Question

Alanna tells the nurse she remembers hearing a buzzing sound, and then the next thing she knew someone was waking her up. The neurologist comes into the room and completes Alanna's history and physical along with the nurse. With Alanna's history, the neurologist thinks that Alanna has had seizure activity and wants to determine exactly what is causing the new onset of seizure activity

Answer 1

The question involves diagnosing neurological conditions, specifically seizure activity, using tools like EEG and CT scans along with a complete medical history and a physical examination to determine affected areas in the nervous system.

Step-by-step explanation:

The student's question concerns the diagnosis and assessment of neurological conditions by a neurologist. When a patient has experienced a seizure, the neurologist will often conduct an electroencephalography (EEG), which measures electric brain activity by placing electrodes on the patient’s scalp. This test helps identify which regions of the brain are involved in the seizure. For cases like suspected stroke, a computerized tomography (CT) scan might be utilized to search for bleeding or other abnormalities within the brain. A comprehensive neurological exam, including taking a full medical history and performing physical evaluations of various neural functions, helps pinpoint the areas of the nervous system that may be affected.

An example of this is checking the hypoglossal nerve by asking the patient to move their tongue in different ways, revealing potential nerve damage or brainstem issues. For conditions such as bacterial meningitis, ALS, SLE, or even Lyme disease, careful consideration of the symptoms, alongside the medical history and physical examination, are crucial in reaching a correct diagnosis. When these exams point to specific issues, neurologists can either prescribe medications or refer patients to a neurosurgeon for surgical intervention.