title: Neurological episodes after minor head injury and trigeminovascular activation.
abstract: Children appear particularly susceptible to severe but reversible neurological symptoms and/or signs after minor head injury; these include headache, confusion, drowsiness, vomiting, hemiparesis, cortical blindness, or seizures. Significantly, these neurological episodes are not associated with any identifiable structural brain abnormality on neuro-imaging. We propose that the cause of this condition is a reactive hyperaemia, a 'benign hyperaemic encephalopathy' mediated via activation of the trigeminovascular system.
authors.affiliation: Walsgrave Hospital, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Sakas
authors.forename: H L
authors.initials: HL
authors.lastname: Whitwell
mesh_terms: D001929:Brain Edema / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D013181:Cortical Spreading Depression; D006259:Craniocerebral Trauma / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006940:Hyperemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008959:Models, Neurological; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010275:Parasympathetic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D012668:Trigeminal Ganglion / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents