Home Hygiene Childhood diseases neurology. Neurology in children under one year of age: causes, symptoms

Childhood diseases neurology. Neurology in children under one year of age: causes, symptoms

Proper work nervous system very important for the normal functioning of the body as a whole. Unfortunately, children often suffer from nervous disorders no less than adults. And if you do not pay attention to the existing problem in time, it can develop into a serious illness with corresponding consequences. Let's look at what there are neurological diseases in children, for what reasons they occur and what methods are treated.

Disorders of the nervous system in children can be either mild or accompanied by such serious diagnoses as epilepsy, cerebral palsy, nervous tics, syncope, speech delay, problems concentrating, neurological enuresis, stuttering, etc.

In complex forms of the disease, treatment is very long and not always effective. Childhood neurological diseases are based on the following causes:

  • unhealthy lifestyle of the mother, as well as all kinds of pathologies during pregnancy;
  • birth injuries;
  • acquired intercostal neuralgia can occur due to improper picking;
  • spinal disorders;
  • regularly carrying the baby in a kangaroo pouch;
  • hypothermia.

Children's neurological diseases, symptoms and treatment

Disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system can manifest themselves both immediately after birth and after some time. You should be wary if your baby is constantly crying. Children become capricious in two cases: with improper care and the presence of physical or mental disorders. In any case, it is better to show the baby to the pediatrician once again. And he will decide whether in a particular case consultation and observation of a neurologist is necessary or not.
Pediatric neurology has the following symptoms:

  • the child’s strong feelings about various things;
  • excessive immersion in the world of fantasy during the game;
  • communication with imaginary friends;
  • constant headaches;
  • nervous tic;
  • lack of appetite;
  • obsessive guards, hysterics, tearfulness;
  • insomnia;
  • neurotic urinary incontinence;
  • at an older age fast fatiguability, spinal disorders, frequent migraines, etc.;
  • V adolescence fanatical passion for some extraordinary activity (subculture, religion, etc.).

Childhood neuropathology most often occurs in timid children with low self-esteem and who are constantly under strict parental control or, conversely, left to their own devices from early childhood.
Treatment of abnormalities is usually prescribed by a neurologist for children. The main methods of combating the disease are:

Be attentive to your children. To prevent diseases of the nervous system, a child first of all needs a comfortable emotional environment at home. Love and care will help avoid many emotional disorders.

The list of neurological diseases is quite wide and does not depend on age and gender; these diseases are recognized as the most common. Functional disorders with this type of pathology can form anywhere in the body.

Causes of nervous system disorders

Neurological diseases can be acquired or congenital. Provocative factors leading to violations are:

  • Injuries. Traumatic brain injury leads to the development of various neurological disorders.
  • Diseases of internal organs V chronic stage.
  • Hereditary predisposition. In this case, the manifestation of disorders begins from an early age: these are tics, epileptic seizures, motor dysfunction, complete or partial loss of sensitivity.
  • Circulatory disorders of cerebral vessels. Disorders include dizziness, disorientation, migraine, and
  • Exhaustion of the body due to nervousness. Diseases that are caused by this cause differ in psychosomatic symptoms.

Encephalitis, meningitis

They are diagnosed when the brain is damaged and are included in the list of neurological diseases for determining disability. Soft shells brain are exposed to harmful agents of a bacterial or viral nature.

Unfortunately, no one can be immune from these diseases. Such diagnoses are also given to newborns, and the reason is in this case is an infection suffered during pregnancy. The danger of brain damage lies in complications: progressive dementia and conditions leading to disability. Delayed treatment can lead to cerebral edema and death.

Vegetovascular dystonia

This pathology is recognized as one of the most common neurological disorders. The condition is characterized by a chronic course. Symptoms: surges in blood pressure, frequent dizziness, heart pain. Properly selected therapy leads to complete cure.

Migraine

This disease is recognized as a leader among neurological disorders. Signs of the disease manifest themselves as attacks of severe, excruciating headaches. Therapy is selected individually over a long period. Getting rid of pain is difficult.

Age-related neurological pathologies

List of neurological diseases in people over 60 years of age that are incurable: senile dementia, multiple sclerosis (currently found in the younger generation of citizens), parkinsonism, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment. The cause of their development is considered to be long-term arterial hypertension, not compensated drug therapy, failure of metabolic processes and insufficient blood supply to the brain. Below is a partial list of neurological diseases (in the table) associated with memory impairment in older people.

Timely seeking medical help will improve the patient’s quality of life and will allow the progression of the disease to be delayed for some time.

Conditions for which you should consult a doctor

Syndromes and symptoms of neurological diseases that indicate problems in functioning are as follows:

  • constant fatigue;
  • disorientation;
  • sleep problems;
  • memory impairment;
  • weakening of attention;
  • failure in muscle activity;
  • formation of spots in the vision area;
  • hallucinations;
  • dizziness;
  • confusion;
  • tremor;
  • pain that occurs suddenly and affects different parts of the body;
  • panic attacks;
  • feeling of numbness in the lower and upper limbs;
  • paresis or paralysis.

Detection of the above signs requires medical care, since they can be harbingers of serious neurological diseases, the list of which is divided into disturbances in the functioning of both the central and peripheral nervous systems.

Types of research

If necessary, the neurologist will refer the patient for additional examinations:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging is prescribed for disturbances of consciousness, hallucinations, and pain;
  • Dopplerography is indicated for migraines and dizziness;
  • electroneuromyography - for paralysis or paresis, as well as sudden pain.
  • computed tomography helps determine the location and nature of the pathology;
  • ultrasonography various organs depending on the patient’s complaints;
  • positron emission tomography, which is used to diagnose injuries and consequences of diseases;
  • echoencephalography is used to identify brain pathologies;
  • neurosonography is used to study the brain of newborns;
  • Craniography reveals bone fractures in the skull and birth defects.

The specific type of examination to be prescribed is determined by the attending physician, depending on the presence of symptoms. Treatment of neurological diseases and their prevention is his prerogative. Making decisions on your own about treatment or undergoing research is not recommended.

Treatment methods

There are four methods of therapy that are successfully used to treat neurological diseases (their list is given above):

    Medicinal or medicinal. Includes a wide range of drugs that, in accordance with the instructions for medical use, are used to treat these conditions.

    Physiotherapeutic. Includes various physical therapy sessions aimed at different organs and muscles, as well as magnetic and laser therapy, electrophoresis and other types of physiotherapeutic effects.

    Surgical. This method is used when the disease progresses and complete absence effect from other methods of therapy. Surgical interventions carried out on nerve fibers, spinal cord and brain.

    Non-drug. This includes diet therapy, herbal treatment, acupuncture, massage, manual and reflexology, osteopathy.

Children's neurological diseases: list and description

The main reasons provoking neurological stress or breakdown are recognized:

  • psychological trauma;
  • uncomfortable and aggressive environment in which the child is located;
  • uncontrolled physical and mental stress;
  • inability to cope with strong emotions (fear, resentment).

A child’s undeveloped nervous system does not have time to respond in a timely manner to various stressful situations, so children cannot quickly adapt to difficult living conditions. According to medical statistics, the list of childhood neurological diseases is steadily growing. The most defenseless inhabitants of the globe are affected by diseases such as:

  • Enuresis or urinary incontinence. Very common in young boys and manifests itself in decreased control at night. Child neurologists call the reasons for this condition: stress, constant punishment of the child.
  • Various neuroses, which occupy a leading place among all neurological disorders: fear of heights, darkness, loneliness and others;
  • stuttering. Most often found in boys. The reason is a strong shock in the form of fright or injury, i.e. something that the child could not cope with on his own and there was a failure in the speech process.
  • Tiki. There are motor types, they are expressed in twitching, blinking or shrugging; vocal - grunting, coughing; ritual - all actions performed in a certain sequence are repeated; generalized, which combine several types. The cause of tics lies in attention, as well as excessive care and stress.
  • Neurotic sleep disorders. The prerequisites for the development of this condition are considered to be regular overwork in additional sections, at school and chronic stress.
  • Headache. The presence of this symptom indicates the presence of a pathological process of a neurological nature in the child’s body.
  • Attention deficit disorder. It especially often manifests itself during school and can then continue into adulthood. Manifestations of the syndrome are anxiety, aggressiveness, negativism, and emotional lability.

The list and description of neurological diseases in childhood can be continued endlessly. In order to effectively treat pathologies of the nervous system, you should seek medical help in a timely manner. Partially helping to avoid these violations is finding common language with the child, support and faith in his own strengths, leniency and patience, psychologically favorable climate in family. The main thing in such situations is not to look for those to blame, but together with specialists (neurologists, psychologists) to find the right way out, thinking first of all about the younger generation.

