Pediatric neurologist is a pediatrician who specializes in treating various conditions due to nervous system disorders in children, such as seizures or epilepsy, difficulty moving or walking, to loss of consciousness or coma.
The nervous system and brain are very important organ systems. This system functions to control consciousness, body movements, thinking abilities, and the five senses, such as smell, hearing, and sight.
In some conditions, disturbances in the nervous system of children can occur. Nervous system disorders in children can occur in the brain, spine, nerves, or muscles. This is where the role of pediatricians and neurologists comes into play.
Conditions and Diseases Treated by Pediatric Neurologists
Pediatric neurologists have the ability to examine, treat, and prevent various diseases of the nervous system and brain of children. The following are some of the types of disease in question:
- Epilepsy
- Infections of the child's brain and nervous system, such as meningitis, encephalitis, or brain abscess
- Disorders of brain development, including cerebral palsy or brain paralysis
- Developmental disorders, such as speech delays and motor growth disorders
- Impaired coordination of body movements, eg ataxia
- Peripheral nerve disorders or peripheral neuropathy
- Autoimmune diseases that attack the nervous system or brain, such as motor nerve disease, multiple sclerosis, and myasthenia gravis
- Genetic disorders of the nerves and brain, such as Huntington's disease, Ramsay Hunt syndrome, and Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease
- Brain tumors and cancer
- stroke
- Aneurysm or brain hemorrhage
- Autonomic nervous system disorders, eg urinary or stool incontinence
In addition, pediatric neurologists also handle cases of head injuries and neurological and brain disorders due to poisoning in infants, children, and adolescents.
Actions Performed by Pediatric Neurologists
Pediatric neurologists can perform a series of tests to determine the diagnosis and severity of neurological or brain disorders in infants, children, and adolescents.
The examination consists of a physical examination and neurological examination in children, evaluation of the child's growth and development, as well as supporting examinations which include:
- Blood and urine test
- Lumbar puncture or cerebrospinal fluid analysis
- Radiological examination, such as X-rays, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI, or PET scan
- Electromyography (EMG), which is an examination to assess nerve function in the muscles of the body
- Tensilon test to detect myasthenia gravis
- Electroencephalogram (EEG) to detect abnormalities in brain waves or electrical activity in the brain's nervous tissue
- Nerve tissue and brain biopsy
- Sleep study
After the diagnosis of neurological and brain disease in children is known, a pediatric neurologist can only provide treatment according to the type of disease and its severity. Types of treatment that are generally carried out include:
Administration of drugs
Giving drugs aims to overcome complaints and neurological diseases in children. For example, anticonvulsants to treat seizures, muscle relaxants to treat muscle stiffness, antibiotics to treat infections, and corticosteroids to treat inflammation that damages the brain and nerves.
Operation
In addition to medication, doctors can also refer patients to pediatric surgeons or neurosurgeons to treat neurological diseases that require surgery, for example due to tumors or brain cancer.
Physiotherapy
In order to improve the ability to move the body, pediatric neurologists will advise patients to undergo physiotherapy, especially for children who have problems or weakness of limbs. Doctors can also advise patients with speech disorders to undergo speech therapy (speech therapy).
In certain cases, doctors can also perform inpatient treatment in a hospital for patients with severe conditions. During hospitalization, patients will receive treatment as needed, such as infusion therapy and injections of drugs.
When Should Your Child See a Pediatric Neurologist?
Infants, children, or adolescents should see a pediatric neurologist if they experience any of the following signs or symptoms:
- Severe headaches or migraines that recur frequently
- Numbness or tingling that doesn't go away
- Frequent seizures
- Body shaking or tremors are severe enough to interfere with daily activities
- Loss of consciousness or coma
- Difficult to speak
- Sleep problems, such as insomnia
- Disorders of certain senses, such as impaired vision or hearing
- Difficulty learning or experiencing growth and development disorders
Preparation Before Consultation with Pediatric Neurologist
If you want to take your child to a pediatric neurologist, you are advised to prepare the following:
- Record the symptoms and complaints experienced by the child
- Recording the child's medical history, including allergies or previous illnesses, history of the child's condition while in the womb, and family history of illness
- Bringing medicines that are being consumed by children
- Bring the results of previous examinations, if any
If your child has symptoms, complaints, or conditions as mentioned above, don't hesitate to take him to a pediatric neurologist for proper examination and treatment. In choosing a pediatric neurologist, you can ask for a referral or ask a pediatrician.
