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 abnormalities may begin to appear and various pathologies, influencing the development of neuropsychic activity.

Definitely work neurologist in this area is incredibly responsible, because his decision depends future life the child, his social adaptation, physical and mental health.

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.

Injuries spinal cord are divided into bruise and compression. With a bruise, persistent neurological disorders such as paralysis, anesthesia and various pelvic disorders can be observed. 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. Because of this disease, deformation of the skull occurs - a strong convexity of the frontal lobe, a noticeable manifestation of venous vessels on the temples, as well as a significant expansion of the fontanelles and a syndrome of displacement of the eyes upward, 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 for a number of the following reasons:

the mother has 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 of pathological abnormalities of the 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 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 retardation 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 .

The doctor whose visit instills fear in most Russian parents is a neurologist. Moms and dads are afraid that this particular specialist will definitely find some neurological disorder from their beloved child. And these fears are not so groundless - according to statistics, 90% of children in our country have one or another neurological diagnosis. Is this diagnosis always reliable and are neurological problems really that common? A well-known pediatrician Evgeny Komarovsky.

Features of the children's nervous system

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 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 cause so much worry for parents and rich food for the activities of doctors.

If mothers understand the seriousness of the processes occurring with the child, questions, fears and doubts will become much less.

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.

Neurological problems

When mothers complaining about their child’s trembling chin, shaking hands or regular hiccups come to the doctor, he understands perfectly well that in 99% of cases such symptoms are a variant of the norm, given the intensive process of improving the nervous system. The doctor knows that these little “troubles” will most likely go away on their own, and perhaps very soon. But he, according to Komarovsky, does not want to take responsibility for your child, and therefore it is easier for him to say that a shaky chin is a neurological symptom, and prescribe a certain treatment that will not cause harm (massage, swimming in an inflatable ring on the neck, vitamins).

Real neurological problems, of course, exist, and without exception they are all very serious, says Komarovsky, but they occur in only 4% of children.

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.

Real situations when such tablets are needed - no more than 2-3% of all established diagnoses. But everyone to whom they are prescribed takes them.

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

When does a problem really exist?

- a diagnosis that Russian clinics love to give to children. Then, when it really is, the child needs urgent hospitalization, and not home treatment tablets, says Komarovsky. If the child is cheerful, alert, active, sociable, there is no need to treat him intracranial pressure, since with a high degree of probability it does not exist 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.

Komarovsky urges mothers to stop looking for illnesses in their child and simply understand that a child has a lot of other reasons for crying - hunger, heat, the desire to communicate, the desire to attract attention, an uncomfortable diaper, and so on. All these reasons have nothing to do with neurological diseases.

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 varying degrees 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.

Pediatric neurology is a branch of medicine that deals with diseases of the children's nervous system. It arose at the intersection of 2 disciplines - neurology and pediatrics. It is also closely related to neurosurgery and psychiatry. Neurology in children is one of the most complex disciplines of medicine.

Yakunin Yu.A., Badalyan L.O., Shabalov N.P. made a great contribution to the development of child neurology. and, of course, Ratner A.Yu. They have done a lot for the development of perinatal pathology, i.e. in neonatal neurology.

Also, in order to improve the diagnostic and treatment processes, pediatric neurologists released the third edition of the book in 2015 - “Children’s neurology in newborns and clinical guidelines” ed. prof. Guzeeva V.I. and co-authors.

Here are all the latest materials on the etiology, definition and treatment of pathologies of the nervous system in childhood; The entire algorithm of the doctor’s actions is indicated.

Particularly detailed information is given on issues of pathology of newborns. Much attention was paid evidence-based medicine and her achievements.

Neurologist (more modern name specialty of neurologist) - specializes in the study, prevention, identification and treatment of diseases affecting all parts of the nervous system.

This is especially important in children, because neurological pathologies leave a mark on the future for life. The work of a pediatric neurologist is very responsible, because with his decisions he decides future fate child: his social adaptation, mental and physical health; and even his illnesses in adulthood.

Today in pediatric neurology is open new section diseases: hereditary diseases exchange. This was done because out of 2.5 thousand nosologies in neurology, 70% of them are hereditary.

Visits to a pediatric neurologist should be scheduled in the first month of life, every 3 months for 1 year of life. Then they are performed annually as necessary.

The importance of timely contact with a pediatric neurologist

Pediatric neurology differs markedly from that of adults; The nervous system of children changes with age and is not a miniature copy of an adult. Children have many diseases atypical course and quite rare.

The main problem of pediatric neurology is perinatal lesions 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.

