Neurosurgery - Paediatric
The Pediatric Neurosurgery Department at Narayana Health is highly specialised and is capable of providing comprehensive treatment and care to children of all ages. Narayana Health is among the few hospitals in the country to have on board Paediatric Neurosurgeons with the requisite expertise and the state-of-the-art medical equipment required to provide Pediatric Neurosurgery services. Narayana Health hospitals have modern facilities that are designed to accommodate the specific needs of children.The doctors are assisted by a team of highly trained nurses and medical professionals. Advanced medical equipment such as CT and MRI scanners, and paediatric intensive care units aid in providing children with the best care possible.
The multi-disciplinary approach at Narayana Health ensures that every medical need of the child is covered by the respective specialists such as anaesthesiologists, neurologists, oncologists, and others. The pediatric neurosurgery team specialises in handling a wide range of medical problems including,
- Congenital defects
- Epilepsy
- Spinal defects
- Nerve trauma
- Stroke
- Brain tumours
- Neurofibromatosis
Neurosurgery - Paediatric FAQs
What Types of Treatments Do Paediatric Neurosurgeons Provide?
Paediatric neurosurgeons deal with the treatment and management of nervous system disorders and deformities in the head and spinal cord in children. They may also diagnose and treat the following conditions.
- Gait abnormalities or spasticity
- Birth injuries involving weakness of arms and legs
- Problems and injuries of the brain, spine or nerves
What are the symptoms of paediatric nervous system disorders?
The symptoms of nervous system disorders can vary in children. Different disorders can cause different symptoms. Some of them may include:
- Muscle rigidity, tremors or seizures
- Lack of coordination
- Delayed development
- Increase or lack of growth in head size
- Changes in level of consciousness or mood
- Changes in activity, reflexes or movements
- Muscle wasting and slurred speech
- Persistent or severe headaches, loss of feeling
What can damage the nervous system in children?
The nervous system is a highly complex and specialized network in the body, especially in the developmental stages in children. The problems affecting the nervous system depend on which part of it is involved and what is causing the problem. Some conditions, injuries or diseases that can cause nervous system problems are:
- Blood supply or vascular disorders
- Trauma
- Injuries to the head and spinal cord
- Degeneration
- Mental health problems, such as depression, psychosis and anxiety disorders
- Immune system disorders
- Tumours
- Structural defects
- Infections
- Blood flow disruption
- Inborn genetic or metabolic problems
- Toxic exposures or direct effects of drug exposures
How is Epilepsy in Children Diagnosed?
The diagnosis of epilepsy is generally made if a child suffers from seizures more than once without an identifiable reason like an injury or fever. Children experiencing unprovoked seizure without any known diagnosis of epilepsy have to seek immediate medical attention followed by a visit to their primary care paediatrician soon after.
The process of diagnosis in every child will vary, but the major steps typically include –
- The diagnosis begins by asking questions about medical history, which might also include questions about the mother’s delivery and pregnancy and the symptoms
- The child’s parents need to give a detailed account of the seizure
- Physical examinations to assess cardiac, neurological and mental status
- Blood tests to detect any significant illness or other potential causes
- Computerized Axial Tomography or CT scan to identify whether acute neurological lesion or illness has lead to the seizure
- Electroencephalogram to assess the risk of seizure recurrence
- Magnetic Resonance Image
How is Epilepsy in children treated?
Epilepsy is a complex condition and its treatment usually begins with medication. Many seizure prevention drugs are available that treat the symptoms of epilepsy by reducing the frequency of seizures. However, these drugs do not change the brain’s underlying susceptibility to produce seizures.
Such drugs work effectively only after they reach a certain level in the body and that level has to be maintained. If the medications fail to work, other options that can be considered include –
- Brain surgery
- Medical devices to prevent and control seizures
- Dietary therapies