Neurological diseases in newborns

The list of these pathologies is headed by the most common, such as:

  • Hypertonicity and hypotonicity. A sign of the first is considered to be tension in the muscle tissue that does not go away after the first week of the baby’s life. Symptoms of the second - upper and lower limbs straightened, with passive extension there is no resistance. Treatment consists of regular exercises and massage courses.
  • Central nervous system disorder syndrome. It is assumed that this condition occurs in a large number of newborns. The reasons for its appearance lie in adverse influences external conditions on the nervous system during gestation, delivery and in the first days of the baby’s life. At the first signs of illness, treatment should be started immediately using physiotherapeutic methods. Untimely therapy will subsequently result in brain dysfunction.
  • Intracranial pressure. It may be unstable or increase and lead to hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome. Symptoms that should alert a young mother manifest themselves in the form of frequent crying, regurgitation, especially when changing atmospheric pressure, irritability or, conversely, drowsiness, lethargy, and lack of appetite are noted. A pattern of veins appears on the bridge of the nose, temples and skull of the baby, which is visible to the naked eye. By the beginning of the second month of birth, the size of the baby's head may increase.
  • Perinatal cerebral hypoexcitability. It occurs periodically or can be constant, and has varying severity. The baby shows passivity, lethargy, he does not show curiosity, muscle activity is reduced, the main reflexes - swallowing and sucking - are reduced, low physical activity. This type of pathology is typical for premature infants, as well as those who have been exposed to hypoxia or birth trauma.

Any mother needs to know the signs of neurological diseases in children, the list of which is listed above, and at the slightest suspicion, contact qualified help to doctors at a medical facility.

Summing up

The early age of an individual is especially important for the rest of his life, since it is during this period that the basic foundations for successful physical well-being are laid. Timely elimination of disorders or stabilization of conditions associated with pathological neurological problems will help you stay healthy.

Neurology is usually called pathologies of the nervous system, although in reality it is a science that studies them. Pathological phenomena of the nervous system should never be left without the attention of doctors! Neurology in children - especially. Diseases of the nervous system lead to severe consequences, because the most optimistic diagnosis when ignoring the disease is a delay in the development of the speech and psychomotor apparatus. This may be followed by hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder. Such children are on the verge of neuroses, nervous tics and inappropriate behavior.

Symptoms of pathologies of the nervous system

Some signs of neurology in children appear quite eloquently, so sleep disturbances, a shaking chin or arms, legs, frequent regurgitation, tucking up the toes in a standing position should alert parents. These symptoms are a reason to contact a pediatric neurologist. However, neurological symptoms in children may be vague, but if it is difficult for parents to notice them, then an experienced neurologist will be able to draw the right conclusions.

Treatment of pathologies and prognosis

Fortunately, neurology in infants in most cases can be corrected and treated. The doctor must carefully analyze the features of the baby’s lifestyle, starting with monitoring the mother’s pregnancy. If the neurology of premature babies or infants with pathologies has an unclear etymology, then additional research. The child’s parents are offered to conduct an examination of the baby’s fundus, ultrasound, Doppler, and EEG. In extreme cases, an MRI may be required.

In the first months of a baby’s life, the brain develops very actively, its structures mature, as do mental and motor functions. It is for this reason that it is very important to make a diagnosis as early as possible and prescribe effective treatment.

Combination methods are often used as treatment, combining medications, the clinical effectiveness of which has already been proven, and massages, physical therapy, and physiotherapy. In addition, modern neurologists are constantly expanding their arsenal with new methods of neurological rehabilitation: computer speech programs, methods for improving movement coordination, cerebellar stimulation, etc.

In order to be confident in the health of their child, parents should visit a neurologist once every three months until they reach one year of age. Then the inspection is carried out annually.

Sleep problems, decreased muscle tone and frequent crying sometimes indicate problems with the nervous system. The faster the neurology and its cause are identified, the greater the chance of rapid recovery and proper development.

Neurology of children under one year old - reasons

Neurological disorders in children are associated with damage to the brain, spinal cord, cerebellum and peripheral nerves. Improper functioning of the nervous system can be congenital, when the pregnancy was accompanied by complications or the child was born with genetic defects inherent in the beginning embryonic development. Disorders acquired after birth are observed due to malnutrition, after injury and severe allergies.

Most common reasons Cerebral palsy is associated with the prenatal period, these are premature and difficult births, fetal infections, genetic problems. Epilepsy is often the result of injury, infection, tumor formation, or brain damage. Another cause of epilepsy is systemic disorders such as hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, uremic syndrome, chemical poisoning and the result of an increase in body temperature above 39 degrees.

Experts are still looking for an answer to the question of why the same factors act differently on different children - some babies are born healthy, while others have pathologies varying degrees gravity. This is probably due to the characteristics of the small organism and its sensitivity.

Neurological symptoms in children under one year of age are not always a cause for concern. If such signs as crying and insomnia are temporary, then this is a variant of the norm - modern babies often react with capriciousness to changes in weather or an excessive amount of impressions. Tremor (shaking of the hands) disappears after the third month of life, in premature babies after 4-5 months. The size of the fontanel and its closure may deviate slightly from the norm, provided that the growth of the head is correct and there are no other developmental complications.

Startling during sleep is not always a pathology; it is normal for any age, if they are not observed during the entire period of sleep. Trembling during urination is not a reason to visit a doctor in your baby's first year. Increased muscle tone (hypertonicity) in newborns returns to normal at the 5th month of life (maximum permissible period).

When to go to the doctor

A planned visit to a neurologist is required in the first, third, sixth and twelfth months. During the examination, you can voice complaints and ask questions to the specialist. The neurologist will examine the child for the presence of disorders and give recommendations regarding treatment and try to find the causes that caused the disease (if any). Consultation is necessary as soon as possible when observed following symptoms:

  • When crying, the child throws his head back.
  • Congenital ones do not fade away six months after birth.
  • The baby does not respond to bright lights or the noise of a rattle.
  • Does not hold the head after the first thirty days of life.
  • Saliva is produced profusely after feeding.
  • There are difficulties in feeding, the baby cannot swallow food.
  • Increased anxiety, lack of need for sleep.
  • The baby cannot hold the rattle 30 days after birth.
  • Loses consciousness, convulsions or temporary “blackouts” of consciousness are observed (absence seizures).
  • The fontanelle sinks into the head.
  • Cries often and has difficulty falling asleep.
  • Does not imitate the speech of adults after the third month of life.
  • Doesn't like to lie on his stomach ( typical sign children with neurological disorders).
  • Doesn't cry, passive behavior, sleep takes more than 20 hours a day.
  • Difficult to change clothes due to strong muscle tension.
  • The baby constantly arches his body or tilts his head to the side.

If neurology in children under one year of age is not treated contrary to doctor’s recommendations or was not noticed, at an older age this will lead to speech delay, inability to concentrate, learn and control behavior. The most “harmless” result is headaches and emotional instability.

Rehabilitation

If developmental disorders are detected, the neurologist refers for additional examinations and consultation with other specialists, for example, an otolaryngologist and an ophthalmologist, to find out the causes and select correct treatment. Therapeutic methods vary depending on the diagnosis, usually a course of massage and medication is prescribed to restore the functioning of the nervous system.

It is important to begin the course of hearing and vision restoration as early as possible, preferably before the first six months of life. After the first year, treatment no longer gives such positive results, and neurology progresses faster, which leads to disability. In severe cases of disorders of nervous and mental functions, treatment is aimed at improving the current condition.

It is extremely important to observe during treatment proper nutrition baby, if the mother is breastfeeding, it is necessary to choose only natural products, avoiding ready-made meals with the addition of artificial flavors and taste enhancers. Also during breastfeeding You can use additional sources of minerals and vitamins (dietary supplements). Omega-3 supplements have a positive effect on brain development and the nervous system.

In addition to a healthy diet, neurology in children under one year of age requires stimulation of development different ways- for example, reading fairy tales and walking on fresh air, encouraging physical activity. These simple steps have a positive effect on mental abilities and help the body cope with all disorders and the causes of their occurrence.

The appearance of the first signs of one of the neurological diseases can be noted in early infancy
. Regular crying of a baby should be the first signal for parents, prompting them to immediately visit a specialist. Instead, most mothers and fathers prefer to attribute this behavior of the baby to banal capriciousness. But we all know that babies can cry for several reasons: due to improper care and illness.

Neurological diseases can be acquired or congenital. Provocative factors leading to violations are:

  • Injuries
  • Diseases of internal organs
    in the chronic stage.
  • Injuries
    . Traumatic brain injury leads to the development of various neurological disorders.
  • Diseases internal organs in the chronic stage.
  • Hereditary predisposition.
    In this case, the manifestation of disorders begins from an early age: these are tics, epileptic seizures, motor dysfunction, complete or partial loss of sensitivity.
  • Circulatory disorders of cerebral vessels.
    Disorders include dizziness, disorientation, migraine, and
  • Exhaustion of the body due to nervousness.
    Diseases that are caused by this cause differ in psychosomatic symptoms.

It is sometimes difficult even for an experienced specialist to recognize problems in the functioning of a child’s nervous system during a clinical examination. To parents who are far from medicine, such a task will seem completely impossible. But observing the child’s behavior from the very first days of his life is their direct responsibility.

