Neurology Diagnostics

Archive for the ‘Child Neurology’ Category

Properly known as an umbilical hernia is a type of abdominal hernia that occurs in the region of the navel. When this type of hernia develops, the intestines are pushed through the abdominal wall behind the belly button, causing a bulge feature to appear. Many belly button hernias are congenital in nature, and are particularly common in children of African origin. This type of hernia can also be acquired by adults.

The region is vulnerable to umbilical hernia in children because of the way in which the body develops, and the nature of the navel. In some cases, the abdominal wall around the navel does not close completely during fetal development, allowing the intestine to push through and create a hernia. The navel hernia may be visible when a baby cries or strains, sinking back into the abdomen when the baby relaxes. It is usually identified soon after birth, as babies tend to strenuously object to be pushed out into the world, making their navel hernias rather prominent. Unlike other types of hernia, hernia navel often resolves. Read the rest of this entry »

Childhood neurological cause much anguish in the family. However, thanks to scientific advances, most young patients can enjoy a full life today.

What would be the most frequent pathologies in this specialty.

There are two groups of diseases which, by their frequency in childhood and adolescence, represent the main reasons for consultation in the neurological specialty: developmental disorders and so encompass the paroxysms.

A substantial proportion of children has a developmental disorder of sufficient magnitude to require a specialized evaluation. The reasons for consultation vary by age:

In infants: is manifested in the acquisition of maturational patterns, especially motor. In Pre-school stage in the development of language disorders. By school age and adolescence: for disorders of learning and behavior.

A similar or lower rate at some time, a transient paroxysmal episode. These are manifested as a change at the level of motor behavior (convulsions, tics, etc..) Perceptual (headache, dizziness) of impaired breathing (apneas, breath) or level of consciousness (syncope). Within the spectrum of seizures, which may have different ways of presenting stand-febrile seizures.

What other causes of consultations may be cited?

Although less common genetic and chromosomal diseases and central nervous system malformations (Down syndrome, myelomeningocele) and neuromuscular diseases (muscular dystrophy, neuropathies, spinal atrophy), neurodegenerative diseases, some with known metabolic error (phenylketonuria, galactosemia , etc.).
The importance of technological advances.

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Pesticides used on fruits and vegetables could be related to the onset of the condition of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children. This has revealed a study by the University of Montreal, Canada.

The researchers measured the levels of pesticide were 1139 children from a urine sample each. Also interviewed the parents, to determine which children had the disorder and what does not. The participants, aged between eight and 15 years, had been part of a study carried out by the government between 2000 and 2004.

The results showed that almost all of them had up to 94 percent of this substance. One thing to remember is that children, due to their weight, are more exposed than adults to health risks caused by pesticides.

According to the study, published in Pediatrics, children who had the most amount of pesticides in the urine were more likely to develop ADHD. Read the rest of this entry »

The brains of babies at 7 months shows a sensitivity to the human voice and the emotions communicated through the voice that is very similar to that observed in the brains of adults, according to a study by the University of London in United Kingdom published in the journal Neuron.

The study proves the origins of voice processing in the human brain and could provide information on neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.

Scientists at the Center for Brain and Cognitive Development at the University of London, led by Tobias Grossmann, conducted their study in the laboratory of Angela D. Friederici Max Planck Institute in Cognitive Science and Human Brain in Germany. The researchers used near infrared spectroscopy to investigate when during development the regions of the temporal cortex became sensitive to the human voice. These specific cortical regions have had an important role in spoken language processing in adults.

Grossmann’s team found that children of seven months and not four months showed greater responses similar to those of adults in the temporal cortex as a result of the human voice compared with no vowel sounds, suggesting that sensitivity to voice emerges between 4 and 7 months of age. Read the rest of this entry »

Childhood neurological cause much distress in the family. However, thanks to scientific advances, most young patients can enjoy a full life today.

What would be the most common conditions in this specialty.

There are two sets of conditions which by their frequency in childhood and adolescence, would represent the main reasons for consultation at the neurological specialty: developmental disorders and so encompass the paroxysms.

A not insignificant percentage of children has a developmental disorder of sufficient magnitude to require an expert assessment. The reasons for consultation vary by age:

• In infants: is manifested in the acquisition of maturational patterns, especially motor.

• At stage Kindergarten disorders in language development.

• At school age and adolescence in learning disorders and behavior.

Read the rest of this entry »