The 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, these are 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 during its passage through 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 experiencing maximum load. 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 value is given to neurological impairment 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. And you don’t have to hope for chance, if the baby screamed immediately during birth, was put to the chest and immediately took the breast, etc. If you ignored the neurologist, the baby may have mental retardation at a minimum, and the child will remain disabled. Organic lesions are quite possible.

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.

With early contact with a pediatric neurologist, half of such problems can be successfully solved.

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.

When is it urgent to contact a neurologist?

The first symptoms of disorders are possible in the first month of life. The main symptoms that parents should be alert to and pay attention to are the following:

When crying, the baby's chin trembles and his arms shake; sometimes this can be observed at rest.
The child is easily excitable.
The child does not fall asleep well, his sleep is shallow 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 ideal ways at home 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.
Abundant and frequent regurgitation in infants, even with a small amount of food.
The appearance of seizures in a child even at low temperatures.
Placed on piles of support, the baby curls his toes or stands on tiptoes, like a ballerina.
Older children may experience: frequent headaches, which can be prolonged.
Fainting conditions.
Pain and shooting in the back.
Disturbances in performing normal movements at different levels of the spinal column.
Absent-mindedness, inability to attract attention, memory impairment.
Apathy, lethargy, fast fatiguability, no interest in the environment.
Doesn't have contact with peers.
Bad dream.
Panic attacks against the background of complete well-being.
Neuralgia and signs of damage peripheral nerves.
Spontaneous twitching of various muscles.
Enuresis in children 5-6 years old.
Hyperactivity.
Delayed speech, mastering writing, decreased intelligence.

In all of these cases, there is no need to wait for a scheduled examination; you need to go to the doctor right away.

Preventive examinations:

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

All medical examinations are necessary for the early detection of pathologies so as not to lead to serious condition. It is also possible early detection psychomotor insufficiency and mental retardation.

How is an examination by a pediatric neurologist performed?

After a traditional examination (visual examination, palpation, manipulations to determine the motor and sensory spheres), the neurologist always clarifies the entire list of diseases from the birth of the child; analyzes everything negative points maternal pregnancy; the course of childbirth. To be confirmed past illnesses in the 3rd trimester of pregnancy.

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;
conditional and without conditioned 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.

Treatment methods

How to treat congenital pathologies? At congenital pathologies main goal stopping the worsening of the pathology and helping the child adapt. Medicines are not used immediately.

To begin with use:

manual therapy;
craniosacral technique;
muscle relaxation;
emotional technique;
physio-, reflexology and binaural therapy;
massages;
Exercise therapy, etc.

Manual therapy – restores mobility and function of the spine. In children, it is carried out gently, at a slow pace, removing all spasms from tense areas.

Craniosacral technique - its goal is to manually gradually align the bones of the skull. This restores blood supply to the brain; reduces ICP. The technique is used in infants.

Emotional techniques – used for behavioral deviations and neuroses.

Muscle relaxation - it consists of relaxation muscle fibers. This has a positive effect on skeletal system, especially on the spine. The internal organs also relax.

New methods include computer speech programs and techniques for improving motor coordination (cerebellar stimulation).

As you can see, there is little that is acceptable in neurological treatment at home.

The neurologist does not just prescribe treatment and send the child home without thinking about it until the next medical examination. He always controls the treatment.

To stimulate motor skills, mental development parents can successfully carry out simple exercises for the development and improvement of fine motor skills:

Pour a little buckwheat into a bowl and, sorting it out, pour it from palm to palm. You can hide small objects in this cereal and let the child try to feel them.
Pour warm water from a basin into a bucket with a glass;
When your child takes his first steps, let him run barefoot more often. Let him feel the surface in piles; this will enrich his tactile sensations. In this case, the surface alternates texture - floor, carpet, rubber mat, fabric, etc.
Make plasticine modeling with your child and paint with finger paints.

Common pathologies

This article will identify the most common neurological pathologies in children.