There are four methods of therapy that are successfully used to treat neurological diseases (their list is given above):

    Medicinal or medicinal.
    Includes a wide range of drugs that, in accordance with the instructions for medical use, are used to treat these conditions.

    Physiotherapeutic
    . Includes various physical therapy exercises aimed at different organs and muscles, as well as magnetic and laser therapy, electrophoresis and other types of physiotherapeutic effects.

    Surgical
    . This method is used when the disease progresses and there is a complete lack of effect from other methods of therapy. Surgical interventions are carried out on nerve fibers, spinal cord and brain.

    Non-drug
    . This includes diet therapy, herbal treatment, acupuncture, massage, manual and reflexology, osteopathy.

Disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system can manifest themselves both immediately after birth and after some time. You should be wary if your baby is constantly crying. Children become capricious in two cases: with improper care and the presence of physical or mental disorders. In any case, it is better to show the baby to the pediatrician once again. And he will decide whether consultation and observation of a neurologist is necessary in a particular case or not. Pediatric neurology has the following symptoms:

  • the child’s strong feelings about various things;
  • excessive immersion in the world of fantasy during the game;
  • communication with imaginary friends;
  • constant headaches;
  • nervous tic;
  • lack of appetite;
  • obsessive guards, hysterics, tearfulness;
  • insomnia;
  • neurotic urinary incontinence;
  • in older age, fatigue, spinal disorders, frequent migraines, etc.;
  • in adolescence, a fanatical passion for some extraordinary activity (subculture, religion, etc.).

Childhood neuropathology most often occurs in timid children with low self-esteem and who are under constant strict control of their parents or, conversely, left to their own devices from early childhood. Treatment of abnormalities is usually prescribed by a neurologist for children. The main methods of combating the disease are:

  • drug treatment;
  • physical exercise;
  • diet;
  • various therapies (phyto, magneto, manual, etc.);
  • physiotherapeutic procedures;
  • massotherapy;
  • surgical intervention in complex cases (surgeries on the brain and spinal cord).

Be attentive to your children. To prevent diseases of the nervous system, a child first of all needs a comfortable emotional environment at home. Love and care will help avoid many emotional disorders.

Sleep problems, decreased muscle tone and frequent crying sometimes indicate problems with the nervous system. The faster the neurology and its cause are identified, the greater the chance of rapid recovery and proper development.

Neurological diseases have various causes when they occur. An important component is heredity. Most neurological diseases primarily depend on systemic diseases of the internal organs. The presence of toxins, improper administration, and abuse of medications also cause neurological diseases. Metastatic cancer cells also provoke paraneoplastic and disease-related syndromes.

It is often difficult to identify neurological diseases as a result of the fact that their etiology is still unclear. In such diseases, visible damage to the atoms can be seen, but its source is difficult to determine. After all, it looks more like a condition than a disease. When diagnosing a neurological disease, the main thing is to choose the right research method, because treatment depends on it.

The emerging diseases are similar in manifestations and symptoms. The neurological type of the disease can be determined by the signs that appear in the patient:

  • pain in the limbs;
  • speech defect;
  • headache;
  • sleep disturbance and depressive state;
  • increased anxiety;
  • frequent fainting;
  • disturbance during the period of coordination of movements;
  • accelerated fatigue;
  • impaired memory, attention and vision;
  • amimia;
  • convulsions;
  • sensory disturbance;
  • tremor (either hypersensitivity or its complete absence).

The appearance of even one of these signs indicates that the person should be examined by a neurologist.

A diagnosis can only be made after a thorough examination, which includes several measures, and only your treating neurologist determines their necessity. These include:

  • Electrowave research (EEG or electroneuromyography);
  • Radiation research(X-ray, CT, MRI, nuclear magnetic tomography, radio wave method);
  • Ultrasonography ( Doppler ultrasound vessels of the head or ECG);
  • Laboratory research (biochemical blood test, immunological tests, lumbar puncture).

The modern approach to the treatment of neurological diseases is due to the developed pharmacological industry and improved surgical equipment. In addition, the latest immunomodulatory drugs, stem cells, minimally invasive neurosurgery and stereotactic radiosurgery are used to treat pathologies.

Most people are interested in what signs require contacting a specialist in the field of neurology. Each of us should be wary of the following symptoms:

    limb weakness;

    general lethargy;

    dizziness;

    convulsions;

    periodic loss of consciousness;

    memory and sleep disorders;

    numbness in different parts of the body;

    neurotic disorders;

    deterioration of vision, hearing and smell;

    noise in ears.

Moreover, any traumatic brain injury is a reason to consult a neurologist. All this is for the reason that its consequences often appear after a certain time and complications can be very serious.

Modern medicine resorts to new diagnostic methods. These are electroencephalography, ultrasound, radiography, electroneuromyography, computed tomography of the spinal cord and brain, magnetic resonance imaging, various laboratory methods, duplex scanning of the main arteries of the head.

Treatment methods used in neurology are divided into 4 groups:

    1. Drug-free methods: herbal medicine, diets, acupuncture, alternative medicine methods. Reflexology, therapeutic massage, and manual therapy are also widely used.

    2. Medication methods contain all medications that are used for various diseases of the nervous system.

    3. Physical methods – various sets of exercises for the treatment and prevention of neurological diseases. This includes a complex of physiotherapeutic procedures: magnetic therapy, laser therapy, myostimulation, electrophoresis.

    4. Surgical method It is used when other medications have not had the desired effect and the disease progresses. Specialists perform various operations on the spinal cord, brain, and nerve fibers.

Treatment in each case is selected individually. It may include measures in one or several areas at once: taking medications, psychological assistance, additional procedures.

Drugs

Children are not always treated with drug therapy. The doctor must, based on the diagnostic results, determine the need medicines. If the child really needs them, then the following may be indicated:

  • Sedatives. Most of them are of plant origin, so they do not harm the child’s body. Their effect is to reduce the child’s emotional stress. They also help normalize sleep;
  • Drugs that improve blood circulation in the brain area. Such medications have a beneficial effect on the condition of blood vessels, expanding and providing them with nutrition;
  • Antipsychotic medications. Necessary to rid the child of obsessive fears and increased anxiety;
  • Tranquilizers. They also belong to the group of sedatives, but have a more pronounced effect. Eliminate emotional tension and have a relaxing effect. Sleep, as a rule, becomes deeper and more sound;
  • Calcium-containing complexes. They make up for the lack of this element in the child’s body, which has a positive effect on the state of his nervous system and brain function.

What kind of drug the child needs, and in what dosage, is determined only by the attending physician. Otherwise, the condition may be worsened by side effects from taking medications.

Visit child psychologist forms the basis for the treatment of most nervous disorders in children. At the appointment, the specialist tries to find out from the patient what exactly worries him, scares him or makes him nervous. In this case, the psychologist must establish the most confidential contact with the child. If necessary, work is carried out with parents.

In addition to working with inner world child, it is important to create conditions for his life. He must have a normal daily routine, good sleep at least 8 hours a day, healthy eating, as well as a balanced amount of work and rest.

ethnoscience

All folk remedies aimed at eliminating signs of a nervous disorder in a child involve taking herbal remedies that have a sedative effect. The most popular methods are:

  • Motherwort tincture. Dry herbs are brewed with boiling water and filtered through cheesecloth. Take this remedy 1-2 teaspoon 3 times a day. Not recommended for children under 7 years of age;
  • Valerian tincture. In this case, boiling water is poured over the crushed root of the plant. Drink the strained product 1 teaspoon 3-4 times a day;
  • Chamomile decoction. Dried flowers are brewed with boiling water and then left for 3 hours. Even infants can drink this decoction. If there are neurological disorders, the child is recommended to drink up to 150 ml per day.

What are the consequences of delay?

The NS is comparable to a clock mechanism: if a small part fails, full operation will be disrupted. If a child has a neurological problem, and even in an advanced form, complications may soon appear
. The most optimistic of them is a disruption in the functioning of the psychomotor apparatus.

Reasons for the development of pathology

Neurological disorders in children are associated with damage to the brain, spinal cord, cerebellum and peripheral nerves. Malfunction of the nervous system can be congenital, when the pregnancy was accompanied by complications or the child was born with genetic defects inherent in the beginning of embryonic development. Disorders acquired after birth are observed due to malnutrition, after injury and severe allergies.

The most common causes of cerebral palsy are associated with the prenatal period, these are premature and difficult births, fetal infections, and genetic problems. Epilepsy is often the result of injury, infection, tumor formation, or brain damage. Another cause of epilepsy is systemic disorders such as hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia, uremic syndrome, chemical poisoning and the result of an increase in body temperature above 39 degrees.

Experts are still looking for an answer to the question of why the same factors act differently on different children - some babies are born healthy, while others have pathologies of varying severity. This is probably due to the characteristics of the small organism and its sensitivity.

Neurological symptoms in children under one year of age are not always a cause for concern.
If such signs as crying and insomnia are temporary, then this is a variant of the norm - modern babies often react with capriciousness to changes in weather or an excessive amount of impressions. Tremor (shaking of the hands) disappears after the third month of life, in premature babies after 4-5 months. The size of the fontanel and its closure may deviate slightly from the norm, provided that the growth of the head is correct and there are no other developmental complications.

