Paediatric Neurology Flashcards
Prodrome for syncope
Hot, clammy or sweaty
Dizzy
Vision going blurry
Headache
Primary syncope causes
Dehydration
Missed meals
Extended standing
Stimulus - surprise, pain or sight of blood
Secondary causes of syncope
Hypoglycaemia Dehydration Anaemia Infection Anaphylaxis Arrhythmias Valvular heart disease Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy
Investigations for syncope
ECG or 24hr ECG if paroxysmal arrythmia
Echocardiogram
Bloods - FBC, electrolytes and blood glucose
Epilepsy pathophysiology
Tendency to have seizures in which there is abnormal electrical activity
Generalised tonic clonic seizures
Loss of consiousness
Tonic - muscle tensing
Clonic - muscle jerking
Associated symptoms: - tongue biting - incontinence - irregular breathing -
Post ictal period
Period after the seizure where the patient is confused, drowsy and irritable which lasts a while
Management of a generalised tonic clonic seizure
First line - sodium valproate
Second line - lamotrigine or carbamazepine
Focal seizure features
- start in temporal lobes
- affect hearing, speech, memory and emotions
Associated features:
- hallucinations
- memory flashbacks
- Deja vu
- doing strange things on auto pilot
Management of focal seizures
First line: lamotrigine ot carbamazepine
2nd line: sodium valproate or levetiracetam
Absence seizure features
Patient becomes blank, stares into space and wont respond then abruptly returns to normal
Lasts 10 to 20 seconds
Managment of absence seizures
First line: sodium valproate or ethosuximide
Atonic seizure pathophysiology
Drop attacks - brief lapses in muscle tone
Lasts for less than 3 minutes
May indicate lennox gastaut syndrome
Atonic seizure management
1st line - sodium valproate
2nd line - lamotrigine
Myoclonic seizure pathophysiology
Sudden brief muscle contractions like a sudden jump when awake
Management of myoclonic seizures
1st line: sodium valproate
2nd line: lamotrigine, levetiracetam or topiramate
West syndrome pathophysiology
Infantile spasms starting at 6 months
Clusters of full body spasms
Treatment of infantile spasms
Prednisolone and vigabatrin
Features of febrile convulsions
- Occur in children aged 6 months to 6 years
- Seizures due to fever
- Paracetamol will not decrease the number of seizures
- < 15 mins - simple
- > 15 mins, multiple or focal - complex
Investigations for epilepsy
EEG - after second simple tonic clonic seizure
MRI - rule our tumours, encephalopathy
Bloods - electrolytes
Blood glucose - hypoglycaemia
Blood, urine cultures and LP - if meningitis, encephalitis or sepsis is suspected
General advice for seizures
Take showers rather than baths Cautious about swimming Caution with heights Caution with traffic Caution with heavy, hot or electrical equipment
Side effects of sodium valproate
Teratogenic - contraception advice
Liver damage and hepatitis
Hair loss
Tremors
Side effects of carbamazepine
Agranulocytosis
Aplastic anaemia
P450 inducer
Side effects of phenytoin
Folate and vitamin D deficiency - megaloblastic anaemia and osteomalacia
Side effects of ethosuximide
Night tremors
Rashes
Side effects of lamotrigine
Steven - Johnson syndrome
Leukopenia
Management of seizures in general
Recovery position or safe position
Put something soft under their head
Remove potential hazards
Make a note of the time and end of seizure
Call an ambulance if it lasts > 5 minutes
Status epilepticus
Seizure lasting for more than 5 mins
2+ seizures without regaining consciousness in the interim