?
Poor swallowing
Weak Cry
Paradoxical Breathing (intercostal muscles paralysed but intact diaphragm)
If the cause of the ‘Floppy Infant’ was central/UMN, how would it present?
Poor truncal tone
Normal reflexes
Loud cry
If the cause of the ‘Floppy Infant’ was Peripheral/LMN, how would it present?
Frog like posture
Reduced/Absent reflexes
Weak Cry
Describe three central causes of the ‘Floppy Infant’
Dysgenesis - Downs Syndrome, Prader Willi
Degeneration - Metabolic Disorders, Enzyme Disorders (eg Tay Sachs)
Encephalopathy (HIE, ICH, Congenital or Acquired infections)
Give 5 classes of non central causes of the ‘Floppy Infant’
Spinal Cord (Syringomyelia, Birth Trauma)
Anterior Horn (SMA, Poliomyelitis)
Peripheral Nerve (Guillaine Barre, Hereditary - Charcot Marie Tooth)
Neuromuscular Junction (Neonatal Myasthenia Gravis, Infantile Botulism)
Muscle (Muscular Dystrophy, Metabolic Myopathies, Congenital Myopathies)
How can you investigate central causes of the ‘Floppy Infant’?
Range of bloods Sepsis screen Plasma Amino Acids Cranial Ultrasound and MRI Microarray LP
How can you investigate peripheral causes of the ‘Floppy Infant’?
CK
Muscle Biopsy
Microarray
Conduction studies
Name 7 causes of headaches in children
Tension Migraines ENT Infection Vision Problems Raised ICP Meningitis Brain Tumours
How do young children with tension headaches present?
Non Specific
Quiet
Stop Playing
Turn Pale
How do older children with tension headaches present?
Mild ache across forehead in band like pattern
Gradual onset and resolution with no pulsing/visual changes
Migraines are a complex condition that causes headache attacks and other symptoms. Name five different types.
Migraine without aura Migraine with aura Silent migraine Hemiplegic Abdominal
How do Migraines present?
Unilateral, throbbing headache
Associated - visual aura, photophobia, nausea and vomiting
If Migraines are impacting on QoL, what drugs can you prevent them with?
Propanolol (avoided in Asthma)
Pizotifen (Drowsiness)
Topirimate (Teratogenic - COCP required)
Abdominal Migraines may be the start of traditional migraines developing when they’re older. How do they present?
Episodes of central abdominal pain lasting for more than one hour, with associated Nausea and Vomiting/Anorexia/Headache/Pallor
How are Abdominal Migraines managed?
Pizotifen, Sumatriptans
Avoid Caffiene/Cheese/Marmite
Give three causes of Focal Seizures
Cortical Dysplasia
Trauma
Tumour
Temporal lobe is the most common type of focal epilepsy. How can it present?
Odd Smell/Sensation
Deja Vu
Repetitive Automatisms
How do Frontal Lobe Seizures present?
- Often night waking
- Thrashing and Bicycle Movements
- Jacksonian March (movements travelling proximally)
- Tonic arms raised in air
How do Occipital Lobe Seizures present?
Often mistaken for migraines
Flickering light, Visual Hallucinations
How do Parietal Lobe tumours present?
Tingling in hands/feet
Body image distortion
Generalised seizures occur in both hemispheres. How does an Absence Seizure present?
Generally starts between age of 4-7 and resolves in adolescence
<10seconds unresponsive
Occasional Automatisms
Triggered by hyperventilation
Generalised seizures occur in both hemispheres. How does an Myoclonic Seizures present?
Jerking Movements with retained conscious
Child may require helmet
What is Progressive Myoclonic Epilepsy?
Seizures + Unsteadiness+ Rigidity + Mental Deterioration
Ohtahara Syndrome is a cause of seizures in the first 28d of life. How does it present?
Primary tonic seizures occuring in the first two weeks
Caused by metabolic disorders or brain damage
Often die within weeks/months
Benign Familial Seizures is a cause of seizures in the first 28d of life. How does it present?
Recurrent seizures in newborns lasting one to two minutes
Usually stops at four months old
Give two causes of INFANTILE seizures
West Syndrome (Jerking followed by stiffening, often due to Hypoxic birth injury)
Dravet Syndrome (Sodium Channel Mutation)
Give four Neurological causes of Seizures
Rett Syndrome
Angelman Syndrome
Tuberous Sclerosis
Sturge Weber (Port Wine Stain)
Define Epilepsy
Umbrella term for condition where there is a tendency to have seizures (transient episodes of abnormal electrical activity)
How does a Generalised Tonic Clonic Seizure present?
Loss of consciousness then tonic clonic movements
Associated tongue biting, incontinence, irregular breathing
Post Ictal - Prolonged drowsiness, confusion, irritability
How are Generalised Tonic Clonic seizures managed?
1st line - Sodium Valproate
2nd line - Lamotrigine or Carbemazepine
How are Focal Seizures managed?
1st line - Lamotrigine/Carbemazepine
2nd line - Sodium Valproate
IE opposite to generalised tonic Clonic
How are Absence Seizures managed?
Typically grow out of them
1st line - Sodium Valproate or Ethosuxamide
What are Atonic Seziures?
AKA Drop Attacks
Brief lapses in muscle tone, normally not lasting longer than 3 minutes
No post ictal drowsiness
Describe the typical EEG of childhood absence seizures
3Hz spike and wave
How are Myoclonic Seizures managed?
First line - Sodium Valproate
Second line - Lamotrigine/Topirimate
How is Infantile Spasms/West Syndrome managed?
Prednisolone and Vigabatrin
How is Epilepsy investigated?
EEG (after SECOND tonic Clonic seizure)
Bloods/LP/Cultures
ECG
When would you do an MRI brain in Epilepsy?
If the first seizure is when they’re <2
Focal Seizures
No response to antiepileptic medication
What general advice should be given to epileptic children? Give four points
Take showers rather than baths
Be cautious with swimming
Be cautious with heights and traffic
Older teenagers may need to avoid driving
Describe Sodium Valproate’s MOA
Increases GABA Activity