Startling during sleep is not always a pathology; it is normal for any age, if they are not observed during the entire period of sleep. Trembling during urination is not a reason to visit a doctor in your baby's first year. Increased muscle tone (hypertonicity) in newborns returns to normal at the 5th month of life (maximum permissible period).

List of neurological diseases in people over 60 years of age that are incurable: senile dementia, multiple sclerosis (currently found in the younger generation of citizens), parkinsonism, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive impairment. The cause of their development is considered to be prolonged arterial hypertension, not compensated by drug therapy, failure of metabolic processes and insufficient blood supply to the brain. Below is a partial list of neurological diseases (in the table) associated with memory impairment in older people.

Timely seeking medical help will improve the patient’s quality of life and will allow the progression of the disease to be delayed for some time.

The nervous system of a newborn undergoes the most significant changes during growth.
Children are born with an immature nervous system, and it has yet to form and strengthen. The most intense changes occur during the neonatal period and the first year of life, and therefore it will not be difficult for any neurologist to find certain neurological symptoms in a baby at 2 months or 6 months.

During the period of formation of the functions of the nervous system, not everything goes smoothly, says Evgeny Komarovsky, hence the incomprehensible cry for an incomprehensible reason, spasms and tics, hiccups and regurgitation, which bring so much worry to parents and rich food for the work of doctors.

The brain of a newborn is quite large compared to the body; as the child grows, the proportions change, the structure of the brain becomes more complex, and additional grooves appear.

The most active changes occur in the period from birth to 5 months.

The spinal cord and spine of a baby grow unevenly, and their growth levels off only by the age of 5-6 years. The speed of transmission of nerve impulses in a child’s nervous system is different than that of an adult, and it will only come into line with mother’s and father’s by the age of 6-8 years.

Some reflexes that a newborn has go away over time and by the age of one year there is no trace left of them; they are replaced by permanent reflexes. The sense organs of newborns function from the first minutes after birth, but not in the same way as in adults. For example, a baby begins to see clearly at about 1.5-2 months, and he can hear well already on the third day after birth.

The nervous system is responsible for the perception and analysis of signals outside and inside the body, and is responsible for their subsequent translation, processing and response. In other words, the nervous system plays an important role in the human body, which signals internal problems and external changes.

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Consequences of sleepless nights

The nervous system is divided into:

    central (brain and spinal cord);

    peripheral (nerve fibers and nodes).

Neurological diseases are most often caused by pain. Symptoms that may indicate possible brain damage: facial distortion, headache, dizziness, unsteadiness, difficulty swallowing and speaking, numbness of the limbs, double vision. In some cases, loss of consciousness, convulsions, and weakness in the legs and arms are observed.

Ecological deterioration, the modern pace of life, regular stress, a sedentary lifestyle, intoxication of the body, chronic diseases - these are all factors that cause the development of diseases of the nervous system. The risk of developing diseases increases significantly with age. But, as practice shows, neurological diseases have recently become much younger.

Complications during pregnancy, toxicosis, pathology of the placenta, birth injuries and oxygen starvation can cause disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system and cause complications in the future. In this regard, the number of patients involved in the treatment of the nervous system is constantly growing, and many of them are infants.

The history of the development of neurology in Russia as an independent medicine goes back approximately 150 years. The course of nervous diseases was first highlighted at the medical faculty of Moscow University in July 1835. Before this, diseases of the nervous system were classified as private therapy and pathology. In the period from 1835 to 1841, the course on nervous diseases was taught by Professor G.I. Sokolsky.

His course included the following diseases of the nervous system: meningitis, encephalitis, myelitis, arachnoiditis, neuritis, myelitis, neuralgia and others. Then the professor entrusted the reading of the course to his follower and student V.I. Varavinsky. Mostly teaching was conducted in the form of lectures. Sometimes patients from the therapeutic clinic were demonstrated directly at the lectures.

The first department of nervous diseases was organized at Moscow University in 1869. It was headed by A.Ya. Kozhevnikov, student of V.I. Varavinsky. The base of the clinic was the Novo-Ekaterininskaya Hospital, where twenty beds were allocated for patients suffering from diseases of the nervous systems. Due to insufficient beds, a second department was opened at the Staro-Catherine Hospital, which was headed by V.K.

Neurology has managed to strengthen itself as an independent discipline. Kozhevnikov trained many talented students, together with whom he opened a Moscow school of neuropathologists. He also wrote the first textbook on nervous diseases in Russia (1883). Representatives of the Moscow school were such outstanding neurologists as L.S. Minor, V.A. Muratov, G.I. Rossolimo, O. Darkshevich, E.K. Sepp, M.S. Margulis, A.M. Greenshein, N.V. Konovalov, N.I. Grashchenkov, E.V. Schmidt, N.K. Bogolepov and others.

Simultaneously with the Moscow school, a school of neuropathologists was created in St. Petersburg. Its founder was I.P. Merzheevsky. Representatives of the St. Petersburg school were outstanding neurologists - B.S. Doinikov, L.V. Blumenau, W.M. Bekhterev, M.I. Astvatsaturov, M.P. Zhukovsky, M.P. Nikitin. The first neurological clinic appeared in 1881 at the Medical-Surgical Academy.

Clinics were created at the departments of mental and nervous diseases at the medical faculties of universities in Odessa, Kharkov, Kyiv, Kazan and other cities. There was also a lot of medical, pedagogical and scientific work. But the St. Petersburg and Moscow schools remained leading. The Moscow school primarily focused its scientific research on clinical and morphological areas, while the St. Petersburg school studied biological and physiological ones.

hereditary factor; brain tumors; diseases of internal organs of a chronic nature; low immunity; traumatic brain injuries; infections; reaction to taking medications.

This is not a complete list. According to some data, even the environmental situation and gender.

  • Receiving a birth mechanical injury;
  • fetal hypoxia, as well as insufficient oxygen supply due to possible repeated entanglement in utero;
  • complex process of childbirth and labor;
  • acute toxicosis of pregnant women throughout the entire period;
  • genetic inheritance.

In its current understanding, neurology is a medical branch in which diseases of the nervous system (central and peripheral) are described and studied. Diagnosis of neurological diseases is difficult even for a highly qualified specialist. But thanks to the use of the latest medical technology, the possibilities for finding a reliable diagnosis are expanding.

Modern center, who deals with neurology, has the latest equipment. They provide truthful information about diseases of the spinal cord and brain, congenital pathologies spinal column and so on. Based on the acquired information, the neurologist makes a conclusion about the patient’s basic condition and the necessary treatment methods. People with various neurological symptoms come to such medical centers.

Full list diseases are not based on the nervous system, as the popular saying goes, “all diseases come from the nerves,” however, during the development of diseases, the nervous system is involved, which can change or delay the picture of morbidity. Therefore, before doctors make a diagnosis, they first refer sick people to a neurologist for consultation.

Even before our era, the first sources on diseases of the nervous system were found. This was approximately 3 thousand years BC. Sensory disturbances and paralysis were found in patients. IN ancient book of India's Ayur-Veda, fainting, seizures and headaches were reported. The chronicles of Razi, Hippocrates and Ibn Sina present clinical descriptions various neurological diseases, methods, as well as diagnosis of their treatment. Already at that time, the human condition was characterized as a brain disease, including migraine and epilepsy.

If the central nervous system is healthy, then other organs are functioning properly. When the slightest malfunction occurs in the body, various complications and diseases arise. Because the treatment of neurological diseases is a very long and complex process, it is more important to keep it healthy than to treat it. To do this, professionals advise using basic recommendations that will help every person maintain their health.

The main factor for a healthy central nervous system in the human body is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This definition includes:

  • compliance correct mode;
  • healthy eating;
  • long walks in the fresh air;
  • good physical activity;
  • giving up bad habits such as smoking or drinking alcohol.

As a result of the fact that neurological diseases are complications of infectious diseases, it is necessary to use preventive methods that prevent such symptoms. Timely vaccination is one of the methods for the prevention of infectious diseases.

They are divided into two types:

  • Extrapyramidal;
  • Pyramid.

The extrapyramidal system is responsible for muscle tension, involuntary movements, posture and balance.

The pyramidal system - relates to the coordination of movements, reduces muscle reflexes and their tone. Sometimes neurological diseases can affect the external functions of the brain, affect memory, and lead to speech and perception disorders.

In medical practice, the most common neurological pathologies are:

  • Encephalopathy;
  • Hiccups;
  • Amnesia;
  • Epilepsy;
  • Neuralgia;
  • Dystonia;
  • Migraine;
  • Down syndrome;
  • Hydrocephalus;
  • Intercostal neuralgia;
  • Alzheimer's disease;
  • Parkinson's disease;
  • Dementia;
  • Dysarthria;
  • Chorea;
  • Neuritis;
  • Enuresis;
  • Dysgraphia;
  • Polyneuropathy;
  • Myositis;
  • Dizziness;
  • Headache.

