Pediatric Nursing Demystified

The brain can also be adversely affected by the disruption of the urea cycle

in the liver. The liver changes ammonia to urea that is excreted in urine. The

disruption causes ammonia levels to build in the blood and cross the blood-

brain barrier, causing neurologic problems and problems with muscles and

kidneys. This disorder is called Reye syndrome.

Neurologic disorders can stem from genetic and development abnormali-

ties such as neural tube defects. A neural tube defect occurs when the neural

tube, which later develops into the brain and spinal cord, fails to close within

28 days after conception.

Cerebral palsy is another disorder that can occur during fetal development,

a difficult birth, or trauma. This is where the portion of the brain that controls

motor functions becomes disabled, resulting in partial paralysis and uncon-

trolled movement.

Down syndrome and Duchenne muscular dystrophy are both genetic disor-

ders that affect children. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder resulting in retar-

dation most commonly caused by three instead of two chromosomes 21.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a sex-linked recessive genetic degenerative

muscular disease where muscle fibers are replaced by connective tissue and fat.

A child might develop Guillain-Barré syndrome following a viral infec-

tion, surgery, or from immunization. This disorder is an acute, progressive

autoimmune condition that affects the peripheral nerves where the myelin sur-

rounding the axon on the peripheral nerves is damaged.

An abnormal growth of cells in the brain might develop. This called a brain

tumor. A brain tumor might consist of brain tissue or tissues from a secondary

site that has metastasized to the brain. As a result, the brain tumor can interfere

with normal neurologic activities and might increase intracranial pressure.

(^226) Pediatric Nursing Demystified
FINAL CHECKUP

1. What is the disorder called where there is a brief loss of consciousness lasting
   <30 seconds with no postseizure confusion and minimal or no loss of postural tone?
   a. Myoclonic seizure
   b. Complex partial seizure
   c. Absence seizure
   d. Tonic-clonic seizure


2. What would you do for a patient diagnosed with encephalitis?
   a. Monitor for increased intracranial pressure.
   b. Encourage family and friends to visit at all times a day and night to support the child.
   c. Avoid administering corticosteroid.
   d. All of the above.

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