Paediatric Neurology Flashcards
Features of Neurological Disorders in Children
Recurrent Headaches Febrile Seizures Epilepsy Motor Disorders Neural Tube Defects
Moro Reflex
Sudden Head Extension causes Symmetrical Extension and Flexion of arms
Grasp Reflex
Flexion of fingers when object placed into palm
Rooting Reflex
Head turns to stimulus when touched near mouth
Sucking Reflex
Automatic feeding action
Stepping Response
When held vertically and Foot Dorsum on surface
Asymmetric Tonic Neck
When lying Supine, Outstretched arm to side where head is turned
Postural Reflexes (Essential for Independent Sitting and Walking)
Labyrinthine Righting – Head moves in opposite direction to Body Tilt
• Postural Support – When held upright, Legs take weight and may push
• Lateral Propping – When sitting, Arm extends as saving mechanism when falling
• Parachute – When suspended Face Down, Arms extend as saving mechanism
Aetiology of Seizures in paediatric patients
Epileptic, Syncopal (=Anoxic), Brainstem (E.g. Hydrocephalic, Coning), Emotional or Functional (=Psychogenic Pseudoseizures)
What is epilepsy
– Excessive, Hypersynchronous electrical activity; Brain Disorder that predisposes patients to have unprovoked Epileptic Seizures
o Generally, diagnosis requires two or more unproved Epileptic seizures
Types of convulsions
A Seizure with Motor Components – Stiff (Tonic), Massive Jerk (Myoclonic), Jerking (Clonic), Trembling (Vibratory), Thrashing (Hypermotor)
Non convulsive seizure
Motor Arrest in the form of Unresponsive Stare (Absence) or Drop Attack (Atonic)
What is convulsive status epilepticus
Continuous Seizure, or Intermittent lasting more than 30 mins without full recovery of consciousness between
o Important to terminate as risk of worse outcome, treatment resistance
Management of Acute Seizure
0 mins – Secure airway, high-flow oxygen, check blood glucose
• 5 mins (Step 1) – If vascular access available, Lorazepam IV/IO; otherwise Midazolam buccal or Diazepam rectal
• 15 mins (Step 2) – Lorazepam IV/IO, call for Senior Help
o Prepare Phenytoin, and Reconfirm if Epileptic Seizure
• 25 mins (Step 3) – Anaesthesia, ICU advice; Phenytoin IV/IO over 20 mins, or Phenobarbitone IV/IO over 5 minutes
• 45 mins (Step 4) – Rapid Sequence Induction with Thiopental
Febrile Seizure
Epileptic seizure accompanied by fever in absence of intracranial infection;
Genetic predisposition with 10% risk if first-degree relative with febrile seizures
• Often occurs early in viral infection when temperature rapidly rises; Typically, brief generalised tonic-clonic seizures
More likely in younger children, shorter onset, seizures that occur at lower temperatures and family history
Simple Febrile Seizure
do not cause brain damage – No intellectual consequences
o 1-2% chance of subsequently developing Epilepsy; similar risk for all children
Complex Febrile Seizure
Focal, Prolonged or Recurrent within same illness
o 4-12% chance of subsequent Epilepsy
Management of Febrile Seizure
Identify cause of fever – Typically viral illness but need TRO Bacterial Infections esp Meningitis
o Neck Stiffness and Photophobia might not be as apparent in young children
o Blood Cultures, Urine Cultures, LP and CSF sample
o If child unconscious, or unstable, LP is contraindicated; Abx immediately
• Reassurance and Information; Antipyretics have not been shown to prevent febrile seizures
o If history of prolonged seizures (>5min), Buccal midazolam rescue can be provided
o Oral Anti-Epilepsy prophylaxis not used – Do not reduce recurrence rate, and high SE
o EEG unhelpful, does not predict seizure recurrence
Non Epileptic Seizures Causes
- Metabolic disturbance e.g. hypoglycaemia, hypo/hypernatraemia, hypocalcaemia and hypomagnesaemia
- Head trauma
- Infection e.g. meningitis, encephalitis
- Poisons and toxins
Blue Breath Holding Spell
Upset toddler; Holds breath in expiration and becomes cyanotic; Brief loss of consciousness and rapid recovery
Reflex Anoxic Seizures
Infants or Toddlers; Often with first-degree family history; Commonest triggers are pain/discomfort (esp Head Trauma), Cold food, Fright or Fever; Child becomes pale and falls to floor
o Due to Cardiac Asystole from Vagal activation
o Hypoxia may induce Tonic-clonic seizure; Brief, Rapid recovery
o Ocular compression leads to asystole and paroxysmal slow-wave discharge on EEG
Syncope
Hot/Stuffy environment, standing for long periods, Fear; Clonic movement lasting few seconds are common
