... Spasticity may arise from pyramidal tract lesions anywhere from the spinal cord to the cerebral cortex. Consequently, the differential diagnosis and workup of this type of spasticity is the same as for hemiplegia. Spasticity may also be due to
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Paralysis is the total loss of voluntary motor function of an affected area and most frequently indicates a serious neurologic problem in the site of distribution of the affected area. The key to correct diagnosis of paralytic syndromes is knowledge of the... Differential Diagnosis ... Workup and Diagnosis ... Treatment
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... Spasticity is a state of excessive muscle tone manifested by increased resistance to stretching and heightened reflexes. It’s commonly detected by evaluating a muscle’s response to passive movement; a spastic muscle offers more resistance when the passive... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Pictures
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... Spastic gait — sometimes referred to as paretic or weak gait — is a stiff, foot-dragging walk caused by unilateral leg muscle hypertonicity. This gait indicates focal damage to the corticospinal tract. The affected leg becomes rigid, with a marked decrease in... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers
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... Primary
Autoimmune/idiopathic
Congenital/genetic
Adrenal aplasia or hypoplasia
Adrenoleukodystrophy/adrenomyelodystrophy
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... Primary Motor, Acute (May Have Sensory Involvement)
Guillain-Barré syndrome
Infectious mononucleosis
Viral hepatitis
Porphyria
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... Signs and Symptoms Profound weakness, nausea, vomiting, hypotension, dehydration, high fever followed by hypothermia, vascular collapse, renal shutdown, coma
Treatment (Tx) Replacement of corticosteroids, I.V. fluids,
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... Primary adrenal hypofunction (also called adrenal insufficiency or Addison’s disease) originates within the adrenal gland itself and is characterized by decreased mineralocorticoid, glucocorticoid, and androgen secretion. Adrenal... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations
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... Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, rapidly progressive viral disease that attacks the central nervous system, causing dementia and neurologic signs and symptoms, such as myoclonic jerking, ataxia, aphasia, visual disturbances, and paralysis. CJD is always fatal. A... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Signs and Symptoms Sudden onset of fever, headache, vomiting, meningeal irritation (stiff neck and back), drowsiness, coma, paralysis, seizures, ataxia, psychoses
Treatment (Tx) Anticonvulsants, acyclovir (if viral),... Pictures
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... West Nile encephalitis is categorized as an infectious disease that primarily causes an inflammation or “encephalitis” of the brain. West Nile virus (WNV), a flavivirus commonly found in humans, birds, and other vertebrates in Africa, west Asia, and the Middle... Causes and incidence ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... The result of excessive circulating melanin, a bronze skin tone tends to appear at pressure points—such as the knuckles, elbows, toes, and knees—and in creases on the palms and soles. Eventually, this hyperpigmentation may extend to the buccal mucosa and gums... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers
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... Spasticity is a state of excessive muscle tone manifested by increased resistance to stretching and heightened reflexes. It’s commonly detected by evaluating a muscle’s response to passive movement; a spastic muscle offers more resistance when the passive movement is... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Pictures
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... Spastic gait—sometimes referred to as paretic or weak gait—is a stiff, foot- dragging walk caused by unilateral leg muscle hypertonicity. This gait indicates focal damage to the corticospinal tract. The affected leg becomes rigid, with a marked decrease in flexion at the hip... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers
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... Differential Overview
❑ Diabetes
❑ Alcohol
❑ Vitamin B12 deficiency
❑ Drugs
❑ ... Diagnostic Approach ... Clinical Findings ... Pictures
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... Primary adrenal hypofunction or insufficiency (Addison’s disease) originates within the adrenal gland itself and is characterized by decreased mineralocorticoid, glucocorticoid, and androgen secretion. Secondary adrenal hypofunction is due to impaired pituitary secretion... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) is a rare, rapidly progressive viral disease that attacks the central nervous system, causing dementia and neurologic signs and symptoms, such as myoclonic jerking, ataxia, aphasia, visual disturbances, and... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... A severe inflammation of the brain, encephalitis is usually caused by a mosquito-borne or, in some areas, a tick-borne virus. Viruses transmitted by arthropods are arboviruses (arthropod-borne). Transmission by means other than arthropod bites may occur through ingestion of infected goat... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations ... Pictures
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... West Nile encephalitis, part of a family of vectorborne diseases that also includes malaria, yellow fever, and Lyme disease, is an infectious disease that primarily causes encephalitis (inflammation) of the brain. It’s caused by the West Nile... Causes ... Signs and symptoms ... Diagnosis ... Treatment ... Special considerations
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... The result of excessive circulating melanin, a bronze skin tone tends to appear at pressure points — such as the knuckles, elbows, toes, and knees — and in creases on the palms and soles. Eventually, this hyperpigmentation may extend to the buccal mucosa and gums before... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Other causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Spasticity is a state of excessive muscle tone manifested by increased resistance to stretching and heightened reflexes. Also known as muscle hypertonicity, it’s commonly detected by evaluating a muscle’s response to passive movement; a... Emergency Actions ... History ... Physical assessment ... Medical causes ... Special considerations ... Pediatric pointers ... Patient counseling ... Pictures
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... Spasticity is a state of excessive muscle tone manifested by increased resistance to stretching and heightened reflexes. It's commonly detected by evaluating a muscle's response to passive movement; a spastic muscle offers more resistance when the passive movement is performed... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching ... Pictures
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... Spastic gait—sometimes referred to as paretic or weak gait—is a stiff, foot-dragging walk caused by unilateral leg muscle hypertonicity. This gait indicates focal damage to the corticospinal tract. The affected leg becomes rigid, with a marked decrease in... History and physical examination ... Medical causes ... Nursing considerations ... Patient teaching
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...
This is hypertonicity of the muscle and is almost invariably due to a
lesion along the pyramidal tract from the spinal cord to the brain.
Knowledge of neuroanatomy is extremely useful in developing a differential
diagnosis.
Spinal cord. This prompts
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... A. G. Christina Bergqvist, MD Encephalitis - BASICS Encephalitis - description Inflammation of the brain parenchyma owing to infection. Meningoencephalitis is inflammation of the brain and the meninges. Encephalitis - ... Encephalitis - DIAGNOSIS ... Encephalitis - TREATMENT ... Encephalitis - FOLLOW UP ... Encephalitis - bibliography ... Encephalitis - CODES ... Encephalitis - PATIENT TEACHING-MED ... Encephalitis - FAQ
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Hear one woman's story as she participates in a clinical trial to help fight CML.
If one promising drug fails to help against chronic myeloid leukemia, what can be done? Listen to experts explain your options for hard to treat...
Standard treatment for chronic myeloid leukemia can occasionally fail. New studies show an increasing number of alternative treatments may be...
A majority of people with CML do well with treatments. But a few will develop serious side effects or develop drug resistance. Listen to experts...
