AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-2)
Medical & Surgical Nursing
Easy
A neurological disorder in which the patient will have an expression of mask-like face and staring is known as?
Appeared in: AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-2)
Explanation
- Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting the dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra.
- The loss of dopamine leads to a triad of motor symptoms: bradykinesia (slowness of movement), resting tremor, and rigidity.
- Bradykinesia of the facial muscles results in a loss of spontaneous expression, known as hypomimia or a 'mask-like face'.
- A significantly reduced blink rate, another feature of the disease, contributes to the characteristic 'staring' appearance.
Why Other Options Were Wrong
- Option A: Myasthenia gravis is an autoimmune disorder affecting the neuromuscular junction. It causes fatigable muscle weakness, not a fixed, rigid facial expression.
- Option B: Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia, primarily affecting cognitive functions like memory, language, and judgment. It does not have a characteristic 'mask-like face' as a primary symptom.
- Option C: Huntington's chorea is a genetic disorder characterized by hyperkinetic (excessive) movements. Patients exhibit involuntary, rapid, jerky movements (chorea) and facial grimacing, which is the opposite of the motionless face seen in Parkinson's.
Related Visual
- Visual 1: Comparative Chart - An infographic visually contrasting the facial manifestations of Parkinson's disease (mask-like), Myasthenia Gravis (ptosis), and Huntington's disease (chorea/grimacing).
- Visual 2: Diagram - A simple diagram showing the brain pathways affected in Parkinson's disease (substantia nigra and dopamine depletion) and how it leads to motor symptoms like bradykinesia.
Clinical Relevance
- Nursing practice connection: Use the key finding related to Clinical Manifestations of Neurological Disorders to guide bedside assessment, documentation, and the next nursing action.
- Recognizing a mask-like face is a critical nursing assessment skill, as it can be an early sign of Parkinson's disease, prompting timely referral and diagnosis.
- The same muscle rigidity that causes the mask-like face also affects swallowing (dysphagia). Nurses must assess for swallowing difficulties, drooling, and risk of aspiration, implementing safety measures like diet modification and proper positioning during meals.
- The change in appearance can be distressing for patients and families. Nurses should provide psychosocial support, encourage communication, and educate them that the lack of expression is a symptom of the disease, not a reflection of the patient's emotional state.
How to Approach the Question
- First, identify the key clinical signs described in the question: 'mask-like face' and 'staring'.
- Recognize these as specific, well-known indicators of a particular type of motor dysfunction.
- Systematically review the options, considering the primary pathology of each disorder.
- Myasthenia Gravis: Think muscle weakness/fatigue.
- Alzheimer's Disease: Think cognitive decline/memory loss.
- Huntington's Chorea: Think excessive, involuntary movements (hyperkinesia).
Concept Tested & Keywords
- Concept Tested: Clinical Manifestations of Neurological Disorders
- Stem keywords: neurological disorder, mask-like face, staring
- Lead-in keywords: known as
- Clinical cues: The combination of a 'mask-like face' (hypomimia) and a 'staring' look (reduced blink rate) are hallmark signs pointing to a specific type of motor system dysfunction.
Question ID
Q6mQ674xBmMs3DoLP02XGW
Practise the full AIIMS Raipur NO - 2019 (Shift-2)
Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.
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