neurological disease breakdown

Seizure

• Abnormal electrical activity in the brain

• Causes temporary loss of normal brain function

• Can start in one area (focal) or whole brain (generalized)

Tonic-Clonic (Grand Mal)

• Loss of consciousness

• Tonic phase → stiff body

• Clonic phase → jerking movements

• Cyanosis, drooling, incontinence

• Postictal phase: confusion, sleepiness, headache

Absence Seizure

• Blank stare

• Lasts seconds

• No postictal confusion

• Common in children

Focal Aware

• Alert and aware

• Tingling, odd smells/tastes, déjà vu

Focal Impaired Awareness

• Altered consciousness

• Lip smacking, picking at clothes

• No memory of event

Status epilepticus meds

IV lorazepam or diazepam FIRST

STATUS EPILEPTICUS

• Seizure >5 minutes

• Or multiple seizures without recovery

• Can cause brain damage & death

• Airway + IV benzodiazepines (Lorazepam , Diazepam) are priority

Antiseizure meds (long-term control)

phenytoin, valproic acid, carbamazepine, levetiracetam

TENSION HEADACHE

• Most common headache

• Caused by muscle tension + stress

• Tight, band-like pain

• Both sides of head

• No nausea or aura

MIGRAINE

• Neurovascular headache

• Often unilateral & throbbing

• Nausea, vomiting

• Light & sound sensitivity

MIGRAINE treatment

Triptans

CLUSTER HEADACHE

• Worst headache pain

• Occurs in clusters

• Mostly men

• Severe pain around one eye

• Tearing, runny nose, droopy eyelid

cluster headach treatment

• 100% OXYGEN (first-line treatment)

• Avoid alcohol during cluster period

MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS

• Autoimmune demyelination of CNS

• Relapsing–remitting

PARKINSON’S DISEASE

• Loss of dopamine

• Remember TRAP

Tremor
Rigidity
Akinesia/bradykinesia
Postural instability

Parkinson disease treatment

• levodopa/carbidopa on time

• Small frequent meals

• Speech & swallow safety

MYASTHENIA GRAVIS

• Autoimmune destruction of ACh receptors

• Weakness worsens with activity

• descending weakness

• Starts with eyes & face (ptosis, diplopia)

• Moves downward to arms, legs, breathing muscles

MYASTHENIA GRAVIS intervention

Nursing Priority

🚨 AIRWAY

• Keep suction & trach kit at bedside

• Give meds on time

• Schedule activity when strongest (morning)

GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME

• Ascending paralysis

• Often after infection

• Starts in feet/legs

• Moves upward toward lungs

GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME intervention

Nursing Priority

🚨 RESPIRATORY FAILURE

• Monitor breathing closely

• Prepare for ventilatory support

• Autonomic instability common

BELL’S PALSY

• Facial nerve inflammation

• Usually temporary

BELL’S PALSY intervention

Nursing Focus

👁 Eye protection

• Artificial tears

• Eye patch

• Steroids early

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis)

Motor neurons degenerate → muscles can’t get signals → progressive paralysis.

Key S/S:

• Muscle weakness + atrophy, fasciculations

• Dysarthria (slurred speech), dysphagia

• Later: respiratory failure

• Sensation/feeling stays intact (they can feel pain/touch)

• Cognition often okay

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA

• severe facial nerve pain

• NOT muscle weakness

• Affects Trigeminal nerve (CN V)

• Sudden, stabbing, electric-shock pain

• One side of the face

• Triggered by:

  • Chewing

  • Talking

  • Brushing teeth

  • Light touch

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA intervention

• Pain control (anticonvulsants like carbamazepine)

• Soft foods

• Avoid triggers

• Emotional support (pain can be debilitating)

Tension

cluster

migrane

Bell’s Palsy diagnostic

Clinical diagnosis

WHAT THE FACE TELLS YOU

• One side droops

• Can’t wrinkle forehead on affected side

• Can’t close one eye

• Mouth droops on one side

Think: “FACE ONLY, ONE SIDE”

Myasthenia Gravis diagnostic

• Droopy eyelids (ptosis)

• Double vision

• Facial expression fades with talking or chewing

• Looks worse later in the day

Think: “TIRED MUSCLES”

Seizure diagnostic

EEG (electroencephalogram)

CT or MRI of the brain

MYASTHENIA GRAVIS diagnostic

(Tensilon) test Short-term improvement confirms it

EMG: Decreased response to repeated stimulation

GUILLAIN-BARRÉ SYNDROME diagnostic

electrolytes, liver function, CPK, ESR

• CSF analysis: Increased protein

. • Nerve Conduction Studies (NCS): Helps diagnose subtype.

TRIGEMINAL NEURALGIA diagnostic

MRI of the brain

• Rules out tumors or vascular compression

BELL’S PALSY diagnostic

Imaging: MRI or CT scans may be performed to rule out other causes of facial nerve paralysis.

• Electromyography (EMG): Can be used to assess the extent of nerve damage and prognosis

Multiple Sclerosis diagnostic

MRI: plaques, inflammation, atrophy

•CSF analysis: ↑ IgG, oligoclonal bands

•Evoked potentials: delayed responses (vision/hearing)