Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

Conditions > Neurology > Flashcards

Neurology Flashcards

1
Q

Name 4 types of headaches.

A
  • Tension headaches
  • Migraines
  • Cluster headaches
  • Medication overuse headaches
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

How can headaches be classified?

A
  • Primary
  • Secondary
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

What is a primary headache?

A

Headache itself is the focus, it is not a symptom of an underlying disease or condition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Give examples of primary headaches (3).

A
  • Tension headaches
  • Migraines
  • Cluster headaches
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What is a secondary headache?

A

Headache is a symptom of an underlying disease or condition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Give examples of secondary headaches (5).

A
  • Meningitis
  • Encephalitis
  • Giant cell arteritis
  • Brain haemorrhage
  • Brain tumour
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What is the most common and second most common type of primary headache?

A
  • Most common - tension headache
  • Second most common - migraine
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What is a tension headache?

A

A headache that causes a mild ache across the forehead, in a band-like pattern around the head

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Name 3 muscles which can be affected in a tension headache.

A
  • Frontalis
  • Temporalis
  • Occipitalis
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What are tension headaches associated with (5)?

A
  • Stress
  • Alcohol
  • Depression
  • Dehydration
  • Skipping meals
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Describe the presentation of a tension headache (3).

A
  • Tight band around the head
  • Non-throbbing
  • Non-pulsatile
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

How are tension headaches diagnosed?

A

Clinical diagnosis

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

How can tension headaches be treated (3)?

A
  • Reassurance
  • Basic analgesia e.g paracetamol, ibuprofen
  • Relaxation techniques
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What can be given for tension headache prophylaxis?

A

Amitriptyline

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

How can medication overuse headaches be avoided in the treatment for tension headaches (2)?

A
  • Limit use of analgesia to no more than 6 days per month
  • Avoid opioids
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

How can tension headaches be differentiated from migraines (4)?

A

Tension headaches:
- Bilateral
- Non-throbbing and non-pulsatile
- No nausea and vomiting
- Not aggrevated by physical activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What is a migraine?

A

A severe headache that causes a throbbing or pulsing sensation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Are migraines more common in males or females? Why?

A

Females:
- Due to hormonal changes during the menstrual cycle
- Become less frequent in pregnancy and after menopause

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

What are the 4 different types of migraines?

A
  • Migraines without aura
  • Migraines with aura
  • Silent migraine - with aura but without headache
  • Hemiplegic migraine - mimics a stroke
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Describe the presentation of a migraine.

A

POUNDW:
- Pulsating
- Onset of 4-72 hours
- Unilateral
- Nausea and vomiting
- Disabling
- Worse with activity

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

What sensory changes may be associated with migraines (3)?

A
  • Aura - flashing lights, sparks, blurring/lines across vision
  • Photophobia
  • Phonophobia
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

What can trigger a migraine?

A

CHOCOLATE:
- CHeese
- Oral contraceptive pill and menustration
- Caffeine
- AlcohOL
- Anxiety/stress
- Travel and too much/little sleep
- Exercise

23
Q

What are the 4 main stages of a migraine? How long does each stage last?

A
  • Prodrome - few hours to days
  • Aura - 5 - 60 mins
  • Headache - 4- 72 hours
  • Postdrome - 24 - 48 hours
24
Q

How is a migraine diagnosed?

A

Clinical diagnosis

25
What can be given for nausea and vomiting associated with migraines?
Anti-emetics e.g metoclopramide
26
How can a sudden onset of migraines be treated (3)?
- Paracetamol - NSAIDs e.g ibuprofen, naproxen - Triptans e.g sumitriptan
27
What can be given for migraine prophylaxis?
- Beta-blockers e.g propanolol - Anti-convulsants e.g sodium valproate, topiramate - TCAs e.g amitriptyline
28
What should you consider before giving propanolol to someone with migraines?
Should not be given to those with asthma
29
What should you consider before giving sodium valproate or topiramate to someone with migraines?
It is teratogenic - avoided in women of child-bearing age
30
Why should the oral contraceptive pill be avoided in someone with migraine with aura?
Small increased risk of a stroke
31
What is a cluster headache?
A very severe type of headache which is often felt around the eye
32
Describe the presentation of a cluster headache (6).
- Excruciating pain around the eye - sharp, piercing, burning - Red, swollen and watery eye - Miosis - Ptosis - Nasal discharge - Facial sweating
33
How are cluster headaches diagnosed?
Clinical diagnosis
34
What investigations can be done for cluster headaches (2)?
- MRI brain - exclude tumour - ESR - exclude giant cell arteritis
35
How are cluster headaches treated (2)?
- High flow 100% oxygen - Triptans e.g sumitriptan
36
What can be given for cluster headache prophylaxis (3)?
- Verapamil - Lithium - Prednisolone
37
What are red flag headache symptoms (5)?
- New headache with a history of cancer - Cluster headaches - Seizures - Altered consciousness and memory - Papilloedema
38
What is meningitis?
Inflammation of the leptominiges (arachnoid and pia mater)
39
What is the most common cause of meningitis? Describe.
Streptococcus pneumoniae - gram + diplococci
40
Which organism causes meningitis with the worse prognosis? Describe.
Neisseria meningitidis - gram - diplococci
41
What is the most common cause of meningitis in neonates?
Streptococcus agalactiae
42
What is the most common cause of meningitis in pregnant women?
Listeria monocytogenes
43
What is the most common cause of fungal meningitis? Who does it usually affect?
Cryptococcus neoformans - affecting immunocompromised patients
44
What triad of symptoms is associated with meningitis?
- Fever - Headache - Neck stiffness
45
Describe the presentation of meningitis (6).
- Fever - Headache - Neck stiffness - Non-blanching purpuric/petechial rash - Altered mental state - Photophobia
46
What investigations can be done for meningitis (4)?
- Blood cultures - identify cause - Pneumococcal and meningococcal serum PCR - Lumbar puncture - CT head - exclude lesions
47
When may a lumbar puncture be contraindicated?
If there is suspected raised ICP
48
Describe CSF findings for bacterial meningitis.
- CSF - turbid - Cells - neutrophils polymorphs - Proteins - raised - Glucose - low
49
Describe CSF findings for viral meningitis.
- CSF - clear - Cells - lymphocytes - Proteins - raised - Glucose - normal
50
Describe CSF findings for TB/fungal meningitis.
- CSF - clear - Cells - lymphocytes - Proteins - raised - Glucose - low
51
How is meningitis treated in hospital?
Cephalosporins e.g IV cefotaxime, IV ceftriaxone - Over 50s/immunocompromised - IV amoxicillin
52
How is meningitis treated in the community?
Injection of benzylpenicillin and transfer to hospital
53
How is viral meningitis treated (4)?
Usually self-resolving: - Analgesia - Hydration - Anti-pyrectics - Aciclovir in severe cases
54
What is Parkinson's disease?
A neurodegenerat

Conditions (10 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions