Chapter 25 Neurological Conditions Flashcards
What are migraine headaches?
An idiopathic, episodic headache disorder with attacks lasting from 4-72 hours
What are migraine triggers?
Triggers – hormone fluctuation during menstruation, aspartame, caffeine, nicotine, nitrates, alcohol, cheese, missed meals, perfume, red grapes, too little/much sleep
What is a migraine without aura?
Migraine without aura – recurrent headache disorder manifesting in attacks lasting 4-72 hours, unilateral location, pulsating quality, moderate to severe intensity, aggravated by routine PA, nausea, photo-phonophobia
What is a migraine with aura?
Migraine with aura – recurrent disorder manifesting in attacks of reversible focal neurological symptoms that usually develop gradually more than 5 minutes and last 60 minutes
What is a chronic migraine?
Chronic migraine – 15+ days per month or more than 3 months with symptoms occurring at least 9 days/month
Complication with migraine
Probable migraine
Episodic syndromes that may be associated with migraine
What is a tension type headache?
Most common type
Mild to moderate pain that is a pressing or tightening quality in the bitemporal or occipital region
Pain lasts 30 minutes to 7 days, mild nausea, phonophobia, photophobia
What is a cluster headache?
Severe unilateral pain, either orbitally, supra-orbitally or temporally lasting from 15-180 minutes
Occur from every other day to 8x/day and often wake person from sleep
S/S – unilateral stabbing, boring or burning, 2weeks-3months
What is a seizure?
abnormal electrical discharge in the brain
What is a seizure disorder?
recurrent episodes of sudden, excessive charges of electrical activity in the brain from known or unknown causes
What is an epilepsy?
general term used to describe only recurrent (at least two) idiopathic episodes of sudden, excessive discharges of electrical activity in the brain
What are partial or focal seizures?
simple = LOC same
Complex= LOC impaired
What is a generalized seizure disorder and epilepsy?
Generalized – can affect the entire brain
Tonic-clonic – tonic = prolonged contractions of muscles, clonic – rhythmic contractions and relaxation of muscles in rapid succession
Intermittent – tonic, clonic or both – associated with LOC
myoclonic (sporadic or continuous clonus of muscle groups)
What are special epileptic syndromes?
febrile seizures (onset during fever greater than 38.9 degrees)
What is meningitis?
Mostly caused by a bacteria or a virus, can also result from fungal infections, parasites, a blow to the head, cancer, inflammatory diseases
Viral meningitis (aseptic) – mild and often clears on its own in 1-2 weeks
Acute bacterial meningitis – caused primarily by Streptococcus pneumonia, medical emergency, bacteria from another part of the body travels to the brain and spinal cord, contagious
S/S – like flu but sudden onset, high fever, headache, rigidity, vomiting, mental confusion, drowsiness, confusion
What is encephalitis?
Inflammation of the brain (cerebral hemisphere, cerebellum or brainstem) caused by a viral infection
Spread by insects
What is primary encephalitis?
Primary – caused by direct viral invasion of the brain and spinal cord, more serious
Sporadic – herpes simplex
Epidemic – mosquito-borne viruses
What is secondary encephalitis?
Occurs with a viral infection in another part of the body, more common
What is complex regional pain syndrome?
Requires the presence of regional pain and sensory changes following a noxious event
Abnormal skin colour, temperature changes, abnormal sweating, hypersensitivity in area, edema
What causes type 1 complex regional pain syndrome?
occurs following an illness or injury that has not directly damaged the nerves in the affected limb
What causes type 2 complex regional pain syndrome?
follows a distinct nerve injury
