Who is a Pediatric Neurologist?
Pediatric Neurologists, also known as child neurologists, deal with the diagnosis and management of neurological conditions in newborns, infants, children, and adolescents. One can experience headaches, seizures, multiple sclerosis, or developmental delays because of these problems.
The brain is quite a fascinating organ and there is so much happening inside of it that we have not been able to decipher in its entirety. The nervous system keeps things going for the human body.
From seeing things as they are to interpreting them, from breathing to walking to decision making, everything is credited to the nervous system i.e., the brain, spine, cord, sensory organs, and all the nerves in your body. A little glitch in the system can therefore affect the entire body.
When should you see a Pediatric Neurologist?
If your child experiences any of the following, you will be recommended to check with a pediatric neurologist in Video Consultation:
- Recurring Seizures
- Chronic migraines
- Poor balance
- Memory loss
- Loss of consciousness
- Numbing, tinging, or complete absence of sensation
- Developmental disorders (delays)
- Abnormal movement
- Problem with coordination and motor functions
You can also see a pediatric neurologist in Video Consultation for your child's follow-ups post head, neck, or back injury.
What is the most common concern relevant to pediatric neurology in Pakistan?
According to Child Neurology Society (CNS) Pakistan, Pediatric neurology is one of the largest super specialties of pediatrics. The “Neurological Disorders Survey Pakistan
2017- 2019” suggests the following:
|
Condition/Diagnosis
|
Percentage (%)
|
|
Benign Epilepsy syndromes
|
33.6
|
|
Behavioral disorders
|
16.5
|
|
Cerebral palsy
|
12
|
|
Malignant Epilepsy syndrome
|
9.7
|
|
Development disorders
|
4.8
|
|
Headache disorders
|
4
|
|
Sequelae
|
2.4
|
|
Myopathies/muscle disorders
|
1.9
|
|
Movement disorders
|
1.7
|
|
Neurodegenerative
|
1.1
|
|
Acquired metabolic and toxic disorders
|
0.85
|
|
Vascular disease
|
0.83
|
Another survey conducted at the Islamabad’s Children Hospital “Neurology in Islamabad Children's Hospital Present Status and Problems” suggests that out of total 5,234 neurological patients:
|
Condition/Diagnosis
|
Percentage (%)
|
|
Mental and motor development
|
34.8
|
|
Seizures
|
25.8
|
|
Infections of the nervous system
|
18.9
|
What are the main areas of concern for a Pediatric Neurologist?
From straightforward conditions like cerebral palsy and headache to unusual and complicated ones like metabolic and degenerative disorders, a pediatric neurologist has several areas to be concerned about:
- Headaches including migraines
- Neurodevelopmental disabilities
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) that impacts the ability to stay focused and attentive, sit still and self-control
- Autism that has a broad spectrum of conditions that can affect social skills, induce repetitive behavior, impact speech and nonverbal communication
- Learning disabilities and reduced intellectual disability (also known as mental retardation) that affects a child’s day-to-day life
- Conduct disorders that are identified with antisocial behavior and utter neglect of basic social standards
- Cerebral palsy, which impacts movement, balance, and posture
- Impairments in vision and hearing
- Neurovascular conditions:
- Stroke
- Brain hemorrhage
- Brain aneurysm
- Brain and spinal cord injury
- Head injury
- Concussion
- Neck fracture
- Sleep problems
- Sleep-disordered breathing: difficulty breathing while sleeping
- Sleepwalking
- Night terrors
- Congenital malformations: Anomalies that occur before prenatally i.e. before childbirth and are diagnosed before or at childbirth or later in life like Down syndrome.
- Meningitis: Swelling in the brain
- Tumor: Benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) brain tumor
What kinds of Pediatric Neurologists are there?
A pediatric neurologist can subspecialize in the areas of:
- Fetal and neonatal neurology
- Epilepsy
- Headache
- Sleep Medicine
- Neurogenetics
- Neurodevelopmental disabilities
- Pediatric neuromuscular diseases
- Neuro-oncology
- Neo-rehabilitation (recovery from injury to the nervous system)
How to become a Pediatric Neurologist in Pakistan?
To become a pediatric neurologist in Pakistan, one must do the following:
- A five-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
- A year of house Job/internship
- Fellow of College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) Part I
- Start training for two years and appear for the IMM Exam
- FCPS Part II in Pediatrics
- For specialization, you will have to train for another year with neurology as your subspeciality
- Get registered with Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) to become certified
What are Pediatric Neurologists called in Pakistan?
- Child neurologist
- Child brain doctor
- Child brain specialist
- Kids brain doctor
- Children's neurologist
- Children's nerve doctor
