Nervous System Health Nervous System Health ConcernsConcerns

Health OccHealth Occ

ConcussionConcussion

EtiologyEtiology• Injury to the brain caused by an impact Injury to the brain caused by an impact

with an objectwith an object S/SS/S

• Headache, noise and light sensitivity, Headache, noise and light sensitivity, dizziness, nystagmusdizziness, nystagmus

TreatmentTreatment• No activity until symptom free for 24 hoursNo activity until symptom free for 24 hours• Stress test and re-evaluation by Health Stress test and re-evaluation by Health

care professionalcare professional

Spina BifidaSpina Bifida EtiologyEtiology

• A defect in the spinal cord in which the cord A defect in the spinal cord in which the cord and/or its covering protrude outside the and/or its covering protrude outside the vertebrae vertebrae

• congenitalcongenital S/SS/S

• Protrusion outside the skinProtrusion outside the skin• Varying degrees of paralysis, lack of feeling Varying degrees of paralysis, lack of feeling

and movement below protrusionand movement below protrusion TreatmentTreatment

• surgerysurgery

HydrocephalusHydrocephalus EtiologyEtiology

• An overproduction of CSF in the brainAn overproduction of CSF in the brain• Congenital, or result of infection or tumorCongenital, or result of infection or tumor

S/SS/S• Headache, swellingHeadache, swelling

TreatmentTreatment• Drain the fluid through theDrain the fluid through the

use of a shuntuse of a shunt

Cerebral PalsyCerebral Palsy

EtiologyEtiology• Cerebral damage during gestation or birthCerebral damage during gestation or birth

S/SS/S• Lack of motor coordination, Lack of motor coordination,

and other neurological and other neurological

deficienciesdeficiencies TreatmentTreatment

• No cureNo cure

Alzheimer’s DiseaseAlzheimer’s Disease

EtiologyEtiology• Progressive degeneration of neurons in Progressive degeneration of neurons in

brainbrain S/SS/S

• Deterioration in mental capacityDeterioration in mental capacity• Loss of memory, inability to use familiar Loss of memory, inability to use familiar

objects, and understand outside stimuliobjects, and understand outside stimuli TreatmentTreatment

• No cureNo cure• Keep brain active to help prevent itKeep brain active to help prevent it

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Lou Gehrig’s DiseaseLou Gehrig’s Disease

EtiologyEtiology• Degenerative disease of the motor neurons Degenerative disease of the motor neurons

S/SS/S• Loss of muscle control Loss of muscle control • Death Death

TreatmentTreatment• Medications to relieve symptoms and Medications to relieve symptoms and

complications, maintain muscle functions and complications, maintain muscle functions and movement, and delay paralysis and disability for movement, and delay paralysis and disability for as long as possible.as long as possible.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

EtiologyEtiology• Destruction of the myelin sheath Destruction of the myelin sheath

S/SS/S• Muscle weakness, unsteady walking, Muscle weakness, unsteady walking,

paraesthesia (tingling), extreme fatigue, paraesthesia (tingling), extreme fatigue, paralysisparalysis

TreatmentTreatment• No cureNo cure• Medication to help slow and reduce Medication to help slow and reduce

symptomssymptoms

Myasthenia GravisMyasthenia Gravis EtiologyEtiology

• Overproduction of antibodies keeps Overproduction of antibodies keeps neurotransmitters from sending proper neurotransmitters from sending proper nerve impulses to skeletal musclesnerve impulses to skeletal muscles

S/SS/S• Muscle weakness, easily fatigued Muscle weakness, easily fatigued

TreatmentTreatment• No cureNo cure• Medication can help, lifestyle changesMedication can help, lifestyle changes

Parkinson’s DiseaseParkinson’s Disease EtiologyEtiology

• Degeneration of nerves in the brainDegeneration of nerves in the brain S/SS/S

• Tremors, weakness of muscles, difficulty Tremors, weakness of muscles, difficulty walkingwalking

TreatmentTreatment• Drugs that increase levels of dopamine Drugs that increase levels of dopamine

to help relieve symptomsto help relieve symptoms• No cureNo cure

EpilepsyEpilepsy EtiologyEtiology

• Abnormal conditions in the brain cause sudden Abnormal conditions in the brain cause sudden excessive electrical activity excessive electrical activity

S/SS/S• Chronic, recurrent seizure activityChronic, recurrent seizure activity• Petit Mal = momentary disorientationPetit Mal = momentary disorientation• Grand Mal = convulsions, twitching of limbs, loss Grand Mal = convulsions, twitching of limbs, loss

of consciousnessof consciousness TreatmentTreatment

• Anti-seizure Anti-seizure medicationmedication

Tourette’s SyndromeTourette’s Syndrome EtiologyEtiology

• Neurological dysfunctionNeurological dysfunction S/SS/S

• Uncontrollable sounds Uncontrollable sounds

and twitchesand twitches TreatmentTreatment

• Drugs to control Drugs to control

symptomssymptoms

MeningitisMeningitis

EtiologyEtiology• Inflammation of the meningesInflammation of the meninges• Bacterial, or viralBacterial, or viral

S/SS/S• Fever, headache, stiff neckFever, headache, stiff neck

TreatmentTreatment• AntibioticsAntibiotics• Medications for symptomsMedications for symptoms

EncephalitisEncephalitis EtiologyEtiology

• Inflammation of the brain from a viral Inflammation of the brain from a viral infection, or spread of infection to braininfection, or spread of infection to brain

• Infection from measles, mumps, or Infection from measles, mumps, or chickenpox, herpes (type 1)chickenpox, herpes (type 1)

S/SS/S• Fever, headache, seizures, weakness, Fever, headache, seizures, weakness,

visual disturbances, vomiting, stiff neck visual disturbances, vomiting, stiff neck and back, disorientationand back, disorientation

TreatmentTreatment• Antiviral medications to prevent deathAntiviral medications to prevent death

HemiplegiaHemiplegia EtiologyEtiology

• Paralysis on one side of the bodyParalysis on one side of the body• Usually due to a strokeUsually due to a stroke

S/SS/S• Unable to move one side or feel heat, cold, Unable to move one side or feel heat, cold,

pressure, painpressure, pain• Drooping eyelid or side of faceDrooping eyelid or side of face

TreatmentTreatment• No cureNo cure

ParaplegiaParaplegia EtiologyEtiology

• Paralysis from the waist down caused by Paralysis from the waist down caused by accident/injuryaccident/injury

S/SS/S• Inability to move or feel distal to the Inability to move or feel distal to the

injury sightinjury sight• Inability to control urine and bowel Inability to control urine and bowel

functionsfunctions TreatmentTreatment

• No cureNo cure

QuadriplegiaQuadriplegia

EtiologyEtiology• Paralysis from the neck downParalysis from the neck down• Injury to the 4Injury to the 4thth cervical vertebrae cervical vertebrae

S/SS/S• Inability to move or feel distal to the Inability to move or feel distal to the

injuryinjury• Prone to respiratory and urinary tract Prone to respiratory and urinary tract

infectionsinfections TreatmentTreatment

• No cureNo cure