Generalised Onset Seizures
Discharge arises from both hemispheres
o Includes Absence, Myoclonic, Tonic, Tonic-Clonic, Atonic; Combination or Sequential
Focal Onset Seizures
Arises from one or part of one hemisphere; LOC may be retained, lost or evolve into secondary GTCS
Frontal Lobe Seizures
Motor or Premotor Cortex; Clonic movements which may travel proximally (Jacksonian march) or Tonic seizure (e.g. both upper limbs raised high for several seconds)
Temporal Lobe Seizures
Strange warning feelings, or Aura with Smell/Taste abnormalities, Distortion of Sound and Shape etc
▪ Automatisms – Lip-smacking, Plucking, Walking in Non-purposeful manner; due to spread to Pre-motor Cortex
▪ Consciousness can be impaired, usually longer than absence seizures
Occipital Lobe Seizures
Stereotyped Visual Hallucinations
Parietal Lobe Seizures
Contralateral dysaesthesia or distorted body image
Describing seizures
Focal (Awareness/Impaired, Motor/Non-motor, Focal to Bilateral Tonic-Clonic), Generalised (Motor or Non-motor), or Unknown (Motor or Non-motor)
Infantile Spasms (West Syndrome)
3-12 months
Violent flexion of head, trunk and limbs followed by arm extension lasting 1-2s multiple bursts, often on waking
o EEG shows Hypsarrhythmia (Irregular and Chaotic); Managed with Vigabatrin (increases GABA) ± Steroids, relapses common
Childhood Absence Epilepsy
4-12yrs; Unresponsive stare and Motor arrest; lasts only a few seconds; No awareness; 2% of childhood epilepsy
o Can be induced by hyperventilation; EEG fast spike-and-wave (3-4Hz)
o Good prognosis with 80% remission in adolescence; Can evolve into JAE and JME
Panayiotopoulos Syndrome
1-5yrs; Autonomic Features, Vomiting, Unresponsive staring in sleep, can progress to Convulsions
o 5% of childhood epilepsy; EEG posterior Focal Sharp Waves and Occipital Discharges when eyes are shut
Benign Rolandic Epilepsy
4-10yrs; TCS in sleep, or Focal Seizures with awareness of abnormal tongue and face sensation
o 15% of childhood epilepsy; Focal sharp waves in Rolandic Area
o Remits in adolescence; Benign, does not require medication
Juvenile Absence Epilepsy
Absence, GTCS often with Photosensitivity
o Remission is unlikely; Responds well to treatment
Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy
Myoclonic Seizures, GTCS, Absences which typically occur shortly after waking
o Remission is unlikely; Responds well to treatment
Diagnosis of Epilepsy: History and Examination
Detailed history from child and eye-witnesses; Ideal if video is available
o Identify specific triggers, impairments, educational, psychological or social problems
• Examine for Neuro-Cutaneous syndromes or other neurological abnormalities
• Epilepsy is typically idiopathic, but can have underlying neurology
Diagnosis of Epilepsy: Investigations
ECG – TRO underlying arrhythmia e.g. Long QT syndrome
• Inter-ictal EEG – Categorises Epilepsy type and Severity; If normal, Sleep/Sleep-deprived record can be helpful; Other ambulatory techniques available
• Imaging – MRI and CT are routine unless characteristic history = not required
o FLAIR MRI better for detecting Mesial Temporal Sclerosis in Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
• Functional Imaging – PET, SPECT to detect areas of hypometabolism when interictal
Management of Epilepsy
Decision to treat depends on Risk of Recurrence, Danger/Impairment, Patient preference
o E.g. Common not to treat Rolandic Epilepsy
o Not all children require AED therapy; Based on Seizure Type, Epilepsy Type, Frequency, Social and Educational consequences
o Drug choice based on type of Seizure and Epilepsy
o Monotherapy at Minimum Dose (Dose to prevent seizures without SE)
o Drug monitoring not routine, but useful to check concordance, or to consider increasing AED dose
• Ketogenic (Low carb, fat based) diets useful for some
• Vagal Nerve Stimulation, Epilepsy Surgery etc for a specific few patients
• Advice – Education and liaison with school, avoiding dangerous situations, Driving (only after 1yr Seizure-free), Alcohol, Sleep, Concordance
Children with prolonged Epileptic Seizures (>5 mins loss of consciousness) receive Rescue
• AED therapy can be discontinued after 2yr seizure free
o Usually continued indefinitely in young people with JAE or JME
First Line Treatment: GTCS
Valporate, Carbamazepine, Lamotrigine
Second Line Treatment: GTCS
Clobazam, Levetiracetam, Topiramate