Neurology – section clinical medicine, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the nervous system. Traditionally, the central (brain and spinal cord) and peripheral nervous systems (spinal roots, peripheral nerves, neuromuscular junctions) are distinguished. Nervous diseases may be acquired or hereditary.

The nervous system controls our movements, sensations, and behavior. Clinical manifestations depend on the location (localization) and extent of the lesion. Peripheral nerves carry impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the muscles of the head, neck, trunk and limbs (movement). In the opposite direction (from skin receptors, joints, etc.

) impulses are transmitted to the spinal cord, which carry information about the effects of external stimuli, body position and limbs (sensitivity). The spinal cord not only ensures that impulses are carried further to the brain, it contains centers that control involuntary functions - for example, blood pressure, temperature, complex motor automatisms, and the functions of the pelvic organs.

The brain stem contains centers that are responsible for vital respiratory and cardiac functions, and cranial nerves depart from the brain stem, which innervate the surface and muscles of the face, head, oculomotor muscles etc. Finally, the cerebral cortex provides sensations themselves, voluntary control of movements, and, of course, higher mental functions - speech, visual image recognition, memory, etc. Thus, a neurologist in his practice is faced with a huge variety individual symptoms and their combinations.

The maturation of the nervous system continues after the birth of a child. Therefore, the same damaging factors can lead to different clinical manifestations in young children and adults. In addition, a number of diseases occur exclusively or predominantly in infancy or childhood. A separate section was separated from general neurology - child neurology, which requires special training of a specialist.

Diseases of the nervous system can develop as a result various reasons– injuries, vascular lesions, tumors, various degenerative lesions, consequences of infections, intrauterine lesions, complicated childbirth, etc. Many nervous diseases are hereditary. The rapid accumulation of new knowledge over the past decades has led to the identification of separate subspecialties within neurology - for example, neonatal neurology, epileptology, angioneurology, vertebroneurology, neuromuscular diseases, etc.

An example of common neurological disorders:

  • Brain and spinal cord - stroke, epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease.
  • Spine - disc herniation, spondylosis.
  • Peripheral nerves - peripheral mono- and polyneuropathies, traumatic injuries.
  • Muscles - myopathies, muscular dystrophies.

In the diagnosis of neurological diseases, neurophysiological methods are used - electroencephalography (EEG), electromyography (EMG), evoked potentials, transcranial magnetic stimulation; ultrasound diagnostics– duplex scanning of blood vessels and transcranial Dopplerography, neurosonography;

As you know, diseases of the nervous system are very diverse. They are based on:

    various inflammations of a non-infectious and infectious nature that occur in the spinal cord and brain, as well as in nerve fibers;

    disruption to normal operation nerve cells, namely neurons and connections between them.

In most cases, people turn to a neurologist with complaints of migraine. This disease is characterized by sudden attacks of headaches that are one-sided. Residents of megacities constantly face this problem.

An equally common problem is diseases of the autonomic nervous system. As a rule, they manifest themselves in the form of pain in the left chest, surges in blood pressure, dizziness, chronic fatigue, fear and anxiety. Almost half of the population of our planet complains about such phenomena.

Moreover, a neurologist specializes in the treatment of osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernias, vegetative-vascular dystonia and radiculitis; concussions, pinched nerves. Even those who suffer from cerebrovascular insufficiency, epilepsy, memory disorders, strokes, polyneuropathies and neuritis can turn to such a specialist.

Another area of ​​activity of this specialist is encephalitis of various origins, complications of osteochondrosis, neoplasms in the brain and other parts of the nervous system.

People also consult a neurologist about degenerative conditions of the nervous system, such as Alzheimer's disease, senile dementia, and Parkinson's disease.

Many people mistakenly believe that a neurologist treats various mental disorders. For correcting deviations in plan mental state The psychiatrist answers. But quite often neurological diseases are accompanied by symptoms of mental disorders. In this case, two specialists take on the treatment of the patient.

Treatment of various diseases of the nervous system requires an integrated approach and often takes a lot of time. It must be remembered that the disease is easier to overcome in the early stages. Therefore, be as attentive as possible to the state of your body and, at the first alarming signs, contact a specialist.

Therefore, in order to prevent the development of neurological diseases, you need to maintain a healthy lifestyle, eliminating bad habits. Moderate physical activity and systematic sports contribute to the normal functioning of blood vessels, nerves and the body as a whole. Proper nutrition is also an important factor.

  • Overly active behavior, namely constant movements of both arms and legs, lack of perseverance.
  • Quick distraction to the presence of any irritants.
  • Inability to play alone.
  • He talks incessantly, interrupts adults, and does not hear others when they ask him questions.
  • Moves from one task to another without completing the first.
  • Losing things in kindergarten, school, absent-mindedness.
  • constant fatigue;
  • disorientation;
  • sleep problems;
  • memory impairment;
  • weakening of attention;
  • failure in muscle activity;
  • formation of spots in the vision area;
  • hallucinations;
  • dizziness;
  • confusion;
  • tremor;
  • pain that occurs suddenly and affects different parts of the body;
  • panic attacks;
  • feeling of numbness in the lower and upper extremities;
  • paresis or paralysis.
  • psychological trauma;
  • chronic stress;
  • uncomfortable and aggressive environment in which the child is located;
  • uncontrolled physical and mental stress;
  • inability to cope with strong emotions (fear, resentment).
  • Hypertonicity and hypotonicity.
    A sign of the first is considered to be tension in the muscle tissue that does not go away after the first week of the baby’s life. Symptoms of the second - the upper and lower limbs are straightened, with passive extension there is no resistance. Treatment consists of regular exercises and massage courses.
  • Central nervous system disorder syndrome.
    It is assumed that this condition occurs in a large number of newborns. The reasons for its appearance lie in the adverse effects of external conditions on the nervous system during gestation, delivery and in the first days of the baby’s life. At the first signs of illness, treatment should be started immediately using physiotherapeutic methods. Untimely therapy will subsequently result in brain dysfunction.
  • Intracranial pressure.
    It may be unstable or increase and lead to hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome. Symptoms that should alert a young mother manifest themselves in the form of frequent crying, regurgitation, especially when the atmospheric pressure changes, irritability or, conversely, drowsiness, lethargy, and lack of appetite. A pattern of veins appears on the bridge of the nose, temples and skull of the baby, which is visible to the naked eye. By the beginning of the second month of birth, the size of the baby's head may increase.
  • Perinatal cerebral hypoexcitability.
    It occurs periodically or can be constant, and has varying severity. The baby shows passivity, lethargy, he does not show curiosity, muscle activity is reduced, the main reflexes - swallowing and sucking - are reduced, low motor activity. This type of pathology is typical for premature infants, as well as those who have been exposed to hypoxia or birth trauma.
  1. Excessively heavy loads on the child’s body.
  2. A feeling of constant fear caused by the behavior of parents, as well as their pressure.
  3. Adaptation period at school.

Risk group

Doctors identify a group of children who are more susceptible to neurological disorders than others. First of all, these are children with too low
or, on the contrary, inflated self-esteem
. Even at a very early age, it is difficult for them to develop normally in society, which is why they become withdrawn. This group also includes children with signs of individualism, anxiety and touchiness.
. Often, neurological diseases overtake children with a high degree of suggestibility and too timid
.

Unwanted children can also be considered a risk group.

Rehabilitation

If developmental disorders are detected, the neurologist will refer you for additional examinations and consultation with other specialists, such as an otolaryngologist and an ophthalmologist, to find out the causes and select the right treatment. Therapeutic methods vary depending on the diagnosis; usually, a course of massage and medication is prescribed to restore the functioning of the nervous system.

It is important to begin the course of hearing and vision restoration as early as possible, preferably before the first six months of life. After the first year, treatment no longer gives such positive results, and neurology progresses faster, which leads to disability. In severe cases of disorders of nervous and mental functions, treatment is aimed at improving the current condition.

It is extremely important during treatment to maintain proper nutrition for the child; if the mother is breastfeeding, it is necessary to choose only natural products, avoiding ready-made meals with the addition of artificial flavors and taste enhancers. Also, during breastfeeding, you can use additional sources of minerals and vitamins (dietary supplements). Omega-3 supplements have a positive effect on brain development and the nervous system.

In addition to a healthy diet, neurology in children under one year old requires stimulation of development in various ways - for example, reading fairy tales and walks in the fresh air, encouraging physical activity. These simple steps have a positive effect on mental abilities and help the body cope with all disorders and the causes of their occurrence.

The most common pathologies of the central nervous system in children under one year of age include the so-called perinatal encephalopathy. A pediatric neurologist (neurologist) is involved in identifying abnormalities and pathologies of the child’s nervous system.
. The development of perinatal encephalopathy in an infant can be provoked by entanglement of the fetal neck with the umbilical cord during pregnancy, premature placental stratum, prolonged or premature labor, and general anesthesia during childbirth.

