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Do you want more practice in answering written exam questions? Elliott Smock kicks off a new series, explaining the theoretical background to commonly encountered multiple choice questions.
This week its epilepsy
Questions:
Concerning partial seizures
Match the symptoms listed with the site of the epileptic focus in the cortex of the brain (fig 1).
Epilepsy (a) Is always incurable; (b) May be treated surgically; (c) May be controlled by drugs; (d) Is caused by an abundance of the neurotransmitter 4-aminobutyric acid (GABA); (e) Is rarely seen in childhood.
Match the symptom with the type of seizure
Each option may be used once, more than once or not at all. (I) Rhythmic jerking of the muscles (tonic-clonic). (II) Localised muscle jerks which spread to other parts of the body (Jacksonian march). (III) Loss of consciousness only; (IV) Rhythmic clenching of one fist only. (V) Rhythmic clenching of one fist only and loss of consciousness; (a) Absence seizure; (b) Generalised seizure; (c) Complex partial seizure; (d) Simple partial seizure leading to generalised seizure; (e) Simple partial seizure.
Medication used in the treatment of epilepsy Please answer true or false to the following statements. The answers are T=true and F=false (a) Benzodiazepines; (b) Salfasalzine; (c) Vigabatrin; (d) Aspirin; (e) Voltarol.
Anticonvulsant drugs Please answer true or false to the following statements. The answers are the T=true and F=false (a) May be teratogenic; (b) May be increased in pregnancy; (c) May have many side...