Brain dysfunction, or otherwise attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, first manifests itself as decreased concentration of attention, then the child becomes irritable and easily excitable. The muscles are hypotonic, which causes awkward movements and disrupts the functioning of the musculoskeletal system as a whole. Posture is impaired, flat feet develop, and urinary incontinence appears. Children cannot learn school curriculum, they note autonomic symptoms: increased heart rate, dizziness, headaches.
Perinatal pathology also includes birth injuries, fetal hypoxia, and intracranial hemorrhages. At the first examination, there may be complete health, but the manifestation of pathologies will appear after a few months.
Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy is a consequence of fetal hypoxia. The brain suffers completely: the cortex and subcortex. If left untreated, this will result in decreased intelligence, paralysis, convulsive syndrome, cerebral palsy. Violations on early stage show up well on EEG.
Birth trauma is a broad concept that includes violation of the integrity of tissues in the fetus during childbirth. These include spinal cord injuries and facial nerve palsies. Paralysis facial nerve gives symptoms: swelling, drooping and immobility of the mouth; eyelids do not close tightly; the nasolabial fold is absent. Treatment can lead to complete recovery. Spinal cord injury during childbirth can occur when the fetus is breech, due to the use of obstetric manipulations. Under such conditions, vertebral subluxations, pinching and spasms easily occur vertebral artery, hemorrhages in the membranes of the spinal cord. With spinal cord injuries, bruising and compression are especially common. Neurological disorders manifest themselves in the form of paralysis, pelvic disorders, and urinary disorders. Signs of damage are determined by the segment level. In these diseases, to treat such disorders, the child’s neck and head are immobilized. They relieve tissue swelling and pain with medications, and restore the functioning of damaged brain structures.
Intracranial hemorrhages - these include hypoxia, impaired blood clotting, infections during the mother’s pregnancy; prematurity. With all of them, the condition of the wall of the brain vessels is disturbed, and the pathology of childbirth becomes the trigger. Treatment consists of following a gentle and protective regimen (exclusion of any irritants - light, sound; only gentle swaddling); drug treatment. If the hemorrhage progresses, it is possible surgical intervention in the form of blood removal by suction with ultrasound control.
Traumatic brain injuries: The concept of TBI includes bruises and concussions. In a child this manifests itself as asthenic syndrome; it is often accompanied by vegetative dystonia: increased blood pressure, changes in heart rhythm; impaired functioning of the thermoregulation center.
Microcephaly. A pronounced decrease in the size of the skull and, accordingly, the brain is characteristic. Mental disability will definitely be observed. Speech and motor skills are impaired.
Hydrocephalus. Another name is dropsy of the brain. With it, the cavities of the ventricles of the brain are sharply enlarged due to increased secretion of CSF, which accumulates in the brain cavities. Signs of hydrocephalus are formed in the womb. As a result, the skull becomes deformed, the forehead becomes excessively convex, and the network of veins on the skull and temples is pronounced. The fontanelles are noticeably enlarged, the eyes roll up under the brow ridges. Often pathologies in older children are a late result of failure to recognize them in the first months of life.

For caring parents the symptoms and origin of neurosis are too contradictory and vague. And often have little to do with the medical interpretation of this neuralgic disorder. Neuroses in children and adolescents aged 1-12 years are often confused with such deviations as:

infantilism;
minor brain dysfunction;
paroxysmal brain;

It’s hard to blame them for ignorance - the signs are in many ways similar to neurosis:

aggression;
excitability;
poor sleep;
inattention;
headache;
pallor;
trembling fingers;
fatigue.

All these symptoms are temporary and are dictated by the child’s unpreparedness for changes in age - you just need to consult with a neurologist who will give recommendations and prescribe treatment and psychotherapy. The origin of neurosis always stems from a prolonged stressful situation and has a deeper history that requires specialist intervention.

Events and shocks

The child's psyche is very vulnerable and susceptible - any change in the usual routine of life is reflected even on newborns, with a force corresponding to the dynamics of age. Thus, for infants from one to three years old, even a short separation from their mother can lead to the onset of neuroses. Especially if before that day they were inseparable.

Children 3-6 years old can get a pre-neurotic state if they lose their a pet, or your favorite toy breaks. The first symptoms are loss, prolonged grief, despondency, sleep and appetite disorders. Scandals in the family, single-parent families, dislike of parents also negatively affect the child’s psyche, leaving an indelible mark on the child’s soul for life.

The dictatorial tendencies of one of the parents also bring neurosis to the child. Suppression of personality, temperament, instincts and interests is a child’s sure path to neurosis and psychotherapy sessions.

Child's instincts

Neuroses in children and adolescents are a common and dangerous phenomenon. A child grows up to be an insecure person; in his brain, with certain diseases, various mental abnormalities and fears, from schizophrenia to paranoia, are quite possible.

The most innocent of this bouquet is the complexes due to which the child’s inner world school age closed to others. Already as an adult, such a person is not able to fully love, communicate and develop personally. Only psychotherapy as a treatment can bring relief.

Neurosis as a consequence arises from the struggle of instincts. Children defend themselves as best they can; in other words, they try not to go crazy. The most common causes of neurosis in a child:

family conflicts;
fright, accident, injuries;
pressure of parental care and control;
hereditary predisposition;
excessive mental stress.

