Nervous System Health Concerns Health Occ Concussion n

Nervous System Health Concerns Health Occ

Concussion n Etiology • Injury to the brain caused by an impact with an object n S/S • Headache, noise and light sensitivity, dizziness, nystagmus n Treatment • No activity until symptom free for 24 hours • Stress test and re-evaluation by Health care professional

Spina Bifida n Etiology • A defect in the spinal cord in which the cord and/or its covering protrude outside the vertebrae • congenital n S/S • Protrusion outside the skin • Varying degrees of paralysis, lack of feeling and movement below protrusion n Treatment • surgery

n Etiology Hydrocephalus • An overproduction of CSF in the brain • Congenital, or result of infection or tumor n S/S • Headache, swelling n Treatment • Drain the fluid through the use of a shunt

Cerebral Palsy n Etiology • Cerebral damage during gestation or birth n S/S • Lack of motor coordination, and other neurological deficiencies n Treatment • No cure

Alzheimer’s Disease n Etiology • Progressive degeneration of neurons in brain n S/S • Deterioration in mental capacity • Loss of memory, inability to use familiar objects, and understand outside stimuli n Treatment • No cure • Keep brain active to help prevent it

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Lou Gehrig’s Disease n Etiology • Degenerative disease of the motor neurons n S/S • Loss of muscle control • Death n Treatment • Medications to relieve symptoms and complications, maintain muscle functions and movement, and delay paralysis and disability for as long as possible.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS) n Etiology • Destruction of the myelin sheath n S/S • Muscle weakness, unsteady walking, paraesthesia (tingling), extreme fatigue, paralysis n Treatment • No cure • Medication to help slow and reduce symptoms

Myasthenia Gravis n Etiology • Overproduction of antibodies keeps neurotransmitters from sending proper nerve impulses to skeletal muscles n S/S • Muscle weakness, easily fatigued n Treatment • No cure • Medication can help, lifestyle changes

Parkinson’s Disease n Etiology • Degeneration of nerves in the brain n S/S • Tremors, weakness of muscles, difficulty walking n Treatment • Drugs that increase levels of dopamine to help relieve symptoms • No cure

Epilepsy n Etiology • Abnormal conditions in the brain cause sudden excessive electrical activity n S/S • Chronic, recurrent seizure activity • Petit Mal = momentary disorientation • Grand Mal = convulsions, twitching of limbs, loss of consciousness n Treatment • Anti-seizure medication

Tourette’s Syndrome n Etiology • Neurological dysfunction n S/S • Uncontrollable sounds and twitches n Treatment • Drugs to control symptoms

Meningitis n Etiology • Inflammation of the meninges • Bacterial, or viral n S/S • Fever, headache, stiff neck n Treatment • Antibiotics • Medications for symptoms

Encephalitis n Etiology • Inflammation of the brain from a viral infection, or spread of infection to brain • Infection from measles, mumps, or chickenpox, herpes (type 1) n S/S • Fever, headache, seizures, weakness, visual disturbances, vomiting, stiff neck and back, disorientation n Treatment • Antiviral medications to prevent death

Hemiplegia n Etiology • Paralysis on one side of the body • Usually due to a stroke n S/S • Unable to move one side or feel heat, cold, pressure, pain • Drooping eyelid or side of face n Treatment • No cure

Paraplegia n Etiology • Paralysis from the waist down caused by accident/injury n S/S • Inability to move or feel distal to the injury sight • Inability to control urine and bowel functions n Treatment • No cure

Quadriplegia n Etiology • Paralysis from the neck down • Injury to the 4 th cervical vertebrae n S/S • Inability to move or feel distal to the injury • Prone to respiratory and urinary tract infections n Treatment • No cure