Pediatric Neurological Conditions Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key pediatric neurological concepts including meningitis assessment, CSF profiles, seizure classifications, medical emergencies, and treatments.

Meningitis

An inflammation of the meninges covering the brain and spinal cord, caused by either a viral or bacterial infection.

Kernig's Sign

A physical demonstration of meningitis characterized by resistance or pain when extending the knee with the hip flexed.

Brudzinski's Sign

A physical indicator of meningitis where passive flexion of the neck causes involuntary flexing of the hips and knees.

Droplet Precautions

The specific infection control precautions that must be initiated immediately whenever meningitis is suspected.

Lumbar Puncture (LP)

A diagnostic procedure where a needle is inserted into the lower spine to extract cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for analysis.

Bacterial Meningitis CSF Profile

Cerebrospinal fluid findings showing cloudy appearance, elevated WBCs and protein, decreased glucose, and a positive gram stain.

Viral Meningitis CSF Profile

Cerebrospinal fluid findings showing clear appearance, slightly elevated WBCs, normal or slightly elevated protein, normal glucose, and a negative gram stain.

Mannitol

An osmotic medication utilized in the pharmacological treatment of Increased Intracranial Pressure (IICP).

Ventriculoperitoneal (VP) Shunt

A surgically placed drainage device used to move excess cerebrospinal fluid from the brain ventricles to relieve pressure.

Generalized Seizures

Seizures resulting from abnormal electrical activity involving the entire brain, leading to loss of consciousness.

Focal Seizures

Seizures caused by abnormal electrical activity localized to one area of the brain, during which awareness may or may not be impaired.

Febrile Seizures

Seizures triggered by a high fever of $102^{\circ}\text{F} - 104^{\circ}\text{F}$, typically lasting $15\text{ to }20\text{ seconds}$.

Absence Seizures

Seizures characterized by a brief loss of consciousness for $5\text{ to }10\text{ seconds}$, presenting as a blank stare or lip smacking with no postictal phase.

Simple Partial Seizures

Focal seizures lasting less than $1\text{ minute}$ that may cause visual changes or localized body tingling, with or without loss of consciousness.

Complex Partial Seizures

Focal seizures lasting $1\text{ to }2\text{ minutes}$ in which consciousness is lost and regained within minutes, often preceded by an aura such as unusual smells, tastes, or hallucinations.

Tonic Phase

The initial period of a tonic-clonic seizure characterized by body stiffening, loss of consciousness, and loss of the swallowing reflex.

Clonic Phase

The motor period of a tonic-clonic seizure characterized by repetitive jerking movements, frothy saliva, and possible incontinence.

Status Epilepticus

A medical emergency defined as a continuous seizure lasting $30\text{ minutes}$ or longer, treated with medications like diazepam or lorazepam.

Postictal Phase

The recovery phase following a seizure during which the patient is kept side-lying, monitored, reoriented, and restricted from oral intake until fully recovered.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A diagnostic test measuring brain electrical activity to evaluate seizures, during which methods such as strobe lights may be used to provoke seizure activity.

Ketogenic Diet

A high-fat, low-carbohydrate non-pharmacological dietary therapy used to help control seizure activity.

Hemispherectomy

A surgical seizure treatment that involves removing one whole hemisphere of the brain.

Corpus Callosotomy

A brain surgery technique for seizure management that severs the connection between the two cerebral hemispheres.

Vagal Nerve Stimulator (VNS)

A device implanted subcutaneously on the left vagus nerve that delivers scheduled electrical stimulation to manage partial seizures.

VNS Magnet

A magnet held directly over a Vagal Nerve Stimulator device to manually trigger vagal stimulation on demand.