Various pathologies of the child’s central and peripheral nervous system must be taken seriously. By promptly contacting a pediatric neurologist
at the slightest sign of a disorder of the nervous system in a child, severe developmental consequences can be avoided. If a pediatric neurologist
does not diagnose in a timely manner and does not prescribe a course of treatment for a child with certain disorders of the nervous system, then inaction can lead, at a minimum, to a delay in the speech and psychomotor apparatus.

Pediatric neurologist
must necessarily examine the child when the first signs of pathology of the nervous system appear, which include the following symptoms (may appear immediately after birth or several months later): 1. Hands and chin shake violently at the slightest excitement, crying and even sometimes in a calm state; 2.

As noted by pediatric neurologists
,severe lesions of the nervous system are easily diagnosed and are much less common than mild lesions (especially in the first year after the birth of the child). Minor pathologies of the nervous system are much more difficult to diagnose, but early detection disorders of the central or peripheral nervous system and the subsequent complex of treatment allow you to avoid dangerous consequences perinatal brain damage to the child. It is extremely important that within the first few weeks after birth, the child is examined by a specialist - a pediatric neurologist.
.

According to recent statistics, more than 50% of childhood disability is associated with pathologies of the nervous system, 70% of which appear during pregnancy and in the first month after the birth of the child (perinatal period). Pathologies of the nervous system during the perinatal period cause the development of perinatal encephalopathy, minimal brain dysfunction syndrome (lately referred to as ADHD).

Untimely treatment of these nervous system disorders can lead to excessive irritability, impulsiveness of the child, and poor performance at school. Later, lesions of the central and peripheral nervous system can lead to various diseases musculoskeletal system, motor awkwardness, severe headaches, syndrome autonomic dysfunction.

During examination, pediatric neurologist
collects the developmental characteristics and illnesses of the child from the moment of birth. The specialist also analyzes information about how the last weeks of pregnancy proceeded, how the birth went, and what diseases the mother suffered in the last month of pregnancy. If any signs and symptoms of a nervous system disorder are detected in a child, the pediatric neurologist prescribes additional tests - ultrasound (USG), fundus examination, EEG, ultrasound doppler (Doppler), brainstem auditory evoked potentials, MRI (in rare cases). After analyzing the research results, the neurologist prescribes and monitors specific treatment.

In the first month of a child’s life, intensive maturation and development of brain structures, mental and motor functions occur. The sooner a pathology of the nervous system is identified and an appropriate course of treatment is prescribed, the higher the likelihood of avoiding dangerous consequences for the child’s health. Today in the arsenal of a pediatric neurologist
There are many different methods for treating both severe and mild pathologies of the nervous system.

Many modern medical centers are equipped with the latest equipment for diagnosing diseases of the nervous system, developing and using effective techniques manual and emotional therapy to avoid, if possible, the use of chemotherapy drugs that have side effects. Here are some of the techniques that they know chiropractors and pediatric osteopaths for the treatment of pathologies of the nervous system in children: 1.

Visceral manual therapy. Restoration of mobility and normal functioning of organs.2. Vertebroneurology (soft technique of pediatric manual therapy). This technique is based on working with ligaments and muscles at a slow pace with stretching of spasmodic, tense areas.3. Craniosacral therapy.

Normalization, alignment of the work of the bones of the child’s skull. When the movement of the bones of the skull is displaced or disrupted, the movement of brain fluid and blood flow are disrupted and, as a result, brain function worsens and increases intracranial pressure, the ventricles of the brain expand (edema of the brain), headaches intensify.

This technique is very relevant for young children.4. Emotional techniques. Very relevant for behavioral disorders and various neuroses in children. Emotional techniques are associated with the impact on channel-meridian and stress points, with the emotional state.5. Working with muscles to relax them.

Pediatric neurologist
also deals with the diagnosis and treatment of traumatic and infectious lesions of the nervous system, tumors, cerebral palsy, diseases of the autonomic nervous system, convulsive conditions (for example, epilepsy in children), chromosomal and hereditary diseases nervous system adjacent to nervous diseases(endocrinological, orthopedic, psychiatric diseases).

At an older age, see a pediatric neurologist
should be contacted if the following symptoms occur: 1. Frequent headache2. Piercing pain in the back3. Memory and attention problems4. Disorders of the spine's functions different levels 5. Decreased concentration6. Panic attacks7. Delayed rate of speech development, writing, sound pronunciation8. Diseases of peripheral nerves (neuropathy, neuralgia)9. Fast fatiguability

Routine examination of the child by a pediatric neurologist
: At three months At six months At nine months At 1 year After a year - a mandatory annual examination by a neurologist
.

The following childhood neurological lesions are distinguished: 1. As a consequence of toxic disorders2. Hereditary, genetic3. Infectious4. Hypoxic lesions 5. As a result of traumatic lesions6. Epilepsy (post-traumatic and hereditary)7. Specific syndromes (including combinations of the above-mentioned lesions of the nervous system)

The list of neurological diseases is quite wide and does not depend on age and gender; these diseases are recognized as the most common. Functional disorders with this type of pathology can form anywhere in the body.

A little about headaches

Chronic malaise, as headache is commonly called, occupies one of the leading places in terms of prevalence among children. In many cases, it is considered a symptom indicating a number of diseases - from common ophthalmological to brain tumors. Having a persistent headache ̶ alarm signal, which may indicate big problems and neurological abnormalities developing in the child
.

Encephalitis, meningitis

They are diagnosed when the brain is damaged and are included in the list of neurological diseases for determining disability. The soft membranes of the brain are exposed to harmful agents of a bacterial or viral nature.

Unfortunately, no one can be immune from these diseases. Such diagnoses are also made for newborns, and the cause in this case is an infection suffered during pregnancy. The danger of brain damage lies in complications: progressive dementia and conditions leading to disability. Delayed treatment can lead to cerebral edema and death.

Types of research

If necessary, the neurologist will refer the patient for additional examinations:

  • Magnetic resonance imaging is prescribed for disturbances of consciousness, hallucinations, and pain;
  • Dopplerography is indicated for migraines and dizziness;
  • electroneuromyography - for paralysis or paresis, as well as sudden pain.
  • computed tomography helps determine the location and nature of the pathology;
  • ultrasound examination of various organs depending on the patient’s complaints;
  • positron emission tomography, which is used to diagnose injuries and consequences of diseases;
  • echoencephalography is used to identify brain pathologies;
  • neurosonography is used to study the brain of newborns;
  • Craniography reveals bone fractures in the skull and birth defects.

The specific type of examination to be prescribed is determined by the attending physician, depending on the presence of symptoms. Treatment of neurological diseases and their prevention is his prerogative. Making decisions on your own about treatment or undergoing research is not recommended.

Children's neurological diseases: list and description

  • Enuresis or urinary incontinence.
    Very common in young boys and manifests itself in decreased control at night. Child neurologists call the reasons for this condition: family quarrels, stress, constant punishment of the child.
  • Various neuroses,
    which occupy a leading place among all neurological disorders: fear of heights, darkness, loneliness and others;
  • stuttering. Most often found in boys. The reason is a strong shock in the form of fright or trauma, i.e. something that the child could not cope with on his own and there was a failure in the speech process.
  • Tiki
    . There are motor types, they are expressed in twitching, blinking or shrugging; vocal - grunting, coughing; ritual - all actions performed in a certain sequence are repeated; generalized, which combine several types. The cause of tics lies in attention, as well as excessive care and stress.
  • Neurotic sleep disorders.
    The prerequisites for the development of this condition are considered to be regular overwork in additional sections, at school and chronic stress.
  • Headache.
    The presence of this symptom indicates the presence of a pathological process of a neurological nature in the child’s body.
  • Attention deficit disorder.
    It especially often manifests itself during school and can then continue into adulthood. Manifestations of the syndrome are anxiety, aggressiveness, negativism, and emotional lability.

The list and description of neurological diseases in childhood can be continued endlessly. In order to effectively treat pathologies of the nervous system, you should seek medical help in a timely manner. Partially helping to avoid these violations is finding a common language with the child, support and faith in his own strengths, leniency and patience, and a psychologically favorable climate in the family.

Summing up

The early age of an individual is especially important for the rest of his life, since it is during this period that the basic foundations for successful physical well-being are laid. Timely elimination of disorders or stabilization of conditions associated with pathological neurological problems will help you stay healthy.

Pediatric neurology
is a relatively young branch of medicine that originated at the intersection of two areas: neuropathology and pediatrics. However, it has become very important in the field of clinical disciplines.

This area is one of the most complex in medicine. It is in childhood that developmental deviations and various pathologies that affect the development of neuropsychic activity can begin to appear.

Of course, the work of a neurologist
in this area is incredibly responsible, because the child’s future life, his social adaptation, physical and mental health depend on his decision.

In this article we will look at some of the most frequent illnesses, as well as their diagnosis and treatment methods. Let us designate the most common neurological diseases in children.

