Week 12 Flashcards
How are we assessing a child’s LOC?
Through the us we of AVPU. A= Alert & Awake V= responsive to verbal stimuli P= responsive to painful stimuli U= unresponsive
Name at least 4 early signs & symptoms of increased intracranial pressure?
- headache
- Vomiting
- slight alteration of LOC
- slight changes in vital signs
- generalised seizures
- changes in pupils/visual disturbances
Name at least 2 late signs or symptoms of increased intracranial pressure?
- significant changes in LOC
- respiratory distress including shallow breathing and Cheyenne-stokes respirations
- Cushing’s triad = bradycardia, wide pulse pressure, increased systolic BP
What is PEARL?
Pupils equal and reactive to light
Name 4 signs and symptoms of increased ICP in an infant.
- high pitched cry
- tense bulging fontanelle
- dilated scalp veins
- widened sutures
- irritability
- increased head circumference
- vomiting, poor intake
What are seizures?
An abnormal electrical discharge in the brain that cause involuntary movement and behaviour and sensory alterations
Seizures can be categorised into 2 types. What are they?
- partial seizures
- generalised seizures
What are partial seizures?
Partial seizures are caused by abnormal activity in one brain hemisphere or a specific area of the cerebral cortex.
What are generalised seizures?
These are the result of diffuse electrical activity that begins in both brain hemispheres simultaneously, spreading throughout the cortex into the brainstem.
- movement and spasms are bilateral and symmetric
- the persons consciousness is impaired.
What is status epilepticus?
A prolonged continuous seizure of 20 minutes or 2 or more seizures without full return to baseline between episodes.
What is the management of an acute seizure?
- stay with the pt
- time the seizure
- protect from injury (especially the head)
- roll them onto the side after jerking stops or if vomit, food, secretions in mouth
- observe and monitor breathing
- gently reassure child and parents until recovered
List at least 5 things that should be documented about the seizure activity.
- what the child was doing before the seizure occurred.
- did they complain off any symptoms? (Headache, nausea)
- what movements was the child making?
- did the childs colour change?
- how long the seizure lasted
- did the child experience any memory loss or confusion?
- was the child lethargic, weak or uncoordinated when the child woke up?
- was the child aware of their surroundings or able to respond to questions?
- where the pupils dilated or deviated to one side?
- was the child incontinent?
- are they on any medication?
What is epilepsy?
It is a chronic disorder characterised by recurrent unprovoked seizures, secondary to underlying brain abnormality.
What is meningitis?
Meningitis is an inflammation of the meninges, caused by either bacterial or viral agents.
List 2 meningitis risk factors.
- immunosuppression
- a ventriculoperitoneal shunt
- cochlear implant
- central nervous system trauma
- recent sinus or ear infection
