seizures

Question 1

cause of seizures

Answer 1

Some seizures have no known etiology

• Febrile episode: 102 of greater
• Cerebral edema
• Intracranial infection or hemorrhage
• Brain tumors or cysts
• Anoxia
• Toxins or drugs/Lead poisoning
• Tetanus, Shigella, or Salmonella
• Hypoglycemia, hypocalcemia, - hyponatremia, hypernatremia, or hypomagnesemia

Question 2

what to do seizures

Answer 2

• help person to floor
• put on left side
• call for help
• record movement, and document
• 02 may flaculate and pt. may become incontient

Question 3

absence seizure

onset

Answer 3

• Onset between ages of 5 to 8 years and stops by teenage years.
• Loss of consciousness lasting 5 to 10 seconds.
• Minimal or no change in behavior.
• Resembles daydreaming or inattentiveness.
  Lip smacking, twitching of eyelids or face, or slight hand movements.
• Unable to recall episodes, can be momentarily confused.
• Can immediately resume previous activities.

Question 4

west syndrome (infantile spasms) seizures

peak onset
more common in who

Answer 4

• Rare disorder with a peak onset between 3 and 7 months of age.
• Twice as common in boys
• Sudden, brief, symmetric muscle contractions
  Flexed head, extended arms with legs drawn up
• Possible eye deviation or nystagmus
• Possible loss of consciousness
• Possible flushing, pallor or cyanosis
• Can occur as a single event or in a cluster of up to 150 seizures

Question 5

nursing care seizures

Answer 5

• Protect from injury
• Maintain a position to provide a patent airway.
• Be prepared to suction oral secretions.
• Turn child to a side-lying position
  Loosen restrictive clothing (belts)
• Do not attempt to restrain the child.
• Do not attempt to put anything in the child’s mouth.
• Administer oxygen
• Remain with the child, note onset, time, and characteristics of seizure.

Question 6

when to call 911 seizures

Answer 6

• Child stops breathing
• Seizure lasts more than 5 min
• Status epilepticus occurs: over 30 mins
• Pupils are not equal following seizure
• Child vomits 30 min continuously after end of seizure
• Child is unresponsive to pain or cannot be awakened
• Seizure occurs in water
• This is the child’s first seizure

Question 7

medications seizures

Answer 7

• Diazepam, phenytoin, carbamazepine, valproic acid, and fosphenytoin sodium, topiramate, lamotrigine, clonazepam.
• Medication selection is based on the client’s age, type of seizure.
• A single medication is initiated at low dosage and gradually increased until seizures are controlled.
• A second medication can be added to achieve seizure control.
• Dosage can need to be increased as the child grows.

Question 8

complications from seizures

Answer 8

status epilepticus

developmental delays

Question 9

head injuries

Answer 9

• Concussion is a traumatic injury to the brain that alters the way the brain functions.
• Contusion is bruising of the cerebral tissue.
• Laceration is tearing of the cerebral tissue.
• Fractures: linear, depressed, comminuted, basilar, open, or growing.

Question 10

head injury epidural hematoma

Answer 10

bleeding between the dura and the skull

Question 11

epidural hematoma manifestations

Answer 11

Short period of unconsciousness followed by a normal period for several hours, then lethargy or coma due to the accumulation of blood in the epidural space and compression of the brain.

Question 12

head injury severe icp s/s infants

Answer 12

• Bulging fontanel/Separation of cranial sutures
• Irritability, restlessness, increased sleeping
• High-pitched cry, poor feeding, distended scalp veins

Question 13

head injury severe icp s/s children

Answer 13

• Nausea, headache, forceful vomiting
• Blurred vision, increased sleeping, inability to follow simple commands
• Decline in school performance/Seizures