Transcript Neurological Diseases ppt

Neurological Disease for AHS I
Meningitis
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Infection or inflammation of
the meninges
Caused by both bacteria and
viral infections
Symptoms – severe
headache and stiff neck with
pain
Need to seek immediate
medical attention
Meningitis
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Inflammation of
cranial meninges
spreads to spinal
meninges, which
leads to excess
production of CSF,
causing HA,
reduced pulse, slow
breathing, and
partial or total
unconsciousness
Lumbar Puncture
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AKA Spinal Tap is a
diagnostic test for
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examination of CSF
Removal of 5 to 20 ml of
CSF from spinal canal
Needle puncture is between
the 3rd and 4th lumbar
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vertebrae
CSF is examined for color,
blood cells, bacteria,
malignant cells, and glucose
Epilepsy
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Seizure disorder of the
brain, characterized by
recurring and excessive
discharge from neurons
Seizures believed to be a
result of spontaneous
uncontrolled electrical
activity of neurons
Cause – Uncertain
Diagnosed with EEG
(electroencephalogram)
Epilepsy
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Victims may have
hallucinations and seizures
Two types of seizures
1. Grand Mal – severe,
convulsive seizure.
2. Petit Mal – milder
(sometimes like someone
is just staring)
Treatment is
anticonvulsant medications
Alzheimer’s Disease
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Progressive disease that
begins with problems
remembering
Nerve endings in cortex of
brain degenerate and block
signals that pass between
nerve cells
Abnormal fibers build up
creating tangles
Cause is unknown
Alzheimer’s Disease
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First Stage (2-4 years)
 Confusion
 Short Term Memory Loss
 Anxiety
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Poor Judgement
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Alzheimer’s Disease
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2nd Stage (2-10 years)
Increase in memory
loss
Difficulty recognizing
people
Motor problems
Logic problems
Loss of social skills
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3rd Stage (1-3 years)
Inability to recognize
oneself
Weight loss
Seizures
Mood swings
Aphasia
Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA)
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Stroke or CVA
Interruption of blood
and oxygen to the
brain
Tissue death occurs
Third leading cause of
death in the USA
Cerebral Vascular Accident
(CVA)
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Risk Factors:
Smoking
Hypertension
Heart Disease
Family History
Causes of CVA’s
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90% caused by blood
clots in the brain or
the carotid arteries
Clots lodge in carotid
arteries, blocking the
flow of blood to the
brain
10% caused by
ruptured blood vessels
in the brain
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Symptoms of CVA
Hemiplegia on opposite side
of the body
 Sudden severe headache
 Dizziness
 Sudden loss of vision in
one eye
 Aphasia
 Dysphasia
 Coma
 Possible Death
Treatment of CVA
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1. Get to the hospital
immediately!
2. CAT scan done to
determine etilology
3. If a clot, treatment
aimed at dissolving the
clot – usually use TPA.
Prevention of CVAs
If TIAs – one asprin a
day
 Stop smoking
 Exercise and lose
weight
 Control hypertension
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Types of Paralysis
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Paralysis – Loss of power of motion or sensation
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Hemiplegia – paralysis on one side of body –
usually seen with strokes
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Quadriplegia – paralysis of all four extremtities
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Paraplegia – paralysis of lower extremities only.