Central Nervous System Infections Central nervous system (CNS) infections are suggested by a constellation of signs, symptoms, and laboratory studies. The major groups of CNS infections include: Bacterial meningitis. Viral…

Malignancy and the Nervous System CASE A 45-year-old, right-handed swimming coach presents to the emergency room with two generalized tonic–clonic seizures. He is confused, has trouble forming words, and has…

Neurology of Diabetes CASE A 58-year-old man comes to you because he has “burning” on the skin of his abdomen. His wife says his “belly sticks out on one side.”…

Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders CASE A 34-year-old woman experiences a sudden loss of vision in the left eye that lasts for 2 months, with spontaneous resolution. Three years later,…

Seizures and Epilepsy CASE A 17-year-old senior in high school with no history of prenatal injury, febrile convulsions, head injury, or meningitis is being treated with valproic acid for seizures,…

Dementia CASE An 82-year-old retired schoolteacher has had increasing problems functioning at home. She stopped driving a year ago, after she became lost on the way home from church. Nine…

Headache CASE A 24-year-old law student comes to your office with headache. Once or twice a month, she develops a severe, left-sided, hemicranial pounding headache that lasts for a few…

Transient Ischemic Attack CASE A 62-year-old, right-handed pipe fitter, with hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and coronary artery disease, develops a sudden onset of right-sided weakness of the arm and leg, a facial…

Stroke CASE A 67-year-old man with diabetes, long-standing hypertension, and a pack-a-day smoking habit presents to the emergency room 45 minutes after suddenly dropping his fork from his right hand…