The child's psyche exhibits the following symptoms:

decreased appetite;
decreased performance;
prostration;
sweating;
nervous tic;
hysterics;
headache;
cold hands and feet.

In addition to symptoms, there are signs in psychotherapy such as stuttering and incontinence. In children under one year and newborns distinctive features neuroses can become plaintive, sorrowful crying and sensitive, restless sleep. After 4 years of age until preschool and school age - hysterical fits, rolling on the floor, furious demand for what is desired.

Internal conflicts

Neurosis is actually very easy to develop. It's enough not to understand your own child. This is why the usual origin of such phenomena as neurosis in women is that they also have a sensitive soul. The psyche of children is like plasticine, but it requires careful handling.

Due to stress at work and at home, neurosis in adults leads to depression and neurasthenia, but they can go to a psychoanalyst or simply intuitively begin a relaxation period of psychotherapy. Children are in no way able to calm down their internal anxiety and worries. It seems that parents know what they are indicating, they know how it will be better, but a school-age teenager, for example, is afraid of not being able to cope with the responsibilities assigned to him.

And here you go childhood neurosis requiring treatment. Internal contradictions of personal growth, coupled with improper upbringing and, as a result, increased nervousness. Types of miseducation:

overprotection;
authoritarian;
rejection and dislike;
indulgence;
contrast;
tyranny.

Of course, biological characteristics also play a role in the occurrence of neuroses in newborns. Thus, neuropathy can be caused by a difficult pregnancy, unnatural childbirth, or pathology. Children born with difficulties are more susceptible to breakdowns, and the older they get, the more noticeable they are.

A difficult age

In school-age children, the origin of classical types of neuroses is often associated with excessive stress, feelings of fear, parental pressure, and adaptation at school. Experiences are fraught with stuttering and enuresis, nervous tics. Neuroses in adolescents are conventionally divided into several nervous conditions:

With more detailed consideration, the following symptoms are characteristic of hysteria:

sensitivity;
impressionability;
egocentrism;
selfishness;
suggestibility;
sudden mood swings.

Hysteria, as a form of neurosis, is often characteristic of spoiled children 3-6 years old. Parents extol the child too much, depriving him of independence. Preschoolers under 3 years of age are also characterized by symptoms such as affective-respiratory breath-holding. When a child cries, he is so depressed that he cannot get enough air. It looks like an asthma attack.

From 7-11 years of age, seizures turn into a theatrical performance with fainting and suffocation. The worst thing is that the child believes in the truthfulness of his actions, which in the future is fraught with the body becoming accustomed to such insinuations. Psychotherapy and treatment are needed.

Symptoms of neurasthenia:

irritability;
weakness;
fatigue;
inattention;
headache in the morning;
sleep disturbance;
night terrors;
passivity;
pallor.

Neurosthenics are very quick-tempered and vulnerable, they see a catch in everything. Distrustful, fearful, mostly melancholic and depressed. At night they relive the events of the day, often waking up screaming, experiencing chills and cold.

Symptoms and signs of obsessive neuroses:

uncertainty;
indecision;
suspiciousness;
concerns;
anxiety.

Children suffering from a form of neurosis - obsessive states, they are afraid of germs, communication, the dark, in general, of many symbols of various phobias. A child of preschool and school age is characterized by ritual habits, such as:

frequent hand washing;
bouncing;
pat.

Moreover, this is done automatically, like conditioned reflexes. An indicative symptom may be a tic. At 4-5 years old, nervous twitching is temporary, from several weeks to a month. In the future, this symptom passes, instantly manifesting itself in stressful situations.

Social factors

At older ages, childhood neuroses are more difficult to treat, as they are caused by more complex causes. Children 4-12 years old have a hard time:

parental divorce;
transfer to another school;
unfair punishment;
first visit to a children's group;
moving to a new place of residence.

There is also such a concept in psychotherapy as predisposing factors, the origin of which entails neurosis:

residual organic pathology;
unintentional accentuation of character;
weakness of the body before illness somatic nature;
negative emotional background of the mother during pregnancy;
hereditary burden;
threat of pregnancy, stress.

Because of them, the child is especially vulnerable and susceptible to neurological diseases. If parents turn to psychotherapy in a timely manner, neurosis can be reversed. If you don’t notice his presence, oh peace of mind the child can be forgotten.

Neurosis, just like an expected event, is promoted by family history. Thus, a completely healthy 10-month-old child may well owe his developed neurosis to his parents, who consider it a violation of discipline to take a baby in his arms when he is in dire need of it before he is one year old.

Parents' dissatisfaction with the gender of the newborn gradually forms a nervous personality; the little person is characterized by internal anxiety that does not leave him for a minute. The same fate awaits a late infant - scientists have proven the connection between childhood neuroses and late pregnancy mother.