TBI and back injuries

Traumatic brain injuries include compression, concussion, or contusion of the brain. As a consequence of TBI, a child may develop asthenic syndrome, characterized by fatigue, irritability, isolation and self-doubt. Also, the patient often develops vegetative dystonia syndrome, which includes arterial hypertension, sinus tachycardia, bradycardia, hypotension and impaired thermoregulation.

Spinal cord injuries are divided into contusion and compression. With a bruise, persistent neurological disorders such as paralysis, anesthesia and various pelvic disorders can be observed. Another serious consequence of injury is impaired urination.

Microcephaly

This disease is characterized by a significant reduction in the skull, which affects the size of the brain. As a result, the child may experience mental deficiency to one degree or another. The disease may be congenital, or it may appear in the first years of a child’s life. This is a fairly serious defect that affects the functioning of the brain and central nervous system. In some cases, microcephaly can lead to mental retardation.

Also, with this disease, in addition to mental retardation, defects in speech and motor skills may appear, caused by muscle spasms or paralysis.

Microcephaly

Hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome

Manifestations of this neurological syndrome in children consist of manifestations motor restlessness, emotional instability and sleep disorders. Upon examination, an increase in congenital reflexes, an increase in reflex excitability, pathological movements and a decrease in the threshold of convulsive readiness can be detected.

This syndrome occurs in children with birth injuries, unfavorable course of the intrauterine period, genetic abnormalities, hereditary enzyme disorders and others. The syndrome is not accompanied by a delay in mental development, the deviations are well within the framework of physiological fluctuations.

In the future, as the child grows, there may be disturbances of attention, inhibition and short temper, emotionality, and spasmodic development of cognitive functions. Children with this syndrome have vivid motor, emotional and sensory responses to external stimuli, but they quickly become depleted.

This syndrome is based on an increase in intracranial pressure with expansion of the cerebrospinal fluid spaces of the skull as a result of excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in them. The syndrome has the right to exist only in the presence of clinical manifestations; ultrasound data on ventricular dilatation alone is not enough.

Increased intracranial pressure may manifest as hydrocephalus with increased head growth and bulging of the fontanel. There is a disproportion between the cerebral and facial skulls.

Clinical manifestations of ICP:

  • "brain" scream;
  • eye rolling;
  • vomiting and severe regurgitation;
  • mental development disorder.

This syndrome accompanies many neurological and somatic diseases of the child and indicates damage to brain tissue with irritation of special areas of the brain. Depending on age, it manifests itself as local or generalized convulsions of the facial muscles, eyes, and limbs.

Convulsions can be tonic or clonic, moving from one part of the body to another, or affecting the entire body. Accompanied by biting the tongue or breathing problems, passing urine and stool. There may be local convulsions such as grimacing, smacking or chewing.

This syndrome is based on rapid neuropsychic exhaustion as a result of exposure to strong stimuli - physical or psychological (stress, emotions, stress, illness).

In this case, there is a violation of active attention, emotional instability, disturbances in the process of gaming activity and manipulation of objects, the predominance of hyperactivity or, conversely, physical inactivity.

Depending on the load, it may appear varying degrees exhaustion nervous processes at different times of the year or at different types loads.

The manifestations of symptoms intensify towards the end of the day, children are weather dependent, and the manifestations are aggravated by colds or chronic diseases. Possible delay psychomotor development, especially with hypoexcitability and apathy.

Nervous disorders in children in the modern world are occurring more and more often. It's connected with various factors: the heavy workload that children receive in educational institutions, insufficient communication with parents who are busy at work, the high standards that society sets. It is important to recognize warning signs in time and begin working with the child. Otherwise, it can lead to serious mental problems in the future.

Nervous diseases can appear at any age, but increased risk falls during periods of age-related crises:

  • 3-4 years;
  • 6-7 years;
  • 13-18 years old.

IN younger age a child cannot always tell what is bothering him. During this period, parents should be alert to such uncharacteristic signs as:

  • Frequent whims and irritability;
  • Fast fatiguability;
  • Increased emotionality and vulnerability;
  • Stubbornness and protests;
  • Feeling of constant tension and discomfort;
  • Closedness.

The child may begin to experience difficulties with speech, even if up to this time he had good lexicon. He may also begin to show interest in one particular area: playing with only one toy, reading only one book, drawing the same shapes. Moreover, his games become a real reality for him, so parents can notice how passionate the child is at this time.

When a child attends school, he or she may additionally exhibit signs such as:

  • Decreased appetite;
  • Sleep disturbance;
  • Dizziness;
  • Frequent overwork.

It is difficult for a child to concentrate and perform mental activity to the fullest.

Symptoms of nervous disorders in adolescent children are the most severe. An unstable psyche during this period leads to the fact that they may experience:

  • Impulsiveness. Even little things can make them angry;
  • Feeling of constant anxiety and fear;
  • Fear of surrounding people;
  • Self-hatred. Teenagers often experience dislike for their own appearance;
  • Frequent insomnia;
  • Hallucinations.

Physiological manifestations may include severe headaches, abnormal blood pressure, signs of asthma, etc. The worst thing is that in the absence timely treatment, a disturbed psyche can cause suicidal thoughts.

Age-related neurological pathologies

Neurosis in a child, as in an adult, is divided into several types depending on the symptoms present. Nervous system disorders in children can take the following forms:

  • Nervous tic. It occurs quite often and is expressed in the form of involuntary movements of parts of the body: cheeks, eyelids, shoulders, hands. The child cannot control them, however, they arise during periods of his exciting or tense state. The nervous tic disappears when the child is very passionate about something;
  • Stuttering. A young patient begins to experience difficulty speaking due to spasms of the muscles responsible for this activity. Stuttering is especially intensified during periods of excitement or in the presence of an external stimulus;
  • Asthenic neurosis. The cause of this type of disease is the large amount of stress that falls on the child’s psyche. As a result, he may suffer from frequent and sudden mood swings, increased irritability and moodiness, lack of appetite and feelings of nausea;
  • Obsessive neurosis. It can be expressed both in constantly arising thoughts of an alarming or frightening nature, and in frequently repeated movements. The child can rock, turn his head, move his arms, and scratch his head.
  • Anxiety neurosis. Children are just learning about the world around them, so some things can frighten them, sometimes developing a real phobia in them. Most often, fears lie in the dark, loud noises, heights, strangers;
  • Sleep neurosis. The child has difficulty falling asleep and often suffers from nightmares. All this leads to the fact that the baby does not get enough sleep and constantly feels tired;
  • Hysteria. It occurs against the background of some emotional experience. The child cannot cope with his feelings and tries to attract the attention of others by crying loudly, lying on the floor, throwing objects;
  • Enuresis. In this case, neurosis is expressed in urinary incontinence. But it is important to take into account that this phenomenon before the child reaches 4-5 years of age may not be informative in the diagnosis of mental disorders;
  • Eating behavior. Children often express increased food selectivity. But if this sign appears unexpectedly, then you should pay attention to it. Perhaps it was preceded by a disturbance in the child’s psyche. Excessive food consumption may also indicate more than just risk excess weight, but also about the presence of neurosis;
  • Nervous allergies. It is characterized by the fact that it is very difficult to determine the source of the body's reaction.

Depending on the child’s condition, he may experience signs of several types of neurosis at once, for example, sleep disturbances and obsessive thoughts.

Prevention

Prevention of nervous disorders is important not only for children who have already encountered this problem. Every parent should be aware that the child’s psyche is not as formed as that of an adult, and therefore is susceptible to various destabilizing factors.

In order to prevent the occurrence of neurological disorders in a child, it is important to observe the following measures:

  • Listen to his emotions. It is important not to miss the moment when he needs support or simple attention;
  • Assess the child's emotional potential. A lot of attention is not always the best solution. Children should also have their own personal space;
  • Talk to him. Don't be afraid to tell your child about your feelings and thoughts. And, of course, it is important to teach him to give feedback;
  • Build trust. The child should know that parents are always ready to listen to him and accept him, even if he has made a mistake;
  • Create conditions for unlocking its potential. If a child has a craving for drawing, then you should not prohibit him from doing this activity, citing the fact that, for example, sports are a more interesting activity.

In general, parents simply must learn to love and understand their child, and it does not matter how old he is, 1 year old or 18. If this is difficult to do on your own, then you can seek help from psychological books, seminars, or directly from specialists in this field.

Causes of neurological diseases and their symptoms

The main problem of pediatric neurology is perinatal lesions of the nervous system. The perinatal period begins at 22 weeks of gestation and ends 7 days after birth. During this very important period for mother and fetus, a variety of factors can influence it.

Last month before childbirth and health are very dependent on external factors: late toxicosis; nicotine; taking drugs; stress; infections - all this is a lot for the body of the unborn baby, this harmful factors. For example, even minor stress in the mother during pregnancy leads to an oversaturation of the child’s bones with calcium.

As labor approaches, the bones of the fetus harden; The result is a painful birth for the mother and difficulty for the baby as it passes through the birth canal. It is also undeniable that today the number of stresses in a person’s life is growing exponentially.

