Encephalopathy in children is curable or not. Encephalopathy in children - what it is and how to treat it. Perinatal hyposkic encephalopathy

Encephalopathy is a brain pathology caused by death nerve cells. In the presence of encephalopathy in children and adults, there is a disturbance in the blood supply, and oxygen deficiency in the brain also occurs. Encephalopathy is not a separate disease. This concept usually means general pathological conditions and diseases of the brain. Encephalopathy can be congenital or acquired. Congenital pathology occurs when a traumatic brain injury occurs during childbirth, due to abnormalities in brain development and metabolic disorders in the embryonic period. Acquired encephalopathy occurs for various reasons:

Due to exposure to toxic agents;
If you receive a head injury;
Due to metabolic disorders in the body;
Due to exposure to ionizing radiation;
For disorders of the blood supply to the brain.

Causes

Brain pathology occurs rarely in newborns. The reasons why encephalopathy may occur are as follows:

Deviations and pathological processes during pregnancy;
Complicated childbirth or traumatic brain injury during this process;
Metabolic disorders in the baby's body;
Infection of the expectant mother with infectious diseases during gestation;
Fetal hypoxia can cause encephalopathy in the newborn. There is insufficient blood supply to the baby's brain;
Congenital diseases of the child.

Symptoms

When a pathological disorder of the brain occurs, the baby may exhibit certain signs.

Impaired motor activity of a newborn: hypertonicity and hypotonicity muscle tissue. It is necessary to distinguish physical tone from encephalopathy syndrome. With hypertonicity and hypotonicity, asymmetrical facial lines and a disproportionate body are observed.
Increased excitability of the baby: quality of sleep, time to fall asleep, possible trembling of the limbs and chin.
Increased lethargy and lethargy of the newborn.
Sluggish sucking and disturbances during swallowing.
Manifestation intracranial hypertension. A possible complication of the brain in the form of dropsy. For this reason, surgery is necessary. Hypertension can be determined by a swollen and enlarged fontanel, as well as large sizes heads.
The occurrence of convulsions, frequent regurgitation, increased salivation.

Diagnosis of encephalopathy in a newborn

A neurologist will be able to diagnose a pathological disorder of the brain through a visual examination and after receiving the results of laboratory and instrumental examinations.

The child is sent for delivery general analysis blood and urine;
A biochemical blood test is required;
Blood test for the presence of toxins in the child’s body;
Oxygemometry is prescribed: the level of oxygen in the blood is studied;
Cerebrospinal fluid analysis is required;
Computer or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, ultrasound and other instrumental methods may be prescribed. In some cases, a consultation with an ophthalmologist, speech therapist and psychologist is required to determine the diagnosis.

Complications

How dangerous is encephalopathy for a newborn? Depending on the severity of the pathology, the consequences and complications may be different. At mild form encephalopathy, if diagnosed and treated in a timely manner, many diseases of the central nervous system curable. According to statistics, 1/3 of the children who were diagnosed with this disease were completely cured of the pathology. If treatment is not prescribed on time or significant damage to nerve cells occurs, dangerous consequences may occur.

Developmental delay in a child is the most common consequence of a congenital disease. In the future, the child remembers poorly, cannot concentrate, and is incapable of learning.
Functional impairment internal organs and systems.
The occurrence of serious and dangerous diseases.

Treatment

What can you do

Encephalopathy cannot be treated on its own. It is necessary to consult a doctor and follow all treatment recommendations. Parents should give the baby the prescribed medications in dosage according to the instructions. If complications occur, you must inform your doctor. Also, mothers and fathers must provide the child with adequate nutrition. If necessary, you can give vitamin complexes to improve efficiency immune system. But taking vitamins and other food additives should occur after consultation with a doctor.

What does a doctor do

If the signs of pathology are mild, the newborn is treated at home.
If there are serious disorders of the central nervous system, the baby should be hospitalized.
Treatment of the newborn will take into account the severity of encephalopathy and individual characteristics his body.
If the lungs are underdeveloped, they are prescribed artificial ventilation.
Nutrition can be provided through a tube.
The infant may be prescribed oxygen therapy and hemodialysis.
For residual encephalopathy it is required long-term treatment using many medicines depending on the manifestation and signs of the disease. Appointed nootropics, medications for hypertension, motor activity disorders, convulsive syndrome.
Medicines can be administered intramuscularly, intravenously or using electrophoresis.
Surgery may be performed to improve blood circulation to the brain. Surgery is often performed without compromising the integrity of brain tissue.
As additional methods Treatments include massage, physiotherapeutic procedures and physical therapy classes.

Prevention

Prevent congenital pathology possible in the embryonic period. During pregnancy future mom must:

look after your health,
avoid stressful situations,
do not take medications without a doctor’s prescription,
not be exposed to toxic agents,
eat well,
eliminate infectious diseases in a timely manner,
follow measures to increase the effectiveness of immunity,
undergo regular examinations and examinations at the antenatal clinic.

During childbirth, doctors must be extremely careful to prevent brain damage and other complications.

