Peds enhancement neuro Flashcards
A seizure
abnormal, excessive, synchronous discharges of neurons residing primarily in the cerebral cortex.
Epilepsy
two or more seizures not due to acute causes.
Etiologies: Genetic Structural Metabolic Idiopathic
Metabolic and other causes of seizure
*** Hypoglycemia Hypo or hypernatremia Hypocalcemia PE: Chvostek’s and Trouseau’s Intoxications/ toxins (lead)
- FEVER also can be a cause of provoked seizure
- Toxic- meds
- Differences in pediatrics
- Generalized seizures are more common in children than adults.
- Generalized tonic–clonic seizures are rare before 2 yrs of age.
Children older than 6 years old will have seizures similar to that of adults.
Younger children have * less complex behaviors, especially with complex partial seizures.
Can be difficult to determine altered LOC in infants/young children
- Newborns’ seizures can present in a variety of different ways, and are uncommonly generalized.
- Apnea, subtle eye deviations, or abnormal chewing movements
- Differentiating between a newborn who has a seizure and a ‘‘jittery baby’’
- – Seizures cannot be suppressed by passive restraint
- – Seizures are not elicited by motion or startling
Seizures in the neonatal period: causes
* Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy Intracranial hemorrhage (intraventricular, subdural, subarachnoid) Ischemic stroke Infections - Bacterial meningitis (E. coli, Listeria, GBS) - Viral (HSV Hypoglycemia Hypo or hypernatremia Hypocalcemia Hypomagnesemia Inborn errors of metabolism Genetic disorders with seizures
Partial seizures
Simple partial seizure
= Focal seizure without impairment of consciousness
Complex partial seizure
= Focal seizure with impaired consciousness
Partial seizures with secondary generalization
= Focal seizure evolving to bilateral convulsive seizure
** Automatisms
(stereotypical, repetitive behaviors) present in 50%-75% of cases of Complex partial seizures
Simple partial seizure
Focal seizure without impairment of consciousness
Symptoms are referable to the area of the brain involved, no alteration of consciousness
EEG demonstrates unilateral spikes or sharp waves in anterior temporal region; can occasionally by bilateral or multifocal
Complex partial seizure
= Focal seizure with impaired consciousness
Partial seizures with alteration of consciousness
Automatisms (stereotypical, repetitive behaviors) present in 50%-75% of cases
EEG with sharp waves or spike discharges in the anterior temporal or frontal lobe, occasionally with multifocal spikes
Partial seizures with secondary generalization
= Focal seizure evolving to bilateral convulsive seizure
Partial seizure at onset followed by generalized convulsive activity
Partial seizures (simple and complex): - signs
Partial seizures may begin with localized symptoms that the patient is aware of (aura)
May have asymmetric motor symptoms.
*** Postictal state is common, even without convulsive activity.
Types of seizures: generalized (description)
Arise from both sides of the brain simultaneously
Quick onset, no aura or warning
Motor activity is symmetrical, whole body
Alteration of consciousness occurs
Primary generalized seizures (grand mal)
Postictal state is common for seizures with convulsions
Absence seizures (petit mal) and myoclonic seizures, atonic seizures, tonic clonic
Neurofibromatosis types 1 and 2
café au lait spots
axillary freckling
Lisch nodules (brown spots on iris), optic gliomas
neurofibromas
Tuberous sclerosis
Ash leaf macules
Shagreen patch
adenoma sebaceum
Sturge Weber
- portwine stain (V1, V2)
intellectual disability
seizures - glaucoma
idiopathic seizures
in more than half of them we don’t figure out what’s going on
Febrile seizures
Most common type of seizure in childhood
Seizure in association with a febrile illness in children between * 6 months and 5 years of age.
- Simple febrile seizure is single, brief (<15 minutes), and generalized
Complex febrile seizure is much less common (approximately 20%) and is recurrent in a single illness, prolonged (>15 minutes), and focal.
3-6% of those with febrile seizures will develop afebrile seizures or epilepsy
Febrile seizures- LP indicated if:
Infant under 12 months
Prolonged complex febrile seizure
** Children who have been partially treated with antibiotics