Mental Status Changes
 
Introduction
Acute Confusion
   Infectious
   Metabolic
Cases
   Headache
   Fever & Confusion
   Focal Weakness
   Nice Doggie
   She's Talking a Lot
   Hemiparesis
   Unconscious
   Police Call
 

The following morning on rounds, her condition is unchanged.

  • The cranial CT shows no obvious lesions.
  • Her hemogram shows
    • A WBC of 2.3,
      • Absolute lymphocyte count is 800 (low)
    • Hemoglobin of 9.0 gm% and
    • Platelet count of 142,000
  • An LP is done, but labs are within normal limits.

She is treated supportively with PT and improves slightly.

 
Three days later,
  • A repeat CT shows evidence of an ischemic stroke.
  • Her ELIZA comes back positive.
  • Fansidar is stopped and she is started on Septrin as prophylaxis for pneumocystis and toxoplasmosis.
  • She cannot afford an echocardiogram and she is started on ASA.

Zipporah had a CVA.

 
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