Diagnosis of High altitude cerebral edema
High altitude cerebral edema Diagnosis: Book Excerpts
Diagnostic Tests for High altitude cerebral edema: Online Medical Books
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Cry, high-pitched [Cerebral cry]:
History and physical examination
(Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition))
Take the infant's vital signs, and then obtain a brief history. Did the infant fall recently or experience even minor head trauma? Make sure to ask the mother about changes in the infant's behavior during the past 24 hours. Has he been vomiting? Has he seemed restless or unlike himself? Has his sucking reflex diminished? Does he cry when he's moved? Suspect child abuse if the infant's history is inconsistent with physical findings.
Next, perform a neurologic examination. Remember that neurologic responses in a neonate or young infant are primarily reflex responses. Determine the infant's level of consciousness (LOC). Is he awake, irritable, or lethargic? Does he reach for an attractive object or turn toward the sound of a rattle? Observe his posture. Is he in the normal flexed position or in extension or opisthotonos? Examine muscle tone and observe the infant for signs of seizure, such as tremors and twitching.
Examine the size and shape of the infant's head. Is the anterior fontanel bulging? Measure the infant's head circumference, and check pupillary size and response to light. Unilateral or bilateral dilation and a sluggish response to light may accompany increased ICP. Finally, test the infant's reflexes; expect Moro's reflex to be diminished.
After completing your examination, elevate the infant's head to promote cerebral venous drainage and decrease ICP. Start an I.V. line, and give a diuretic and a corticosteroid to decrease ICP. Be sure to keep endotracheal (ET) intubation equipment close by to secure an airway.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Handbook of Signs & Symptoms (Third Edition), 2006
Cry, high-pitched [Cerebral cry]:
History and physical examination
(Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition))
Take the infant’s vital signs, and then obtain a brief history. Did the infant fall recently or experience even minor head trauma? Be sure to ask the mother about any changes in the infant’s behavior during the past 24 hours: Has he been vomiting? Has he seemed restless or unlike himself? Has his sucking reflex diminished? Does he cry when moved? Suspect child abuse if the infant’s history is inconsistent with physical findings.
Next, perform a neurologic examination. Remember that neurologic responses in neonates and young infants are primarily reflex responses. Determine the infant’s level of consciousness (LOC). Is he awake, irritable, or lethargic? Does he reach for an attractive object or turn toward the sound of a rattle? Observe his posture. Is he in the normal flexed position or in extension or opisthotonos? Examine muscle tone and observe the infant for signs of a seizure, such as a tremor and twitching.
Examine the size and shape of the infant’s head. Is the anterior fontanel bulging? Measure the infant’s head circumference, and check pupillary size and response to light. Unilateral or bilateral dilation and a sluggish response to light may accompany increased ICP. Finally, test the infant’s reflexes; expect Moro’s reflex to be diminished.
After completing your examination, elevate the infant’s head to promote cerebral venous drainage and decrease ICP. Start an I.V. line, and give a diuretic and a corticosteroid to decrease ICP. Be sure to keep endotracheal (ET) intubation equipment close by to secure an airway.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Professional Guide to Signs & Symptoms (Fifth Edition), 2006
Cry, high-pitched [Cerebral cry]:
History and physical examination
(Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms)
Take the infant's vital signs, and then obtain a brief history from the parents. Did the infant fall recently or experience even minor head trauma? Make sure to ask the mother about changes in the infant's behavior during the past 24 hours. Has he been vomiting? Has he seemed restless or unlike himself? Has his sucking reflex diminished? Does he cry when he's moved? Suspect child abuse if the infant's history is inconsistent with physical findings.
Next, perform a neurologic examination. Remember that neurologic responses in a neonate or young infant are primarily reflex responses. Determine the infant's level of consciousness (LOC). Is he awake, irritable, or lethargic? Does he reach for an attractive object or turn toward the sound of a rattle? Observe his posture. Is he in the normal flexed position or in extension or opisthotonos? Examine muscle tone and observe the infant for signs of seizure, such as tremors and twitching.
Examine the size and shape of the infant's head. Is the anterior fontanel bulging? Measure the infant's head circumference, and check pupillary size and response to light. Unilateral or bilateral dilation and a sluggish response to light may accompany increased ICP. Finally, test the infant's reflexes; expect Moro's reflex to be diminished.
Action stat!
If the patient has bulging fontanels, elevate the infant's head to promote cerebral venous drainage and decrease ICP. Start an I.V. line, and give a diuretic and a corticosteroid to decrease ICP. Be sure to keep endotracheal (ET) intubation equipment close by to secure an airway.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Nursing: Interpreting Signs and Symptoms, 2007
Remember that the persistence of primitive reflexes is a sign that there is damage to the central nervoussystem (CNS), specifically, a lack of high-level control necessitating a workup for cerebral palsy (CP):
The Diagnostic Workup for Cerebral Palsy
(Avoiding Common Pediatric Errors)
The diagnostic workup for CP included both laboratory and diagnostic radiologic studies, which are enumerated in Table 1.1. Neuroimaging studies
can help to evaluate structural brain damage and to determine those at risk
for CP. Data to support a definitive diagnosis of CP are lacking.
» READ BOOK EXCERPT ONLINE »
Source: Avoiding Common Pediatric Errors, 2008
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