Child neurology is the branch of expertise that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of brain, spinal cord, nerve and muscle diseases of children between the ages of 0-18. Neurological examinations, causes of diseases, diagnosis, treatment and follow-up of individuals in this age group, where growth and development continue, unlike adults, require a different approach and expertise. It deals with the neurological follow-up of premature and risky babies, diagnosis and treatment of many neurological diseases such as seizures, developmental disorders, fainting, walking and behavioral disorders, brain traumas, headaches, epilepsy, autism, muscle and nerve injuries, and paralysis. Physicians of the department, also defined as pediatric neurology, complete 6 years of medical school education and then specialize in child health and diseases for 4 years and receive 3 years of child neurology subspecialty training.
Neurological development in the womb
Periods in which the central nervous system develops most rapidly; the period in the womb and the first months after birth. The neural layer begins to form in the first three weeks of the baby in the womb, and in the 5th week, the formation of the forebrain, midbrain and hindbrain is completed. In the 22nd week, the process of covering the neurons with a myelin sheath, called myelination, begins. This development, which can also be called the development of the nervous system, continues until adulthood. Other factors such as environmental factors, increased blood pressure during pregnancy, known as pregnancy toxemia, edema and protein in the urine, or the inability of the placenta to ensure the healthy development of the baby, negatively affect myelination and lead to deterioration in brain functions. During the period when the development of the fetal brain volume is at its highest, from the 5th month to the 6th month after birth, some such diseases can cause the head and head circumference to be small due to underdevelopment, that is, microcephaly.
Diseases that child neurology deals with
The diseases followed by pediatric neurologists are quite diverse as they concern the brain and nervous system. Diagnosis and treatment of many diseases such as brain injuries, strokes, microcephaly and cerebral palsy that develop during pregnancy and birth concern child neurology. S, also known as floppy baby syndrome Age-related neurodevelopmental disorders such as MA, walking delay, learning and attention problems; Diseases that cause changes in consciousness and occur in attacks, such as seizures with or without fever, headache, epilepsy, fainting; Muscle diseases and ataxias that cause weakness and imbalance, sleep disorders, tics and involuntary movement disorders are also diseases treated by child neurology. Some of these diseases are as follows:
-
Epilepsy: Epilepsy, also known as epilepsy, occurs suddenly as a result of a disorder in the normal functioning of the brain and affects the person's consciousness and behavior. It is a disease that recurs in fits and starts. Approximately half of children between the ages of 6 months and 5 years who experience febrile seizures develop epilepsy later in life. Headache: The age of onset of headaches, which are also common in children, is usually between 8 and 9 years old. As a result of the patient's history, physical and neurological examination findings, if deemed necessary by the physician, the cause of the pain is clarified with radiological imaging. This condition mostly develops due to tension headache, migraine and sinusitis; It may be caused by the presence of a tumor and abscess or simply psychological reasons. Once the cause of the headache is fully determined, the treatment is arranged by the pediatric neurologist according to the patient's condition.
-
Dizziness:The frequency of vertigo in children is approximately 6%. It is important to inform the physician correctly about how and when the dizziness experienced by the child develops. A physical and neurological examination is performed to determine whether the dizziness is due to central or peripheral causes. Findings such as the presence of trauma, recurrence of dizziness, accompanying headache, fever, hearing loss and change of consciousness are the determining factors. Dizziness may be caused by simple reasons such as motion sickness, or it may be caused by congenital anomalies.
-
Cerebral Palsy:Occurs in the brain in the womb, during birth or before the age of 2. posture caused by injury and is defined as mobility difficulty. The symptoms of this condition, also known as cerebral palsy, vary depending on the location and extent of the damaged area. Many preventable conditions such as premature birth, blood pressure changes in the expectant mother, blood incompatibility, and oxygen deprivation of the baby during birth can lead to this disease. Although the damage caused cannot be reversed, early diagnosis and treatment are extremely important for the child to develop many skills.
-
Hypotonic Baby:Colloquially referred to as a limp baby. In this disease, babies' arm and leg movements are reduced. It is characterized by babies sleeping in the frog position. The baby's head falls forward when lifted by holding it under the armpit. While it may be caused by brain development anomalies and muscle diseases, the mild laxity seen in some babies may resolve spontaneously after the age of 2. It should be examined in detail by a specialist physician.
-
Movement Disorders:Tic is the most common movement disorder in children. Sydenham chorea and dystonia are also common movement disorders. The cause of this condition is mostly due to damage that occurs during brain development, called cerebral palsy. However, it may also develop due to drug side effects, bleeding, trauma, meningitis, encephalitis and genetic characteristics. Physical examination, laboratory tests and radiological imaging may be required for diagnosis.
-
Delay in Neuromotor Development:This condition, which can be defined as the child's inability to complete the developmental stages on time, requires gross and fine motor skills such as walking, running, sitting, eating, painting, etc. It can be defined as performing skills such as performing tasks later than their peers. The loss of monthly acquired skills is an important finding. Children with these characteristics need to be evaluated in detail.
-
Muscle and Peripheral Nervous System Diseases: Function disorder as a result of deformities that develop due to weakness or shortness of the muscles. Muscle diseases, which are defined as being seen, are mostly genetically inherited. SMA types are among the diseases that have many types. ir. Diseases affecting the peripheral nerve are characterized by weakness seen in and below the knee area or in the hands. These diseases, which can be seen until the age of 20, generally show symptoms such as weakness, fatigue, difficulty in walking, and deformity in the hands. A pediatric neurologist should be consulted for the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases, which have many different subtypes.
-
Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders: Difficulty in understanding and speaking the children's native language. Pervasive developmental disorders, in which the child suffers from an inability to establish connections between events, people and objects, and exhibits repetitive behaviors and movements, lead to functional disorders. Chief among these is autism. Autism, which prevents social interaction with other people, is a disease in which symptoms usually begin between the ages of 1-3.
Many different diseases originating from the brain and nervous system fall within the scope of child neurology. A detailed history is very important for diagnosis. After completing the physical and neurological examination, the specialist physician applies radiological methods such as EEG, MRI, cranial ultrasonography and some metabolic and developmental evaluation tests to assist in diagnosis when deemed necessary. Once the diagnosis is clarified, treatment is arranged taking into account the patient's condition. For a healthy life, do not forget to have routine health checks for yourself and your loved ones.
Read: 0
