DIAGNOSIS CHECKLIST
for Hemiparesis

Why: to determine if acute or chronic.

Why: would suggest migraine, transient ischemic attacks from the basilar artery or carotid artery disease, epilepsy.

Why: would suggest a subdural or epidural haematoma or a hemorrhage in the brain itself.

Why: e.g. measles, chicken pox, mumps, rubella - may suggest Acute disseminated encephalitis.

Why: e.g. recent immunization with rabies, influenza, pertussis or smallpox vaccine may suggest acute disseminated encephalomyelitis.

Why: e.g. high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, family history, atrial fibrillation, cardiovascular disease, increasing age. Less well documented risk factors for stroke include oral contraceptive pill, obesity, stress, sedentary lifestyle, migraine and excessive alcohol consumption.

Why: e.g. berry aneurysm in brain, arteriovenous malformations in the brain, bleeding disorders, bacterial endocarditis, bacterial endocarditis, brain tumor, Marfan's syndrome, Ehlers -Danlos syndrome.

Why: e.g. if history of high blood pressure must consider a stroke due to a cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral thrombosis or cerebral aneurysm; angina; intermittent claudication.

Why: cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for thrombotic stroke.

Why: e.g. stroke, cerebral aneurysm.

Why: should suspect a cause within the brain. If nil paralysis of the facial muscles more likely to suggest a cause in the spinal cord.

Why: should suggest cerebral abscess, venous sinus thrombosis or encephalitis.

Why: may suggest brain cancer or metastasis, encephalitis, stroke.

Why: may suggest brain cancer or brain metastasis, subdural or extradural haematoma, stroke.

Why: e.g. sudden onset of neurological deficit that lasts for less than 24 hours (average length of time is 5 minutes) with complete clinical recovery. Consciousness is usually preserved. Symptoms may include sudden blindness in one eye; inability to speak; weakness, paralysis or numbness of one side of the face, arm and leg.

Why: e.g. sudden onset of neurological deficit lasting longer than 24 hours. Symptoms depend on the specific blood vessel to the brain that is affected by the stroke. Symptoms may include weakness or paralysis on one side of the body, difficulty with speaking, visual field deficits, numbness to one side of the body.

Why: e.g. blurry vision, double vision, dizziness, weakness, numbness or tingling in any limbs.

Why: e.g. sudden sever headache at the back of the head. This is usually followed by vomiting and often loss of consciousness. Focal symptoms depend on amount and site of bleeding and may include weakness or paralysis to one side of the body or visual loss.

Why: e.g. follows many common viral infections such as measles, chicken pox, mumps and rubella or rarely after immunization against rabies, influenza or pertussis. Symptoms may include abrupt onset of fever, neck stiffness, headache, lethargy, confusion, drowsiness, seizures, paralysis of one limb or one side of body or all four limbs may be seen, may also have numbness in the limbs.