Condition Lookup
Category:
Other Neurological Disorders
Number of Conditions: 4
Hypoxic-Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE)
Specialty: Neurology
Category: Other Neurological Disorders
Symptoms:
seizures; difficulty breathing; abnormal muscle tone; altered level of consciousness; poor feeding in neonates
Root Cause:
Oxygen deprivation and reduced blood flow to the brain, often occurring during birth (perinatal asphyxia) or due to cardiac arrest or severe trauma in adults.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Clinical history, neurological examination, brain imaging (MRI/CT), and sometimes electroencephalography (EEG) for seizures.
Treatment:
Supportive care, therapeutic hypothermia (cooling therapy) for neonates, oxygen therapy, seizure management, and rehabilitation for long-term neurological effects.
Medications:
Anticonvulsants like phenobarbital , levetiracetam , or phenytoin for seizure control; sedatives for neuroprotection; and diuretics if there is brain swelling.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects approximately 2-3 per 1,000 live births globally; variable incidence in adults based on causes like cardiac arrest.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Birth complications, premature birth, maternal infections, placental abruption, severe trauma, cardiac arrest, or stroke.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis depends on severity; mild cases can recover with minimal issues, but severe cases may result in long-term neurological deficits or death.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Cerebral palsy, epilepsy, developmental delays, learning disabilities, and motor impairments.
Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH)
Specialty: Neurology
Category: Other Neurological Disorders
Symptoms:
difficulty walking (gait disturbance); urinary incontinence; cognitive decline resembling dementia
Root Cause:
Accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in the brain ventricles without an increase in intracranial pressure, impairing brain function.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
MRI or CT to detect enlarged ventricles, lumbar puncture (tap test) for CSF analysis, and clinical improvement after CSF drainage.
Treatment:
Surgical insertion of a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt to drain excess CSF or endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in selected cases.
Medications:
No specific medications to treat NPH, but symptom management may include anticholinergic drugs for incontinence or physical therapy for gait issues.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Approximately 0.5% of adults over age 60; may be underdiagnosed due to overlap with other conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Aging, brain injuries, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or infections affecting the central nervous system.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Often favorable if diagnosed and treated early; untreated cases may lead to irreversible cognitive and functional decline.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Shunt malfunction, infection, or overdrainage causing subdural hematomas.
Pseudotumor Cerebri (Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension)
Specialty: Neurology
Category: Other Neurological Disorders
Symptoms:
headache; blurred vision; double vision; papilledema (optic disc swelling); ringing in the ears synchronized with heartbeat
Root Cause:
Increased intracranial pressure without an identifiable mass or tumor, often linked to impaired CSF absorption.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Fundoscopic exam for papilledema, lumbar puncture measuring elevated CSF pressure, and brain imaging to rule out other causes.
Treatment:
Weight loss, therapeutic lumbar punctures, optic nerve fenestration surgery, or CSF shunting if vision loss is severe.
Medications:
Acetazolamide (a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor) to reduce CSF production; furosemide (a diuretic) for adjunctive therapy; pain relievers for headaches.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Affects 1–2 per 100,000 people; higher incidence in obese women of childbearing age.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Obesity, female gender, certain medications (e.g., tetracycline, oral contraceptives, or corticosteroids), and hormonal changes.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Often manageable with treatment; untreated cases may lead to permanent vision loss.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Chronic headaches, severe vision impairment, and blindness.
Kluver-Bucy Syndrome
Specialty: Neurology
Category: Other Neurological Disorders
Symptoms:
hypersexuality; oral fixation (putting objects in the mouth); emotional blunting; memory impairment; visual agnosia
Root Cause:
Damage to the temporal lobes, including the amygdala, often due to trauma, infections, or neurodegenerative diseases.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Neurological exam, neuroimaging (MRI/CT), and clinical history of temporal lobe damage.
Treatment:
Symptom management with behavioral therapy and medications tailored to specific symptoms, such as mood stabilizers or antipsychotics.
Medications:
Antidepressants (e.g., SSRIs) for mood regulation; antipsychotics like risperidone for behavioral issues; antiepileptics if seizures are present.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Rare; incidence depends on the underlying cause of temporal lobe damage.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Traumatic brain injury, herpes simplex encephalitis, temporal lobe epilepsy, or Alzheimer’s disease.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Variable; depends on the extent of brain damage and response to therapy.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Social and occupational dysfunction, difficulty with personal relationships, and long-term cognitive deficits.