Paediatric neurology

Question 1

What are the symptoms in West Syndrome? When does it normally manifest?

Answer 1

Infantile spasms
Developmental delay

Normally manifests 3 - 12 months old

Question 2

What might you see on an EEG for West Syndrome?

Answer 2

Hypsarrhythmia

Question 3

Treatment for West Syndrome??

Answer 3

Vigabatrin + corticosteroids

Question 4

What are the symptoms of juvenile myoclonic epilepsy?

Answer 4

Myoclonic/tonic-clonic seizures after waking –> throwing drinks or cereal about in the morning

Question 5

What are the symptoms in benign rolandic epilepsy?

Answer 5

Tonic-clonic seizures in sleep or simple focal seizures

Centrotemporal spikes on EEG

Question 6

What are the symptoms of childhood absence epilepsy? What is the finding on EEG?

Answer 6

Unresponsive stare with motor arrest –> twitching

3Hz spike and wave

Question 7

What are 2 pathophysiological reasons for cerebral palsy?

Answer 7

Periventricular leukomalacia
Intraventricular haemorrhage

–> damage the corticospinal tract (corona radiata?)

Question 8

What is the most common subtype of cerebral palsy?

Answer 8

Spastic cerebral palsy (80%)

Question 9

Give 3 causes of cerebral palsy

Answer 9

Antenatal: Infection i.e HIV/Congenital
Perinatal: hypoxic brain injury from traumatic delivery
Postnatal: meningitis/kerniceterus