Special topics Flashcards
transient (moves around) event caused by abnormal excessive activity in the brain; sudden, excessive, abnormal electrical discharge of aggregates of neurons in the brain; 10% of population have one in their lifetime
Seizure
What can cause seizures?
- Mechanical: birth injuries, head trauma, tumors, vascular abnormalities (stroke)
- Metabolic: electrolyte disturbances, glucose abnormalities, inborn errors of metabolism
- Genetic: benign familial neonatal seizures, juvenile myoclonic epilepsy,
- Other: fever, infection
chronic disorder of recurrent seizures; Caused by genetics, TBI, stroke, brain tumor, cerebral palsy, infectious diseases; Cause can also be unknown
Epilepsy
What are the 3 questions you must ask in order to classify a seizure?
- Where does it start?
- Focal (one side of brain), Generalized (crosses over to different segments of the brain), or unknown - [if answer is focal] Do they have an impaired awareness or were they aware the entire time?
- Does it affect the motor abilities or not while the seizure occurs?
Inflammation of the meninges of brain and meninges of spinal cord; Swelling triggers symptoms (blockage of CSF flow); Fever, stiff neck, severe headache; Confusion and decreased alertness in severe cases; Can be viral, bacterial, or fungal
Meningitis
What are the viral causes of meningitis?
- Arbovirus
- Tibovirus (from ticks)
- enterovirus
- herpes simplex 2
- Epstein-Barr
When performing a lumbar puncture procedure, the CSF is cloudy. What does this indicate?
Bacterial infection causing meningitis
What are the bacterial causes of meningitis?
Streptococcal Pneumonia
What is kernig sign?
A hamstring stretch that causes non-hamstring sign
- pulls on inflamed meninges
What is brudzinski sign?
cervical flexion causing pain or hip flexion with knee flexion
Acute inflammation of the brain itself (primarily viral, but can be bacterial, parasitic, toxic drug rxns); Headache, fever, body aches, fatigue; Symptoms of altered brain function sooner compare to meningitis – confusion, decreased alertness (Immediate or latent)
Encephalitis
What are the viral causes of encephalitis?
- Herpes virus
- mosquito and tick-borne
- measles
- mumps
- rubella
Pathogenesis of inflammatory process in focal area that causes signs and symptoms at a greater rate than a brain tumor; Uncommon infectious disorder; Capsule has too much presser; some S and S are Fever, HA, Hemiparesis, disturbed consciousness
Brain abscess/ abscessi
Up to 5% of headaches have a serious cause. What are they?
- Tumors
- Infections of the CNS
- Brain hematoma or hemorrhage
What are the types of primary headaches (not caused by other diseases)?
Tension
migraine
cluster
Headaches caused by other diseases, resolve when the underlying problem is identified and treated
Secondary headache
Most common primary headache; Primarily a response to stress; Described as dull, non-throbbing, tightness, pressure; Whole head or neck; Caused by stress and fatigue
Tension-type headache
Familial disorder; Recurrent attacks; Widely variable in intensity, frequency and duration; Often unilateral; Dull or throbbing pain; Usually associated with nausea and vomiting; Pain builds up gradually; Last 4-72 hours; 12% of population; Increased risk of stroke especially when combined with aura type migraines and estrogen containing oral contraceptives; May be preceded by neurological and mood disturbances (aura); More common in women; Usually develop before age 40
Migraine