Unit 3 Flashcards
Bacterial Meningitis Subjective Signs
Headache Photophobia Neck Pain/Stiffness Stiffness (Nuchal) N/V Myalgia
Bacterial Meningitis - Objective Symptoms
Fever (103+) w/chills, tachycardia, & tachypnea
Brudzinski’s sign
Kernig’s sign
Opisthotonus
Change in mental status (confusion, lethargy, stupor, coma)
Cranial nerve dysfunction (unilateral) ->diploplia, facial weakness, pupillary abnormalities
Seizures
Rash (petechial)
Posturing (decorticate/decerebrate)
Kernig’s Sign
Inability to fully extend the legs
Brudzinski’s Sign
Hip & knee flexion when the neck is flexed
Opisthotonus
Severe back spasm, causing arching of the back
Bacterial Meningitis causes cranial nerve abnormalities (unilateral). What are the symptoms?
diploplia, facial weakness, pupillary abnormalities (dilated/nonreactive)
Post-polio - Subjective Signs
Muscle weakness (progressive) Fatigue (generalized & muscular) Joint pain
Post-polio - Objective Symptoms
Muscle atrophy (gradual) Increasing skeletal deformities (scoliosis-curvature of the spine)
Who is risk for Post-Polio Syndrome
Polio is a contagious (viral) disease. Only a polio survivor can develop Post-Polio Syndrome. An estimated 25-40% of polio survivors develop PPS.
What causes Post-Polio Syndrome
The new weakness appears to be related to the degeneration of individual nerve terminals and the muscle fibers it activates. Body compensates by creating new nerve-end terminals. Over time motor neurons lose the ability to maintain the increased work demands.
How is Post-Polio Syndrome diagnosed
Diagnosed after a comprehensive medical history & physical exam, and by excluding other disorders. No specific labs
Criteria for a Post-Polio diagnosis
[] Prior paralytic poliomyelitis (w/motor neuron loss)
[] A period of partial or complete functional recovery after acute infection. (15+ years)
[] Slow progressive & persistent new muscle weakness or decreased endurance, with or without generalized fatigue, muscle atrophy, or muscle/joint pain
[] Symptoms persist at least 1 year
[] Exclude other causes (neuromuscular, medical, or skeletal abnormalities)
True or False:
Progressive scoliosis causing breathing insufficiency can occur years after polio but is not an indicator of Post-Polio Syndrome
True
How is Post-Polio Syndrome treated
[] No effective Rx that can stop deterioration or reverse the deficits.
[] Non-fatiguing exercises may improve muscle strength & reduce tiredness.
What is the role of exercise in the treatment of Post-Polio Syndrome
[] Exercise is safe & effective (medical supervision.
[] More likely to benefit those muscle groups that were least affected by polio.
[] Cardio better than strengthening
[] Frequent breaks
[] No muscle should be exercised to the point of ache, fatigue, or weakness
Can Post-Polio Syndrome be prevented
No
How is Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) different from Parkinson’s Disease
PSP:
[] Usually stand straight or occasionally tilt their heads backward.
[] Speech & swallowing problems are more severe and present earlier in disease process.
[] Abnormal eye movements
[] Tremor rare
[] Respond poorly to levodopa
Parkinson's: [] Usually bend forward [] Normal eye movements [] Tremor common [] Respond will to levodopa
How is Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) similar from Parkinson’s Disease
[] Both PSP & Parkinson’s cause stiffness, movement difficulties, & clumsiness.
[] Age of onset: late middle age
[] Bradykinesia (slow movement)
[] Muscle rigidity
Most common neurodegenerative disease
Alzheimer’s Disease
Second most common neurodegenerative disease
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s Disease - general definition
Chronic, progressive, degenerative disorder of the basal ganglia in the CNS
Parkinsonism is divided into 4 categories
[] Idiopathic (most common)
[] Symptomatic
[] Parkinson-plus syndromes (known cause, ie CVA, drugs, infection, trauma, toxin exposure)
[] Other herododegenerative diseases (ie Huntington’s)
Cause of Parkinson’s Disease
Unknown
Pathophysiology of Parkinson’s Disease
[] A degenerative disease of the motor systems of the brain.
[] Progressive cell loss is noted in the substantia nigra, which carry major connections to the basal ganglia.
[] Also kills dopaminergic neurons, noradrenergic neurons, & cholingergic neurons. This produces a cellular abnormality called Lewy Bodies inside the neurons.
Parkinson’s Disease - Subjective Signs
6 cardinal signs: [] tremor at rest [] rigidity [] bradykinesia or hypokinesia [] flexed posture [] loss of postural reflexes [] freezing phenomenon
Parkinson’s Disease - Objective Symptoms
[] tremor
[] weak & clumsy limb
[] a stiff, achy limb
[] gait disorder
Constipation, orthostatic hypotension, dysarthria (slurred speech), hypophonia (soft speech), hypomimia (mask-like face) are also common.
Parkinson’s Disease - Diagnostic Tests
H&P usually leads to diagnosis
CT or MRI to r/o structural brain lesions
Ca2+ level to exclude hypoparathyroidism
PET scan can detect changes in striatal dopamine & subclinical nigral pathology
Parkinson’s Disease - Management
Control symptoms Levodopa Add Seleginine (MAO-B inhibitor) if Levodopa produces fluctuation in response
Parkinson’s Disease - Differential diagnosis
Essential tremor Medication induced Infarct or tumor of the basal ganglia Wilson's disease Huntington's disease
Parkinson’s disease - Differential Dx
Essential tremor Medication induced Progressive Supranuclear Palsy Infarcts or tumors in the basal ganglia Wilson's disease Huntington's disease
Levodopa. Drug class = ________
Dopaminergic
Drug class = MAO Inhibitor
Name 2 examples
Used to treat ________
Selegiline (Eldepryl L-deprenyl)
Rosagiline (Azilect)
Parkinson’s disease