The functioning of the nervous system can be disrupted even in the prenatal period. Therefore, a neurologist examines the child in the first weeks of life and immediately after birth.

If the mother’s birth was pathological and the child was born in asphyxia, forceps were applied and other obstetric manipulations were performed, this will definitely affect the nervous system. Many researchers in the West consider current childbirth to be non-physiological.

The only neurologist who studied newborns during the perinatal period spoke about this in the book - A.Yu. Ratner Neurology of Newborns. This monograph describes the injuries that become inevitable for the baby during obstetric manipulations.

Also A.Yu. Ratner, all neurologists, osteopaths and massage therapists insist that during childbirth the most vulnerable place in the fetus is the neck and shoulder girdle. They are under maximum stress. This is the border between the spinal cord and the brain.

Here are the structures that orient a person in space; are responsible for biorhythms, breathing, and providing the body with energy. They are laid later than everyone else and continue to mature in the perinatal up to 3 years. They are called block I of the brain.

This is why it is so important to treat pathology of the nervous system in the first year of life. If the baby's neck is injured, this will manifest itself muscle spasms in the neck area; the neck will be recessed into the shoulders.

Such babies do not like to lie on their stomach - it hurts; It’s hard for them to hold their head up, it falls and sticks its nose down. This happens because when you raise your head, your neck and shoulders reflexively tense.

Such babies often have sleep disturbances; rickets occurs more often. At an older age, they will suffer from headaches because the spasticity of the muscles in that area will persist.

Vessels feeding the brain pass through 1 block and this will also be reflected on it. This clearly demonstrates how great importance is attached to neurological disorders in the first 3 years of life, with an emphasis on the first year. Detachment of the child's place, the speed of labor in any direction, and anesthesia during childbirth also have a negative effect.

Children with retardation may lag behind in society, basic skills, be inadequate, emotionally unstable, etc. According to statistics, in 50% of cases a child is given a disability due to neurological diseases.

Moreover, 70% of diagnoses are related to the condition of a pregnant woman at 34-36 weeks and the health of the baby during the newborn period.

This is possible because it is in the first months of a newborn’s life that the brain actively develops and matures, it has more opportunities to adapt, and therefore the treatment will be most noticeably effective. If time is lost, one can only talk about meager rehabilitation opportunities. In other words, everything is fine on time.

  1. When crying, the baby's chin trembles and his arms shake; sometimes this can be observed at rest.
  2. The child is easily excitable.
  3. The child does not fall asleep well, his sleep is superficial and he easily wakes up from the influence of external factors, for example, from the sound of a voice; is constantly capricious. Parents of such children should not try to create at home ideal ways to improve sleep, such as curtained windows, darkening, complete silence, whispering conversations - this is not the answer. All this will aggravate the situation and delay diagnosis.
  4. Abundant and frequent regurgitation in infants, even with a small amount of food.
  5. The appearance of seizures in a child even at low temperatures.
  6. Placed on piles of support, the baby curls his toes or stands on tiptoes, like a ballerina.
  7. Older children may experience: frequent headaches, which can be prolonged.
  8. Fainting states.
  9. Pain and shooting in the back.
  10. Disturbances in performing normal movements at different levels of the spinal column.
  11. Absent-mindedness, inability to attract attention, memory impairment.
  12. Apathy, lethargy, fatigue, no interest in the environment.
  13. Doesn't have contact with peers.
  14. Bad dream.
  15. Panic attacks against the background of complete well-being.
  16. Neuralgia and signs of peripheral nerve damage.
  17. Spontaneous twitching of various muscles.
  18. Enuresis in children 5-6 years old.
  19. Hyperactivity.
  20. Delayed speech, mastering writing, decreased intelligence.

Preventive examinations:

  1. In children under one year of age, examination every 3 months; if there are violations monthly.
  2. Then examination in the pre-school period - 4 - 5 years.
  3. In the primary school period - 7 years;
  4. 13-14 years - puberty.

All medical examinations are necessary for the early detection of pathologies in order not to lead them to a serious condition. Also, early detection of psychomotor deficiency and mental retardation is possible.

Therefore, most of the neurological diagnoses made to children by neurologists in the clinic during the next routine examination have little in common with real diseases.

The worst thing is if the doctor prescribes medications to the child to eliminate neurological symptoms, which by and large exist only on paper.

Komarovsky considers drug treatment to be effective only for children in the first month of life, if they actually have serious problems during childbirth. Then even they are only shown massage and physiotherapy.

Diagnostic measures

Diagnostic methods for suspicious symptoms include:

  • Ultrasound with Dopplerography of cerebral vessels;
  • fundus examination;
  • MRI (in extreme cases).

During admission, the following must be checked:

  • visual reflexes;
  • muscle tone and strength;
  • conditioned and unconditioned reflexes;
  • sensitivity and its loss are determined;
  • coordination in space;
  • cognitive cognitive functions.

TO additional methods studies include assessment of hearing, brain stem, and speech apparatus. Since many problems are often of a polyetiological nature, treatment is carried out together with other specialists.

Neurological problems

- a diagnosis that Russian clinics love to give to children.
Then, when it really is, the child needs urgent hospitalization, and not home treatment with pills, says Komarovsky. If a child is cheerful, alert, active, and sociable, there is no need to treat intracranial pressure, since with a high degree of probability there is none at all.

The most common complaint with which parents turn to a pediatric neurologist is the child’s pain.

In most cases, this is where the search for a disease begins, which will most likely be found.

Very active children are considered sick, they are immediately diagnosed with “hyperactivity”, calm and slow children are also considered unhealthy, they are labeled “inhibited”, they try to explain them as neurological problems. bad dream and appetite. There is no need to do this, says Evgeny Komarovsky, since real neurological diseases are rare, and they sound menacing; probiotics and gymnastics do not treat them.

These include epilepsy, cerebral palsy, neuroses of varying severity, Parkinson's disease, encephalopathy, pathological involuntary nervous tics and other conditions, many of which are congenital.

There is no need to compare your child with other children and the theoretical norms for the development of children.
Your child is a personality that develops in accordance with its internal “settings”; they are purely individual.

A pediatric neurologist is a very important specialist who monitors the central and peripheral nervous system of a child, from birth to 18 years of age. What does a pediatric neurologist treat and what does a pediatric neurologist do? The primary task of this specialist is periodic observations of the stages of formation and development of the nervous system of a small patient, during which many progressive pathologies can be prevented.

Today, there are many different diseases of the nervous system that differ from each other, which are classified according to a certain order. Let's list the main lesions of the nervous system and answer the question - what does a pediatric neurologist treat.

  • Pathology associated with infection caused by exposure to harmful viruses and bacteria. A newborn baby is most susceptible to such infectious disease due to insufficiently developed immunity. That is why doctors do not recommend that parents visit crowded establishments with a small child.
  • Epilepsy. It can be formed either as a result of injury or congenitally. Consultation and treatment with a neurologist are simply mandatory here.
  • Diseases associated with severe bruises head region, traumatic injuries.
  • Toxic pathology. Some drugs and medicines, namely their incorrect prescription and use, can provoke such damage to the nervous system.
  • Genetic pathology. Passed on from parents or relatives due to appropriate heredity.
  • Hypoxia, which in turn was observed in utero in the fetus.

Neurology is usually called pathologies of the nervous system, although in reality it is a science that studies them. Pathological phenomena of the nervous system should never be left without the attention of doctors! Neurology in children - especially. Diseases of the nervous system lead to serious consequences, because the most optimistic diagnosis if the disease is ignored is a delay in the development of the speech and psychomotor apparatus. This may be followed by hyperactivity and attention deficit disorder. Such children are on the verge of neuroses, nervous tics and inappropriate behavior.

Some signs of neurology in children appear quite eloquently, so sleep disturbances, a shaking chin or arms, legs, frequent regurgitation, tucking up the toes in a standing position should alert parents. These symptoms are a reason to contact a pediatric neurologist. However, neurological symptoms in children may be vague, but if it is difficult for parents to notice them, then an experienced neurologist will be able to draw the right conclusions.

Fortunately, neurology in infants in most cases can be corrected and treated. The doctor must carefully analyze the features of the baby’s lifestyle, starting with monitoring the mother’s pregnancy. If the neurology of premature babies or infants with pathologies has an unclear etymology, then additional studies are prescribed. The child’s parents are offered to conduct an examination of the baby’s fundus, ultrasound, Doppler, and EEG. In extreme cases, an MRI may be required.

In the first months of a baby’s life, the brain develops very actively, its structures mature, as do mental and motor functions. It is for this reason that it is very important to make a diagnosis as early as possible and prescribe effective treatment.

Combination methods are often used as treatment, combining medications, the clinical effectiveness of which has already been proven, and massages, physical therapy, and physiotherapy. In addition, modern neurologists are constantly expanding their arsenal with new methods of neurological rehabilitation: computer speech programs, methods for improving movement coordination, cerebellar stimulation, etc.

In order to be confident in the health of their child, parents should visit a neurologist once every three months until they reach one year of age. Then the inspection is carried out annually. 10 days ago




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