Question

Mr. Putuu has been diagnosed with Horner syndrome, which is caused by dysfunction of the sympathetic neurons in the superior cervical ganglion that innervate structures of the head, face, and neck. What symptoms is Mr. Chevalier likely to face due to his disease? Explain.

Answer 1

-Horner syndrome ( oculosympathetic palsy) is an integration of several symptoms caused when there is damage in the sympathetic trunk.
-Sympathetic trunk is a bundle of nerve fibres that run from the skull base to the coccyx.
-The nerve that runs from the brain to the face has a disruption in its path.

The major symptoms of this syndrome include;
-Upper eyelid droop. This is known as ptosis.
--> Ptosis is caused due to disturbance in nerve supply to the eyes, or due to dysfunction of muscles that raise the eyelids.
-Pupil of one eye is smaller than the other eye.
-A person with the syndrome will have difficulty in seeing during the dark. This is because the pupil dilates very slow in the dark.
-Anhidrosis - Lack of sweat in one side of the face.
--> Here, there is no sweating and the skin becomes very dry.
-Headache
-Ciliospinal reflex is lost
--> In response to pain applied in the neck, trunk and face, the ipsilateral pupil is dilated.
The eye appears red ( Bloodshot conjunctiva).
-Color differences in iris( Heterochromia iridium)
-Infants have a lighter colour iris.