Infantile Hemiplegia MCQ Quiz | Central Nervous System

Quiz Introduction

Welcome, MBBS students! This quiz is designed to test your understanding of Infantile Hemiplegia, a critical topic within the Central Nervous System module. Infantile hemiplegia, a form of cerebral palsy, results from a non-progressive brain injury occurring before, during, or shortly after birth, leading to unilateral motor impairment. This quiz covers its etiology, clinical features, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies. You will face 25 multiple-choice questions that reflect the complexity and a multidisciplinary approach required for this condition. After submitting your answers, you will see your score and a detailed review of each question. For your revision, you can also download a PDF copy of all questions with their correct answers. Good luck!

1. What is the most common underlying cause of infantile hemiplegia?

Congenital hydrocephalus

Perinatal ischemic stroke

Postnatal traumatic brain injury

Genetic metabolic disorders

2. Which type of motor deficit is characteristic of infantile hemiplegia?

Flaccid paralysis

Ataxic movements

Spastic hemiparesis

Dystonic posturing

3. What is the gold standard imaging modality for diagnosing the underlying etiology of infantile hemiplegia?

Cranial Ultrasound

CT scan of the brain

MRI of the brain

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

4. Which therapeutic injection is commonly used to manage focal spasticity in the affected limbs of a child with infantile hemiplegia?

Intramuscular Corticosteroids

Botulinum toxin

Hyaluronic acid

Intrathecal Baclofen

5. Which of the following is a common comorbidity in children with infantile hemiplegia?

Asthma

Epilepsy

Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

Congenital heart disease

6. Infantile hemiplegia is a subtype of which broader neurological condition?

Muscular Dystrophy

Spinal Muscular Atrophy

Cerebral Palsy

Multiple Sclerosis

7. A child with right-sided infantile hemiplegia would typically exhibit:

Smaller hand and foot on the left side

Hypertrophy of muscles on the right side

Smaller hand and foot on the right side

Symmetrical limb growth

8. A “fisting” of the hand on the affected side beyond 3-4 months of age is an early sign known as:

Moro reflex persistence

Persistent cortical thumb

Babinski sign

Asymmetric tonic neck reflex

9. Which of the following conditions must be ruled out when a child presents with a progressive hemiparesis?

Brain tumor

Febrile seizure

Static encephalopathy

Periventricular leukomalacia

10. What is the characteristic gait pattern seen in a child with spastic hemiplegia?

Waddling gait

Steppage gait

Circumductory gait

Festinating gait

11. A lesion in the optic radiation due to a perinatal stroke can result in which visual field defect?

Bitemporal hemianopia

Homonymous hemianopia

Central scotoma

Tunnel vision

12. What is the primary goal of physiotherapy in a child with infantile hemiplegia?

To cure the underlying brain damage

To increase muscle mass on the affected side

To prevent contractures and improve motor function

To primarily manage cognitive deficits

13. Hemiplegia associated with convulsions and a facial port-wine stain is characteristic of which syndrome?

Rett Syndrome

Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

Tuberous Sclerosis

Sturge-Weber Syndrome

14. The underlying brain lesion in infantile hemiplegia is typically located in the:

Ipsilateral cerebral hemisphere

Contralateral cerebral hemisphere

Cerebellum

Brainstem

15. The term “infantile hemiplegia” implies that the brain injury is:

Progressive and degenerative

Always caused by trauma

Non-progressive or static

Acquired after the age of 5

16. Which therapeutic approach focuses on restraining the unaffected limb to encourage use of the affected limb?

Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT)

Sensory Integration Therapy

Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (CIMT)

Aquatic Therapy

17. A selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) is a surgical procedure primarily aimed at reducing:

Seizure frequency

Spasticity

Athetoid movements

Chronic pain

18. What is the typical range of cognitive function in children with infantile hemiplegia?

Always severely impaired

Always normal

It can range from normal intelligence to severe intellectual disability

Typically superior to peers due to compensatory mechanisms

19. A common early indicator of infantile hemiplegia is:

Delayed speech development

Asymmetrical crawling or early hand preference before 1 year

Poor feeding in the first month

Recurrent ear infections

20. An Electroencephalogram (EEG) is most useful in diagnosing which associated condition of infantile hemiplegia?

Structural brain abnormalities

Seizure disorders

Muscle tone

Cognitive function

21. The prognosis for ambulation in a child with pure infantile hemiplegia is generally:

Poor, with most requiring a wheelchair

Guarded, depends entirely on surgical outcomes

Good, with most children learning to walk

Unpredictable

22. Which reflex would be expected to be exaggerated on the affected side in infantile hemiplegia?

Corneal reflex

Gag reflex

Deep tendon reflexes

Pupillary light reflex

23. Which of the following is a significant maternal risk factor for perinatal stroke leading to infantile hemiplegia?

Gestational diabetes

Preeclampsia

Maternal age over 35

Iron deficiency anemia

24. Besides botulinum toxin, which oral medication is often used to manage generalized spasticity in cerebral palsy?

Levodopa

Acetaminophen

Baclofen

Methylphenidate

25. An infection in the neonatal period, such as meningitis or encephalitis, can lead to infantile hemiplegia. This is classified as a:

Prenatal cause

Perinatal cause

Postnatal cause

Idiopathic cause