201 Clinical Localization in Neurology

Neurological Symptoms and Pathologies

• Blurred vision and loss of color vision are symptoms of optic neuropathy caused by ethambutol.
• Eye pain and vision loss are symptoms of glaucoma.
• Painful vision loss, especially in one eye, is a symptom of optic neuritis.
• Sudden vision loss in one eye, especially in older people, is a symptom of ischaemic optic neuropathy.
• Blurred vision, often in both eyes, is a symptom of optic disc drusen.
• Weakness or paralysis of muscles is a symptom of motor limb deficit.
• Difficulty with balance and coordination is a symptom of gait and posture deficit.
• Slurred speech or difficulty speaking is a symptom of speech deficit.
• Difficulty controlling bodily functions, such as heart rate and blood pressure, is a symptom of autonomic deficit.
• Numbness, tingling, or loss of sensation is a symptom of sensory deficit.

Pathologies and Deficits

• Inflammation or demyelination of the optic nerve can cause sudden symptom onset with improvement.
• High-stepping gait and shuffling are characteristic of spinal cord compression affecting the corticospinal tract.
• Overnight symptom onset can be caused by ischaemic optic neuropathy or spinal cord compression.
• Age can be a modifying factor in the clinical presentation of dysarthria.
• Altered pain perception can be a symptom of spinal cord injury or peripheral neuropathy.
• Scotomata, or blind spots, can be a symptom of optic neuritis or other vision disturbances.
• Symptom onset in minutes can be caused by a transient ischaemic attack (TIA).
• Orthostatic hypotension can be present in patients with autonomic dysfunction and motor and sensory deficits.
• Superficial sensory loss can be a symptom of peripheral neuropathy.
• Symptom onset in years can be caused by chronic conditions such as diabetic neuropathy.
• Bladder or bowel dysfunction can be a symptom of cauda equina syndrome.
• Diabetes, HIV, and vitamin deficiencies can cause peripheral neuropathy.
• Weakness or paralysis of muscles can be a symptom of lower motor neuron disease.
• Herniated discs or tumors can cause spinal cord compression.
• High cervical cord compression can cause respiratory failure or quadriplegia.
• Median and ulnar nerve lesions can cause numbness or weakness in the hand or arm.
• Ophthalmoplegia can be caused by mitochondrial myopathies or other muscle disorders.
• Ataxia, or difficulty with coordination and balance, can be a symptom of cerebellar dysfunction.
• Vitamin deficiencies or certain medications can cause sensory neuropathy.