Scientific theories

Many psychoanalysts believe that the real reason Childhood neuroses are caused by improper upbringing based on factors such as:

emotional blackmail;
traditionalism;
open threats and promises;
lack of family attachments;
immodesty of parents;
negative attitude adults to older people.

The fragile psyche of a child preschool age starts to slow down - advanced neurosis may result in autism.

Kinds obsessive fears in children 5-12 years old as a consequence of a form of neurosis:

agoraphobia;
claustrophobia;
acarophobia;
acromophobia;
homilophobia;
ereitophobia;
dysmorphophobia;
mysophobia.

These mental disorders Fear of something greatly prevents a person from living and developing normally. In addition to them, there is a whole host of specific childhood fears, because of which thoughts little man like hunted birds - fear of loneliness, darkness, fire, loss of parents, etc.

It is worth noting the crisis age periods where psychological prevention and treatment are needed:

at 3-4 years old, girls are more likely to suffer from neurosis than boys;
at 6-7 years old, preschool children begin to experience unusual stressful situations;
at 11-12 years old, lack of understanding of reality can confuse a child;
neuroses in adolescents 14-18 years old speaks of the psychological immaturity of the child as an individual.

In the latter case, there is a greater tendency to depression and phobias. Children's fears remain clinical picture neurosis worsens.

In psychotherapy, children's fears are divided into such concepts as obsessive, delusional and overvalued. Treatment of fears is largely based on prevention. Obsessive ones are the beginning of phobias, depending on age, delusional ones the child himself is not able to explain, and overvalued ones occupy all the attention of children.

The most valuable fears of children include fear of answering at the blackboard and fear of speaking. By talking with children and understanding them, you can slowly displace fears.

Treatment

Childhood neuroses have a reversible pathogenesis, but only in the case professional treatment and prevention. An experienced psychotherapist, having carefully questioned the patient, takes an anamnesis along with biological features patient and according to age.

An integrated approach to psychotherapy can effectively and safely cure a child of his fears and anxiety. Often psychologists ask you to draw or describe your fears using clever confidence techniques. Types of treatment, depending on the complexity of the case:

homeopathy;
hypnosis;
relaxation therapy;
medicines;
acupuncture and microacupuncture treatment;
psychotherapeutic treatment;
unconventional methods.

Consultation with a neurologist and psychotherapist is required. The most complex cases of childhood neurosis require drug therapy and constant psychological prevention. Tranquilizers of the benzodiazepine group are prescribed, which reduce excitability and the risk of seizures and cause drowsiness.

Side effects of these medications are: itchy skin, nausea, constipation. If psychotherapy continues long time, addiction and reduction in the effectiveness of drugs is possible. The complex of treatment of childhood neurosis also includes:

psychostimulants;
antidepressants;
vitamin and mineral preparations;
physiotherapy;
physiotherapy.

As part of psychotherapy, sessions of hypnosis, confidential conversations, and consultations are conducted. If the form of childhood neuroses does not need drug treatment, great importance It has individual work child psychologist as prevention.

Participation of parents and loved ones

Treating childhood neurosis is not easy, but it is a mistake to think that this is entirely the work of specialists. The parents of a neurotic person, no less than the patient, need consultations and conversations with a psychoanalyst. Only by changing their own attitude towards life, towards their child, can parents help their preschool child overcome psycho-traumatic factors and forget them.

Children's fears will subside if the child is surrounded with understanding and care, given the right to choose and personal freedom. Together with a psychologist, parents learn to re-perceive reality, look at the world through the eyes of their child, and understand how difficult it is to try to meet overwhelming demands.

Only family, overrated life values, can help a child get rid of phobias and fear of being an inferior person. Relationships in society are always difficult, but each person has the right to his own path and mistakes, and only harmony in the family will help a child realize his individuality.

Video: how to recognize the first signs of neurosis in a child

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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. 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.

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 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. Startling during urination is not a reason to visit the doctor in the first year of your baby. 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 (absence seizures) are observed.
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.
Does not like to lie on his stomach (a typical sign of children with neurological disorders).
Doesn't cry, passive behavior, sleep takes more than 20 hours a day.
Difficult to change clothes due to severe 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, leading to disability. In severe cases of nervous and mental functions, treatment is aimed at improving the current condition.

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

Besides healthy diet, neurology in children under one year of age requires stimulation of development different ways– for example, reading fairy tales and going for walks fresh air, encouragement physical activity. These simple steps will help positive influence on mental capacity and help the body cope with all disorders and the causes of their occurrence.