Nervous System Diseases and Abnormal Conditions Principles of Health Science 2012

1. Nervous SystemDiseases and Abnormal ConditionsPrinciples of Health Science 2012

2. Cerebral Palsy • Disturbance in voluntary muscle action • Caused by brain damage • Lack of oxygen to the brain and/or birth injuries • Prenatal rubella (German measles) and infections • Prematurity

3. Symptoms: • Exaggerated reflexes and seizures • Tense muscles and development of contractures • Speech impairment • Spasms and tremors • Mental retardation in some cases

4. Treatment (no cure): • Physical, occupational, and speech therapy • Muscle relaxants and anticonvulsive drugs • Braces and Casts • Orthopedic surgery for severe contractures

6. Brain Tumors • May be benign, malignant, or metastatic

7. Symptoms: • Headache • recurrent or progressive • more severe in a.m. • Vomiting • Coordination Disturbance • Visual Changes • Behavioral Changes • Decreased muscle strength • Paralysis • Seizures • Dizziness/Vertigo

8. Diagnostics: • Symptoms • EEG • CAT Scan • MRI

11. Treatment: • Surgical Excision • Radiation • Chemotherapy • Steroids

13. Cerebrovascular Accident (CVA) • Also known as a stroke • Blood flow to the brain is impaired resulting in lack of oxygen and destruction of brain tissue (necrosis)

14. Etiology or Causes: • Cerebral hemorrhage resulting from hypertension, aneurysm or weak blood vessel • Occlusion or blockage caused by atherosclerosis or a thrombus (blood clot or embolism)

16. Risk Factors: • Hypertension • Diabetes • Conditions associated with atherosclerotic disease of carotid, subclavian, or vertebral arteries

17. Symptoms: • Loss of consciousness • Weakness and/or vertigo • Paralysis on one side of body (hemiplegia) • Dysphagia or difficulty swallowing • Visual disturbances and mental confusion • Aphasia (speech and language impairment) • Incontinence initially • TIA – transient ischemic attach or “mini stroke” – brief episode of neurological dysfunction; can lead to CVA

18. Treatment: • Care during first three hours can help prevent brain damage • Thrombolytic or “clot busting” drugs (TPA) • Angioplasty of cerebral arteries can dissolve blood clot and restore blood flow to brain • CAT scans to determine cause of CVA. TPA can not be used if CVA is caused by a hemorrhage • Medications to decrease cerebral edema (diuretics/steroids)

19. General Treatment: • Depends on symptoms present • Directed toward helping pt. recover from or adapt to symptoms present • Physical, occupational, and speech therapy essential

20. Encephalitis • Inflammation of the brain causes by a virus, bacteria, or chemical agent

21. Etiology: • Complication following a viral infection such as chickenpox, measles, and mumps • Exposure to a vector such as mosquito or tick • Exposure to chemical agents

23. Symptoms: • Fever • Weakness/lethargy • Visual disturbances • Headache • Vomiting • Seizure • Changes in level of consciousness

25. Treatment: • Antiviral drugs if viral in origin • Antibiotics if bacterial in origin • Anticonvulsants • Maintenance of fluid and electrolyte balance • Monitoring of respiratory and kidney function

26. Epilepsy or Seizure Disorder Brain disorder associated with abnormal electrical impulses in the neurons of the brain

27. Etiology: • Brain injury • Birth trauma • Toxins such as lead or carbon monoxide • Infections • Can be idiopathic (spontaneous, unknown cause)

28. Types of Seizures: • Petit Mal • Milder • Loss of consciousness • Lasts a few seconds • More common in children

29. Grand Mal or Tonic-Clonic • Most severe • Loss of consciousness • Lasts several minutes • Convulsions with violent shaking and thrashing • May exhibit hypersalivation which causes foaming at the mouth • Loss of body functions

31. Treatment: • Anticonvulsant drugs • Surgical intervention

33. Hydrocephalus • Excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles and, in some cases, the subarachnoid space

36. Etiology: • Congenital defect • Infection • Tumor

37. Symptoms: • Abnormally enlarged head and prominent forehead with bulging eyes • Irritability • Distended scalp veins • Retardation when pressure prevents proper development of the brain

38. Treatment: • Surgical implantation of a shunt (tube) between the ventricles and usually the abdominal peritoneal cavity or right atrium to drain excess fluid • Surgical removal if an obstructing lesion • Goal is to prevent pressure on the brain which would prevent proper development of the brain

42. Meningitis • Inflammation of the meninges of the brain and / or spinal cord caused by bacteria, virus, fungus, or toxins such as lead and arsenic

43. Systems: • High fever • Headache, back and neck pain, stiffness • Nausea and vomiting • Delirium and convulsions • Coma and death if not treated

46. Treatment: • Antibiotics • Anticonvulsants • Medications for pain and cerebral edema

47. Multiple Sclerosis Chronic, progressive disabling condition resulting from degeneration of the myelin sheath in the central nervous system; thought to be an autoimmune disease

49. MS continued: • Increased incidence in women • Usually occurs between the ages of 20-40 • Etiology – Unknown • Progresses at different rates and has periods of remission

50. Early Symptoms: • Visual disturbances • Weakness • Fatigue • Poor coordination • Tingling and numbness