Which of the following diseases is characterised by Charcot's triad ?

MNS 2024

Medical & Surgical Nursing

Easy

Appeared in: MNS 2024

Explanation

Charcot's triad is a classic set of three clinical signs: nystagmus (involuntary eye movements), intention tremor (tremor during voluntary movement), and scanning speech (slow, hesitant speech).
This triad is strongly associated with Multiple Sclerosis (MS), an autoimmune disease that causes demyelination in the central nervous system.
The symptoms directly result from demyelinating plaques or lesions in the cerebellum and brainstem, which are responsible for coordinating movement, balance, and speech.

Option B: Parkinson's disease is characterized by a different classic triad: resting tremor, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and muscle rigidity.
Option C: Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) typically presents with acute, rapidly ascending symmetric muscle weakness and areflexia (loss of reflexes), not Charcot's triad.
Option D: Myasthenia gravis is characterized by fatigable muscle weakness that improves with rest. Its hallmark signs are often ptosis (drooping eyelids) and diplopia (double vision).

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Identification of the disease associated with Charcot's neurologic triad as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Recognizing classic symptom clusters like Charcot's triad is a crucial diagnostic skill for nurses, aiding in the early identification and differential diagnosis of neurological disorders.
A nurse's detailed neurological assessment, including observation of eye movements, coordination during tasks, and speech patterns, provides vital data for the healthcare team.
What if? If a patient presented with a different triad of fever, jaundice, and right upper quadrant pain, this is also called Charcot's triad, but it indicates ascending cholangitis (a severe bile duct infection), which is a surgical emergency, not a neurological one. This highlights the importance of context in clinical practice.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the key term in the question stem: 'Charcot's triad'.
Recall the specific definition of this clinical sign. Charcot's neurologic triad consists of nystagmus, intention tremor, and scanning speech.
Access your knowledge base to link this specific triad to its associated disease. This triad is a classic finding in Multiple Sclerosis.
Evaluate each option. Confirm that Multiple Sclerosis is listed.
Rule out the other options by recalling their distinct hallmark features (e.g., Parkinson's has a resting tremor; GBS has ascending paralysis; Myasthenia Gravis has fatigable weakness).

Concept Tested & Keywords

Concept Tested: Identification of the disease associated with Charcot's neurologic triad.
Stem keywords: Charcot's triad, diseases
Lead-in keywords: Which
Negative lead-in flag: false

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