Neurological diseases in infants, symptoms and treatment. What does a pediatric neurologist treat? Symptoms and treatment of childhood neurological lesions

During the massage session, infant gymnastics is performed. It is necessary to strengthen muscle corset. This is especially important when weak muscles back, pathologies in cervical spine spine.

Preschoolers and schoolchildren

In preschool and school age When eliminating neurological symptoms, drug treatment, physiotherapy, massage and water treatments are also used.

It is also important that the child maintains a daily routine, which is often disrupted after graduation. kindergarten . One of the ways to prevent neurosis in preschoolers and schoolchildren is to change types of activities.

It is important to limit your exposure to the computer and TV.

Unlike the neonatal period and infancy, neurological symptoms in preschoolers and schoolchildren can be prevented by preventive measures.

Neurological abnormalities have different character and the reason for the appearance. Some of them are treatable and go away completely, others can be compensated for with timely treatment.

Sleep problems, decreased muscle tone and frequent crying sometimes indicate disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system. The sooner neurology and its cause are identified, the greater the chance of fast recovery and proper development.

Neurology of children under one year old - reasons

Neurological disorders in children are associated with damage to the brain and 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 injuries and serious manifestation allergies.

Most common reasons cerebral palsy 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 features small organism and his 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 the following symptoms are observed:

• 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 to additional examinations and consultation with other specialists, such as an otolaryngologist and ophthalmologist, to find out the reasons and choose 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, leading 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 child, if the mother is breastfeeding, it is necessary to choose only natural products, avoiding ready-made meals with added 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, encouragement 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 child’s nervous system is one of the most important components of the whole organism. With the help of the nervous system, not only the activity of the entire organism as a whole is controlled, but also the relationship of this organism with external environment. This relationship is carried out with the help of sensory organs, receptors on the surface of the child’s skin.

The nervous system is a very complex formation in a child’s body. Any disruption in its coordinated activity can lead to the development of quite serious diseases.

The development of the nervous system occurs unevenly. The formation of the brain occurs on early stages pregnancy (1st week intrauterine development child). But even after childbirth, the process of division and formation of new nerve cells does not complete. The most intensive period of formation of a child’s nervous system occurs in the first 4 years of life. It is during this period that the child receives more than 50% of the information that helps him in later life. Adverse environmental influences, infectious diseases, injuries during this period lead to the formation of the largest number of neurological diseases.

It is also important physical activity child, which is also controlled by the nervous system. While inside the uterus, the child takes a certain position, which allows him to occupy a smaller volume. After birth, various reflexes can be detected in a child. The presence of these reflexes, on the one hand, is associated with the immaturity of the nervous system, and on the other hand, they help the child survive in environmental conditions. Gradually, during the maturation of the nervous system, many of the reflexes disappear, but some, such as swallowing, remain with us for the rest of our lives.

Very important in the life of a child have sense organs (vision, smell, touch, hearing). These organs help the child navigate environment, form an idea of ​​objects and phenomena, communicate and understand the world. Any violations of these sense organs lead to the fact that it becomes very difficult for the child to perceive the world and communicate with his peers. Speech, which will also be controlled by the nervous system, plays an important role in the formation of communication. Speech impairment can be a consequence of brain damage or organic diseases organs involved in the formation of speech. It is necessary to promptly identify various speech disorders and treat these conditions, since speech is necessary not only for communication, but also for the correct assimilation of the acquired knowledge.

In some cases, it is quite difficult to recognize neurological diseases in children in the early stages, since they may be hidden behind the functional immaturity of the nervous system. In this case, only parents are able to provide all possible assistance. medical workers, since they are next to the child almost 24 hours a day, and can immediately determine whether the child’s behavior has changed. Another feature of neurological disorders in children is that many of them, with early, timely, correct, although long-term treatment disappear almost completely.

After studying the articles collected in this section, you can learn to determine various states in children, which may indicate the presence of a pathology of the nervous system in the child and bring this to the doctor’s attention in time.

Pediatric neurology - a relatively young branch of medicine, which 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. Exactly at childhood Developmental deviations and various pathologies may begin to appear, affecting the development of neuropsychic activity.

Definitely work 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 result of TBI, a child may experience asthenic syndrome, characterized fatigue, irritability, isolation and lack of self-confidence. 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, you can observe such persistent neurological disorders, such as paralysis, anesthesia and a variety of pelvic disorders. One more serious consequences In case of injury, urination is impaired.

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 the delay in mental development Defects in speech and motor skills may appear due to muscle spasms or paralysis.

Hydrocephalus

Another name for this disease is dropsy of the brain. It is characterized by an increase in the volume of the ventricles of the brain, sometimes to critical sizes, resulting from excessive secretion of cerebrospinal fluid and its accumulation in the area of ​​the brain cavities.

Symptoms of hydrocephalus in children most often appear during intrauterine formation, making it difficult to establish the causes. Due to this disease, deformation of the skull occurs - a strong convexity of the frontal lobe, a noticeable manifestation venous vessels on the temples, as well as a significant expansion of the fontanels and a syndrome of upward displacement of the eyes, where they are hidden under the superciliary arches.

Hyperactivity

Hyperactivity is expressed in the child’s excessive energy and mobility, which often leads to impaired attention. Behavioral features in most cases include sleep disturbance, lack of appetite, anxiety and neurological habits (for example, when a child constantly bites his nails).

Because the brain of a child with hyperactivity does not process information coming to it well, it becomes uncontrollable. It is much more difficult for such a child to master the skills of reading, writing, etc., and conflicts often arise when communicating with peers.

The syndrome of this disease often arises in a number of ways the following reasons:

• mother's presence chronic diseases during pregnancy;
• toxic effects of the mother on the fetus (alcohol, smoking, chemical poisoning, etc.);
• injuries and bruises of the mother during pregnancy;
• complications labor activity manifested in hemorrhage, asphyxia;
• unnatural course of labor ( C-section, stimulation of labor, rapid birth or, conversely, slow progress of labor)
• ecology in the region of residence;
• transmission of certain diseases.

Mental retardation

Oligophrenia (aka mental retardation or dementia) is a congenital or acquired form of underdevelopment of the child’s psyche. The symptoms of this disease can be traced in the form of damage to the mind due to inhibition of personality development against the background pathological abnormalities brain. It often manifests itself in the child’s speech and motor skills, his volitional and emotional qualities.

There are several options for classifying oligophrenia, but we will consider the most traditional:

In this case, oligophrenia syndrome can be differentiated and undifferentiated.

Autism

This disease is characterized by the fact that a child with it has problems with social adaptation and the perception of society. Such patients are rarely able to express their own emotions and practically do not understand other people's expressions of feelings. Autistic people are also characterized by speech inhibition and, in rare forms of development, decreased mental activity.

Autism is primarily congenital disease, whose symptoms are manifested in the slightly inhibited development of the child: in his poorly developed or absent speech, inability to behave in the same way as children of his age, avoidance of eye contact.

However, autistic people do not have any characteristic behavior; each case is considered separately. The causes of autism are not known for certain. We can only say with certainty that this disease is inherited and has absolutely no connection with the psychological situation in the family.

Diagnosis and treatment

Below are a number of reasons why you may want to seek advice and examination by a pediatric neurologist .