Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Paediatrics > Paediatric Neurology > Flashcards

Paediatric Neurology Flashcards

1
Q

what are the most common types of primary headaches in children?

A

migraine

tension type headache

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

which patterns of a headache should be investigated in children?

A
  • isolated acute headache

- chronic progressive headache

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

what patterns of headaches are seen in children?

A
  • acute isolated
  • acute recurrent
  • chronic progressive
  • chronic non-progressive
  • new persistent daily headache
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

what differentiates migraine from tension type headaches in children?

A
  • location (specific area vs generalised)
  • severity (migraine severe, tension mild/moderate)
  • type of pain (throbbing vs ache)
  • effect on activities (migrain stops ADL, tension headache doesn’t)
  • additional symptoms (migraine also presents with photophobia, vomiting, visual symptoms, weakness)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

why is it important to measure growth in children with headaches?

A

because headache + stunted growth could be an indicated for craniopharyngioma

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

headache in which area of the brain is often more worrying?

A

headache in occipital area

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

name a few causes of secondary headaches in children

A 
reduced visual acuity/eye strain
sinus problems
tooth decay/caries
raised ICP
tumours (rare)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what signs could indicate that a headache is caused by raised ICP in children?

A
  • headache worse on coughing/straining

- child woken up in the night by headache + vomit

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

what signs could indicate that a headache is caused by overuse of painkillers?

A
  • Hx of increased use

- headache returns before next dose allowed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

when should a scan be done in children with a headache?

A
  • if cerebellar dysfunction
  • if raised ICP
  • if new focal deficit (eg squint)
  • behaviour changes
  • decline in school work
  • seizures
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

how are acute migraine attacks managed in children?

A
  • rest/remove trigger
  • pain relief
  • tryptans
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

what drug is used for migraine prevention in children?

A

propranolol

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

how are acute tension type headaches managed in children?

A

reassurance

pain relief

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

how is tension type headache prevented in children?

A

amitryptiline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

what is an epileptic seizure?

A

electrical disturbance in the brain causing synchronous firing of neurons in a specific area/all over the brain

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

what’s the difference between a tonic and an atonic seizure?

A

tonic seizure characteristed by stiffness/rigidity

atonic seizure is a sudden loss of tone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

what is the difference between a clonic and a myoclonic seizure?

A
  • clonic seizures characterised by rhythmic jerks

- myoclonic seizures are single jerks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

define a myoclonic seizure

A

patient has split second, standalone jerks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

what is a common characteristic of non-epileptic fits in children?

A

they are normally provoked

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

what are febrile convulsions?

A

seizures in children between 3 months and 5 years, caused in presence of a fever but no evidence of an intracranial infection (eg meningitis/encephalitis)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

what is the first line treatment for focal epileptic seizures in children?

A

carbamazepine

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

what is the first line treatment for generalised seizures in children?

A 
levetiracetam
sodium valproate (boys only)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

what seizures are common in toddlers, and what nerve is involved?

A

reflex anoxic seizures - mediated by vagus nerve

24
Q

name a few causes of provoked seizures in children

A

hypoglycaemia
trauma
hypoxia
infection

25
Q

what is a typical absent seizure?

A

abrupt loss of focus “daze”, short lasting, can involve eye rolling or flickering

26
Q

what is a tonic-clonic seizure?

A

seizure characterised by onset of myoclonic jerks, then tonic rigidity of body followed by clonic rhythmic jerking

27
Q

what differentiates a psychogenic seizure from an epileptic seizure?

A

in psychogenic seizures patient is alert and able to communicate, vs epileptic seizure where patient loses consciousness

28
Q

what are psychogenic seizures often associated with?

A

underlying psychosocial issues

29
Q

what characterises infantile spasms?

A

stiff arms and legs reach upwards, head bends forwards

occurs in infants under 12 months

30
Q

what types of epileptic seizures exist?

A

partial/focal

generalised

31
Q

which type of epileptic seizure is more common in children?

A

generalised seizure “grand mal”

32
Q

what is the most common cause of epileptic attacks in children?

A

idiopathic, no underlying cause

33
Q

why are EEGs not reliable methods of detecting whether a child has epilepsy?

A

because someone with epilepsy can have a normal EEG (false negative), or EEG can show activity in someone with no epilepsy (false positive)

34
Q

what are the possible types of seizures seen in epilepsy?

A
  • simple/complex partial seizures
  • absent
  • tonic seizures
  • atonic seizures
  • clonic seizures
  • myoclonic seizures
  • tonic/clonic seizures
35
Q

what is status epilepticus?

A

epileptic seizure lasting longer than 5 mins

36
Q

what is the use of EEGs in diagnosing epilepsy?

A
  • identify type of seizures
  • identify potential cause
  • identify epileptic syndrome
37
Q

what is VNS?

A

vagal nerve stimulation - device which sends electric shock to vagus nerve to stop epileptic seizure

38
Q

at which age does the posterior fontanelle close in a child?

A

around 3 months

39
Q

at which age does the anterior fontanelle close in a child?

A

1-3 years

40
Q

what is the definition of microcephaly?

A

<2 SD (standard deviation) - mild/moderate microcephaly

<3 SD (standard deviation) - severe microcephaly

41
Q

what is the definition of macrocephaly?

A

> 2 SD (standard deviation)

42
Q

abnormalities of which head features can be found in children?

A
  • head shape abnormalities

- head size abnormalities

43
Q

what are the two types of head size abnormality in children?

A

microcephaly

macrocephaly

44
Q

what causes head shape abnormalities in children?

A

abnormal closure of fontanelles

45
Q

what types of abnormal head shape can be seen in children as a result of abnormal fontanelle closure?

A

brachycephaly (short head)
scaphocephaly (boat head)
plagiocephaly (flat head)
craniosynostosis

46
Q

how is skull growth measured in children?

A

occipitofrontal circumference (OFC)

47
Q

when is the occipitofrontal circumference (OFC) measured?

A
  • as routine measurement every visit from birth to 3 years old
  • if there is concern of neurological/developmental abnormalities
48
Q

what does microcephaly normally indicate?

A

small/underdeveloped brain

49
Q

what occurs in craniosynostosis?

A

fontanelles fuse too early, resulting in skull deformities

50
Q

what is an important investigation to do if a child presents with weakness?

A

Creatine Kinase (CK)

51
Q

what is Gower’s sign, and what disease is it commonly seen in?

A

sign of proximal weakness (especially of hips/thighs) which causes child to stand up using arms/hands
commonly seen in Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy

52
Q

what is the genetic inheritance of Duchenne’s muscular dystrophy?

A

x-linked

53
Q

name a few features of duchenne’s muscular dystrophy

A
  • delayed gross motor skills
  • proximal muscle weakness (pelvic/thigh)
  • calf (pseudo)hypertrophy
  • cardiomyopathy
  • respiratory problems
  • raised CK
54
Q

what is myotonia?

A

inability to relax after voluntarily contracting a muscle

55
Q

what is the most common inherited muscle disorder, and name one of its cardinal features

A

charcot-marie-tooth syndrome (hereditary motor/sensory neuropathy)
presents with pes cavus

56
Q

what is the difference between myopathy and myodystrophy?

A

myopathy - muscle weakness

myodystrophy - muscle destruction

57
Q

what are myasthenic disorders?

A

disorders that affect chemical signalling at NMJ

Paediatrics (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions