paeds/psych/cancer/opic/stroke/specialsenses Flashcards
1st line ix for stroke
non contrast ct head to rule out bleed
What scale can be used to predict disability following stroke/ TIA?
The Barthel index is a scale that measures disability or dependence in activities of daily living in stroke patients
causes of peripheral neuropathy
alcohol
b12 deficiency
ckd
cancer
diabetes
vasculitis
what does ct head for sah show
hyperattenuation in the subarachnoid space
blood appears w hite; this will be m ixed in w ith the CSF. This will lie w ithin the interhem ispheric fissure, basal
cisterns and ventricles
what will LP show for SAH
increased rbc
xanthochromia- yellow colour caused by bilirubin
what is kernigs sign
when you bend the hip and knee to 90 degrees , pain on extending the knee
caused by meningeal irritation
what is the pterion
frontal
sphenoid
temporal
parietal
subdural haemorrhage cause & ct scan
high impact trauma
bridging vein
CT imaging is the first-line investigation and will show a crescentic collection, not limited by suture lines. They will appear hyperdense (bright) in comparison to the brain. Large acute subdural haematomas will push on the brain (‘mass effect’) and cause midline shift or herniation/ compression of the ventricles
extradural haemorrhage cause
middle meningeal artery
young person with trauma
lucid interval
bi convex shape on ct, limited by suture lines
rapidly declines
fracture of temporal bone
rf for strok
htn
smoker
alcohol
diabetes
hyperlipidaemia
heart disease (e.g. atrial fibrillation, valvular), peripheral
vascular disease, previous TLA, polycythaemia rubra vera, carotid
artery disease, hyperlipidaemia, clotting disorders, combined
oral contraceptive pill, excess alcohol.
give some metabolic causes of seizure
- hypoG
- hypoNa
- uraemia
- hypoCa
- anoxia
- water intoxication
what is epilepsy
T ran sien t occurrence o f in term itten t, abnorm al electrical activity
o f p art o f the brain. T h is tends to be stereotyped and often
m anifests itself as seizures.
epilepsy different types + mx
Absence- girls, age 3-10, stress/ hyperventilation
Ethosuximide/ sodium valproate
AVOID carbamazepine- exacerbates absence seizure
Generalised tonic clonic
1st line Sodium valproate
2nd line lamotrigine or carbamazepine
Focal
1st line Carbamazepine/ lamotrigine
2nd line levetiracetam, sodium valproate, oxcarbazepine
Myoclonic
1st line sodium valproate
2nd line clonazepam, lamotrigine
The cranial nerves II, III, IV and VI are involved in vision and
movement of the eye. What are the six routinely performed tests
clinically to assess these cranial nerves?
Visual acuity, visual fields, fundoscopy, pupillary light response
(direct and indirect), pupillary accommodation, eye movements.
Brown-Sequard syndrome
- caused by lateral hemisection of the spinal cord
- ipsilateral weakness below lesion
- ipsilateral loss of proprioception and vibration sensation (dorsal column- posteriorly in spinal cord, decussates at medulla)
- contralateral loss of pain and temperature sensation (spinothalamic tract- anterior spinal cord)
carpal tunnel ix
nerve conduction studies
electromyography
mri wrist
uss
Give two complications associated with long-term levodopa
treatment?
On-off fluctuations, dyskinesias, weaning off phenomenon
give 2 clinical features other than headache that can be due to raised icp
Vomiting, papilloedema, seizures, focal neurology, decreased
conscious level.
Give two examples of space-occupying lesions which may be
causing the raised intracranial pressure
Neoplasm, haematoma, abscess, granuloma, aneurysm
cushings triad in raised icp
widening pulse pressure
bradycardia
irregular breathing
idiopathic intracranial htn mx
weight loss
diuretics e.g. acetazolamide
topiramate is also used, and has the added benefit of causing weight loss in most patients
repeated lumbar puncture may be used as a temporary measure but is not suitable for longer-term management
surgery: optic nerve sheath decompression and fenestration may be needed to prevent damage to the optic nerve. A lumboperitoneal or ventriculoperitoneal shunt may also be performed to reduce intracranial pressure
why fbc in epistaxis
low plts- can be cause of epistaxis
low hb- anaemia due to bleed
other blood tests for epistaxis
INR as she is on warfarin, LFTs as deranged liver function may
lead to insufficient synthesis of clotting factors, group and save in
case transfusion is necessary
ddx for sore throat in child
tonsillitis
scarlet fever
infectious mononucleosis
agranulocytosis
malignancy
diphtheria
tonsillitis- why is penicillin V given as opposed
to am oxicillin?
Am oxicillin will cause a maculopapular rash if the cause of the
symptoms is infectious mononucleosis instead o f acute tonsillitis.
recurrent laryngeal nerve- which cranial nerve is it a branch of, which side is RLN palsy commoner on and why, give 2 causes of RLN palsy and symptoms of vocal cord palsy other than hoarseness
- vagus nerve
- left- longer than right
- thyroid surgery, thyroid malignancy, idiopathic
- hoarseness, low voice volume, voice fatigue, SoB, cough
How can you discriminate an upper motor neurone lesion from a
lower motor neurone lesion affecting the face?
umn- forehead sparing- suspect stroke
lmn- doesnt spare forehead- less urgetn
mx & long term consequences of bells palsy
- lmn palsy- forehead not spared
- within 72hrs presentation- give pred 5-10 days 50-60mg
- Damage to the eye - consequence of reduced lacrimation and inability to close eye; altered taste; psychological impact.
Describe the pathogenesis of BPPV
T h e re is displacement of an otolith or otoconia within the
semicircular canals. The heavier otolith causes abnormal
movement of the endolymph within the canal, giving the
sensation of vertigo.
causes for vertigo besides bppv
Meniere’s disease, vestibular neuronitis, acoustic neuroma,
multiple sclerosis, cholesteatoma, trauma, drugs (gentamicin,
diuretics, metronidazole, among others).
also posterior circulation stroke
difference between childrens ET to adults
Shorter, narrower and more horizontal - poor drainage, more
likely to suffer middle ear infections.
name 2 portions of eardrum
pars flaccida
pars tensa (main middle bit)
otitis media eardrum otoscopy findings
Bulging eardrum, reddening or dull appearance, prominent blood
vessels, (+/- perforation).
describe eczema rash
. Erythematous, scaly, excoriations, lichenification, crust and
weeping if infected.
typically symmetrical flexural distribution
eczema herpaticum
Eczema herpeticum describes a severe primary infection of the skin by herpes simplex virus 1 or 2.
It is more commonly seen in children with atopic eczema and often presents as a rapidly progressing painful rash.
On examination, monomorphic punched-out erosions (circular, depressed, ulcerated lesions) usually 1–3 mm in diameter are typically seen.
As it is potentially life-threatening children should be admitted for IV aciclovir.
classical signs of psoriasis
well demarcated, red, scaly
plaque psoriasis- where to examine
extensor surfaces, sacrum and scalp
nails
complications psoriasis
psoriatic arthropathy (around 10%)
increased incidence of metabolic syndrome
increased incidence of cardiovascular disease
increased incidence of venous thromboembolism
psychological distress
types of malignant melanoma
Superficial spreading
Nodular
Lentigo maligna
Acral lentiginous
RF MM
sun exposure
fair skin
fhx
sunburn
lentigo maligna
malignant melanoma prognosis
breslow thickness
thickness of the lesion correlates mortality
characteristic appearance BCC
many types of BCC are described. The most common type is nodular BCC, which is described here
sun-exposed sites, especially the head and neck account for the majority of lesions
initially a pearly, flesh-coloured papule with telangiectasia
may later ulcerate leaving a central ‘crater’
characteristic appearance BCC
many types of BCC are described. The most common type is nodular BCC, which is described here
sun-exposed sites, especially the head and neck account for the majority of lesions
initially a pearly, flesh-coloured papule with telangiectasia
may later ulcerate leaving a central ‘crater’
bcc mx
Mohs micrographic surgery.
surgical removal
curettage
cryotherapy
topical cream: imiquimod, fluorouracil
radiotherapy
actinic keratoses
small, crusty or scaly, lesions
may be pink, red, brown or the same colour as the skin
multiple lesioms may be present
premalignant
sun exposure
fluororacil
topical diclofenac if mild AKs
pathophys acne
Increased production of sebum. Pilosebaceous follicles become
blocked and infected.
s/e oral isotretinoin
dry skin, dry lips, dry eyes
depression
muscle aches
migraine
teratogenic- need effective contraception
scc of skin- worse prognosis site? risk factors?
ear and lip
sun exposure, age, renal transplant & immunosuppression
bowens disease
precursor for scc
may sometimes be diagnosed and managed in primary care if clear diagnosis or repeat episode
topical 5-fluorouracil
typically used twice daily for 4 weeks
often results in significant inflammation/erythema. Topical steroids are often given to control this
cryotherapy
excision
what virus causes shingles
herpes simplex virus 3
what is the characteristic appearance of shingles
vesicles
crusting
erythematous
swollen plaques
dermatome
NEVER crosses midline !
commonest chronic complication of shingles
post herpetic neuralgia
most commonly resolves with 6 months but may last longer
RF for developing pressure sores
stroke
Elderly, cardiovascular disease, obesity, poor nutrition, immobility,
smoking, neurologically impaired, faecal incontinence, urinary
incontinence
what are the 4 grades of pressure sore
- erythema nonblanchable, skin intact
- partial thickness skin loss
- full thickness skin loss
- full thickness tissue loss, exposed bone
what to address in mx of pressure ulcer
Nutrition, antibiotics if infected, regular dressings, need for
debridement, pain relief, patient positioning, tissue viability
referral, pressure relieving mattress/chair.