Jerks

Cattle feeding on herbage containing 25-50 mg/kg (ppm wt) lead develop excitable jerking of muscles, frothing at the mouth, grinding of teeth, and paralysis of the larynx muscles a "roaring" noise is caused by the paralysis of the muscles in the throat and neck. 

Epilepsy, petit mal. Similar to grand mal except that muscle manifestations are either absent or confined to occasional jerks. 

Ruckwkrtsbewegung, /. retrograde motion. Riickweg, m. return path, ruckweise, adv. by jerks intermittently, riickwerfen, v.t. throw back reflect, riickwirken. v.i. react. 

Levels greater than 400 mcg/mL may result in respiratory alkalosis, hemorrhage, excitement, confusion, asterixis (involuntary jerking movements especially... 

Partial or focal seizures arise from a localized area in the brain and cause specific symptoms. A partial seizure can spread to the entire brain and cause a generalized seizure. Fhrtial seizures include simple seizures in which consciousness is not impaired, jack-sonian seizures (a focal seizure that begins with an uncontrolled stiffening or jerking in one part of the body such as finger, mouth, hand, or foot that may progress to a generalized seizure), and psycho motor seizures. 

When dextromethorphan is administered with the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (see Chap. 31), patients may experience hypotension, fever, nausea, jerking motions to the leg, and coma... 

As plasma magnesium levels rise above 4 mEq/L, the deep tendon reflexesare first decreased and then absent as the plasma levels reach 10 mEq/L The knee jerk reflex is tested before each dose of magnesum sulfate. If the reflex isabsent ora slow response is obtained, the nurse withholds the dosage and notifies the primary health care provider. 

Similarly, convulsive seizures and a sustained epileptic state persisted after stomach contents were pumped and activated charcoal and anticonvulsive medication were administered in a 43-year-old man who ingested approximately 260 mg/kg endosulfan (Boereboom et al. 1998). At 4 days after exposure, the man was pronounced brain dead, and autopsy revealed cerebral hernia from massive cerebral edema. Eight additional accidental and/or intentional cases of acute poisoning with endosulfan resulting in adverse neurological effects have been reported in more recent studies, six by Blanco-Coronado et al. (1992), one by Lo et al. (1995), and one by Pradhan et al. (1997) two out of the eight resulted in death. Tonic-clonic convulsions were seen in the Blanco-Coronado et al. (1992) cases, whereas Lo et al. (1995) reported the development of muscle fasciculations and episodes of convulsions in their case. In the case reported by Pradhan et al. (1997), the patient had consumed about 75 mL of hquid endosulfan (35% w/v). In this case, in addition to tonic-clonic seizures and myoclonic jerks, the patient developed... 

In addition to the above main categories seizures can be just myoclonic, isolated clonic jerks, or atonic, loss of postural control with just head drooping or the patient actually falling. 

Clonazepam, a typical 1 4 benzodiazepine, is effective in absence seizures, myoclonic jerks and tonic-clonic seizures and given intravenously it attenuates status epilepticus. It is less sedative than phenobarbitone but tolerance develops and its withdrawal, as... 

Myoclonic Single and very brief jerks of all major muscle groups. Patients with these may not lose consciousness, due to the seizure lasting less than 3 to 4 seconds. Patients may describe these seizures as shoulder shrugs or spinal chills. Myoclonic seizures may cluster and build into a generalized tonic-clonic seizure. 

Jerks, shoulder shrugs, and sudden chills of the spine... 

Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) A primary generalized epilepsy syndrome that usually starts in the early to middle teenage years and has a strong familial component. Patients have myoclonic jerks and tonic-clonic seizures and may also have absence seizures. 

BC, a 22-year-old woman, was diagnosed 2 years ago with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. She has been treated with valproate 1500 mg/day. Since starting valproate she has gained 45 pounds (20.5 kg), continues to have occasional myoclonic jerks, had a generalized tonic-clonic seizure 3 months ago, and is sexually active. Additionally, she complains of easily falling asleep during the day. Due to adverse effects, poor seizure control, and the risk of birth defects with valproate, the decision is made to switch to a different antiepileptic drug. 

It has been forty-five minutes since CH s arrival, and he has been given lorazepam 4 mg twice and loaded with 1500 mg of phenytoin. He received another 400 mg dose of phenytoin 15 minutes ago, but is still unarousable. His jerking movements have slowed down, but his temperature is now 39.9°C (103.8°F), and his blood pressure has dropped to 124/62 mm Hg. His oxygen saturation is 91% on 4 L oxygen via nasal cannula. Bilateral crackles are heard upon auscultation of his lungs. A CT scan of his head is obtained which shows no evidence of hemorrhage, tumor, or mass effect. 

Myocarditis Inflammation of the muscular wall of the heart. Myoclonus A sudden, involuntary jerking of a muscle or group of... 

Spasticity A motor disorder characterized by an increase in muscle tone with exaggerated tendon jerks, resulting from hyperexcitability of the stretch reflex. 

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