ATI RN
Pediatric Neurology Question Bank Questions
Question 1 of 5
Ataxia is the inability to make accurate, smooth and coordinated movements, usually due to a dysfunction of the cerebellar pathways. Of the following, the MOST common cause of acute ataxia in childhood is
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Postinfectious acute cerebellar ataxia is the most common cause of acute childhood ataxia, per pediatrics, often post-viral (e.g., varicella). Strokand MS are rare; postictal transient; tumors chronic. Postinfectious frequency makes D the correct answer.
Question 2 of 5
Hydrocephalus resulting from overproduction of CSF is seen in
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Choroid plexus papilloma caushydrocephalus from CSF overproduction, per neurosurgery, as a rare tumor hypersecretfluid. Craniopharyngioma obstructs; aqueductal stenosis blocks; basilar impression compresses; Dandy-Walker malforms. Overproduction specificity makes C the correct answer.
Question 3 of 5
A 2-month-old infant is brought to the emergency room after experiencing a seizure. The infant appears lethargic with very irregular respirations and periods of apnea. The parents report the baby is no longer interested in feeding and, before the seizure, rolled off the couch. What additional testing should the nurse immediately prepare for?
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: A CT scan of the head and eye dilation are critical for this 2-month-old with seizure, lethargy, apnea, and a fall, per pediatric trauma protocols. The fall suggests possible trauma, and CT quickly identifiintracranial hemorrhage or skull fracture, common in infants. Eye dilation checks for retinal hemorrhages, a hallmark of shaken baby syndrome (SBS), which aligns with seizure and lethargy in this age group. CT with EEG adds seizure monitoring but delays trauma assessment. Head X-rays miss soft tissue injury; long bone X-rays screen for abuse but arent immediate. SBS or traumas urgency, per AAP guidelines, makes A the correct answer, prioritizing rapid diagnosis of life-threatening conditions.
Question 4 of 5
A child has been diagnosed with a midline brain tumor. In addition to showing signs of increased intracranial pressure (ICP), she has been voiding large amounts of very dilute urine. Which medication dothe nurse expect to administer?
Correct Answer: B
Rationale: Vasopressin is expected for a midline brain tumor with increased ICP and dilute polyuria, per endocrinology texts. This suggests diabetinsipidus (DI) from pituitary/hypothalamic disruption, common in midline tumors (e.g., craniopharyngioma). Vasopressin replacdeficient ADH, reducing urine output and stabilizing fluid balance. Mannitol and Lasix treat ICP but worsen DI dehydration; dopamine supports BP, not DI. Bs specificity to DI, a frequent tumor complication, makes itthe correct answer, addressing the underlying pathophysiology.
Question 5 of 5
A child with a seizure disorder has been having episodduring which she drops her pencil and appears to be daydreaming. This is most likely a/an:
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: Absence seizure fits dropping a pencil and daydreaming, per ILAE classification. Brief (<30 seconds), with staring and minor automatisms, its common in childhood. Akinetic involvfalls; non-epileptic psychogenic; spasms infantile. As EEG (3 Hz spike-wave) and presentation make it the correct answer.