Introduction:
Syndromes are a group of symptoms that occur together and indicate the presence of a particular disease or condition. A focal neurological disease affects one side of the body, including the left side of the face, the right arm, or even a small tongue area. A focal neurological problem is due to damage to a specific part of the brain or nervous system. These disorders usually cause problems with motor function, vision, memory, and learning. This article explains the different types of focal neurological deficits in depth and how these conditions are managed.
What Is an Acute Focal Neurological Syndrome?
A focal neurological deficit is abnormal functioning of a specific body area due to damage to the brain centers that control all cognitive functions. An acute (sudden) onset of symptoms is characteristic of these disorders. The abnormal functioning of the body is a result of damage or injury to the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and muscles.
What Are the Causes of Focal Neurological Disease?
Focal neurological disease can be caused due to the following conditions -
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Vascular Malformations - An abnormal development of the blood vessels. These abnormalities in the blood vessels may have been present since birth and have been asymptomatic until they are triggered by external factors such as pregnancy, hormonal changes, any major surgery, trauma, or injury. Arteriovenous malformations of the brain are abnormal development of arteries and veins of the brain. They may cause severe headaches, seizures, strokes, and even bleeding in the brain (brain hemorrhage).
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Degenerative Nerve Illness - Degeneration of the nerves is caused by damage to the structure of the neurons leading to loss of function. This may affect all the main body functions, such as breathing, balance and coordination, speech, and heart function.
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Brain Infections - Infection and inflammation of the brain tissue are termed encephalitis. The brain and spinal cord coverings, known as meninges, may also get infected due to various viral infections. This condition is called meningitis. Encephalitis and meningitis cause impairment in cognitive function.
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Carpal Tunnel Syndrome - The carpal tunnel is a narrow passage present in the palm that is surrounded by bones and ligaments of the palm. The nerves that supply the hand pass through this tunnel. Individuals who develop carpal tunnel syndrome are born with a small carpal tunnel. This creates excessive pressure on the median nerve of the wrist. The function of the median nerve is to provide sensation and enable movements of the hands. This disease is characterized by numbness, tingling sensation in the hands, and weakness in the hand and arm.
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Brain Tumor- An excessive abnormal brain growth of cells is termed a brain tumor. Brain tumors may be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Tumors cause excessive pressure on the brain, which may compress the nerves and lead to loss of function. Damage to the nerves of the brain leads to symptoms such as severe headaches, seizures, problems with balance and coordination, blurred vision, speech difficulties, and loss of motor function.
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Cerebral Palsy - It is a group of disorders caused due to injury or abnormality of the brain. This condition can occur in the womb and may even develop during the first two years of life while the brain is still developing. This condition may be caused due to hypoxia (reduced oxygen supply) in the brain. It causes problems with cognitive function, such as abnormal movements, speech problems, thinking disabilities, and impaired learning.
What Are the Symptoms of Acute Focal Neurological Disease?
The following symptoms characterize a focal neurological syndrome -
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Abnormal Movements of the Body- Muscle weakness, loss of muscle tone, muscle stiffness, paralysis (inability to move) of the muscles, involuntary (uncontrolled) movements of the limbs known as tremors
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Abnormal Sensations of the Body - Paresthesia (abnormal tingling or pricking sensation caused by nerve damage), decreased sensations or numbness in the limbs, hands, or face.
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Horner’s Syndrome - This is one example of a focal neurological deficit. One side of the face is affected by this syndrome. The symptoms include drooping of one eyelid, lack of sweat on one side of the face, sunken eye socket on one side, and a small pupil on one side.
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Other Symptoms - Problems with balance and coordination leading to impaired walking (gait). Speech and learning difficulties, poor fine motor skills (inability to perform complex tasks), problems with swallowing and frequent choking, poor gag reflex (a normal healthy response that prevents choking), vision problems such as blurred vision, double vision, loss of vision and unawareness of a part of the body.
How Is Focal Neurological Disease Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of focal neurological disease is dependent upon the symptoms experienced by the patient. The physician will perform a detailed physical examination of the patient along with the complete medical history to determine which part of the body is affected and which nerves are involved. The following tests are carried out to locate the nerves involved and the part of the body that is affected -
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CT Scan (Computed Tomography) - It is done in specific regions such as the back, head, or neck. A CT scan helps confirm the diagnosis in maximum cases.
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Electromyogram - This test is useful to assess the health of the muscles and the nerves that control these muscles.
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Nerve Conduction Velocity - This test measures how fast an electrical signal passes through a nerve.
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MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) - This test can be done to diagnose the disease of the back, neck, or head.
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Spinal Tap or Lumbar Puncture - This procedure is done to carry out a cerebrospinal fluid examination. The cerebrospinal fluid CSF helps detect various bacterial and viral infections that affect the brain.
What Is the Treatment of Focal Neurological Syndrome?
Restoration of lost function is the main aspect of treating neurological disorders. Therapies that are recommended to patients with these disorders include -
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Physical Therapy- These aim at restoring muscle strength and function. It helps the patient to overcome movement problems.
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Pain Management - Discomfort caused due to damage to the nerves can result in chronic pain that can be managed with medications or pain relief therapies.
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Medications - Symptoms like seizures require anti-epileptic medications to control them. They are necessary to control symptoms and prevent further worsening of the patient’s condition.
Conclusion:
Early detection of the symptoms and promptness in seeking treatment plays an important role in the prognosis of neurological disorders. Disorders of the brain affect the rational thinking of a patient and may affect their decision-making ability which makes it difficult for them to accept treatment. Support from the family of the patient and healthcare provider is critical in treating these disorders. Rehabilitation centers are helpful for such patients as they aim to restore their lost function and help them regain the skills and confidence required to carry out daily tasks independently.