One of the most terrible diseases is encephalopathy in children, which can have either a congenital form (perinatal) or acquired during life. The disease itself is a diffuse brain disorder, which in children manifests itself in an accelerated form of development.

Consequences of encephalopathy in children

As it became known only recently, the perinatal form of the disease in newborns can be inherited. However, this information is unspecified. Symptoms in the youngest children are not as pronounced as in adults, and therefore it is rarely possible to diagnose the disease in time and take measures to eliminate it. The most a terrible consequence encephalopathy in newborns is a lack of supply to the brain nutrients(for example, when the bilirubin form of encephalopathy occurs). As a result, nerve cells acquire signs of dystrophy and die, due to which important departments and functions of the body stop developing.

Treatment should also be aimed at eliminating swelling of the brain. It is the increase in brain size that leads to enlargement of the head in children whose skull has not yet formed to the proper extent. Consequences - hydrocephalus, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and this is not the entire list; an unspecified cause of the anomaly may occur.

Types of encephalopathy

The childhood form of the disease is no different from the adult form according to the classification - encephalopathy can be congenital hereditary or developed in the womb, so to speak, perinatal and acquired due to the influence of harmful factors on the brain area. The symptoms of both forms of encephalopathy in newborns or adult children are similar.

The disease can be caused not only by non-compliance with the diet during pregnancy, but also by birth trauma - such cases of residual encephalopathy account for about 8-10% of all registered cases.

The children's nervous system is very unstable and delicate, especially when receiving traumatic brain injuries, there is a risk of developing consequences even some time after treatment has been provided. Compare: if a child can only get a concussion from jumping high altitude or sudden braking while running, what could cause a rupture of the vessel?

Discirculatory or toxic

This form of brain disease differs from residual disease in that it can cause organic changes in neurons due to the effects of vascular diseases or the entry of toxins into the blood. This may be due to an unspecified reason, or due to the following factors:

Vascular insufficiency.
Arterial or venous aneurysm.
Blood diseases - toxicoplasmosis, leukemia, bilirubin deficiency or elevated level, etc.
Viruses and infectious diseases - from jaundice (Botkin's disease) to hepatitis, influenza with complications, pneumonia.
Diseases of other organs, etc.

Signs of encephalopathy begin to appear in children with sleep disorders: the child has trouble falling asleep and is capricious. His perception deteriorates, his psyche suffers. All these are symptoms of the so-called pseudoneurasthenic syndrome. It includes dizziness and unsteadiness when walking, problems with blood pressure, and failure of the brain to perform the work of the organs of hearing or vision. Since the children's nervous system is quite fragile, sudden mood swings may occur - tearfulness, increased activity or consequences of epileptic encephalopathy in children.

If treatment is not prescribed on time, perinatal or other encephalopathy that is not specified during the diagnostic process will lead to more harmful abnormalities in the functioning of the brain. Stagnation of consciousness will become permanent; for children it is like being in prostration. Frequent fainting, asymmetry of tendon reflexes, and increased muscle tone in newborns and older children are possible. Finally, symptoms will often manifest as vegetative-vascular dystonia and lability. As for emotional state, it is accompanied by deterioration of attention and memory in children.

Perinatal

Another form of brain disease is encephalopathy, which appears either in the last 12 weeks of pregnancy or during childbirth. The cause may be unspecified - stress, trauma, poor nutrition, and a specific disease suffered by the expectant mother. For example, anemia or pneumonia.

To prevent encephalopathy in newborns, it is recommended to monitor your diet, go for walks fresh air and completely relieve yourself of stress. You should also be careful with drinking coffee, chocolate, especially alcohol and cigarettes - even passive smoking provokes a disease such as perinatal or a form of residual encephalopathy of the brain in newborns. By the way, even if the disease could not be avoided (birth trauma), treatment in the first weeks of life is quite easy, and the chances of completely getting rid of the consequences by 12 months of life are 90-95%.

Bilirubin

This form of cerebral encephalopathy occurs due to hemolytic disease, which is caused by incompatibility of blood groups between mothers and children. If bilirubin, which has not been processed by the liver, is elevated in the blood - above 0.1-0.2 grams per 1 liter, then it leads to toxic poisoning, that is, to the entry of dangerous substances into the brain area.

Bilirubin disease encephalopathy can be caused by causes of jaundice:

Sepsis.
Birth injuries or injuries received during the life of children.
Toxoplasmosis.
Tendency to diabetes mellitus mother.
Heredity in children.
Unfinished treatment of intrauterine jaundice.

Symptoms or what happens as a result of damage to the brain, its subcortical nuclei, and cerebellum: tissue metabolism is disrupted, which leads to an inevitable decline in immunity and failure of body functions, as with later residual encephalopathy in children.

The clinical picture divides symptoms into three phases:

Signs appear food poisoning, such as weakness, nausea, decreased skeletal muscle tone. However, conventional treatment for poisoning does not help: babies continue to regurgitate frequently and may refuse to eat.
Symptoms present with kernicterus– bent joints, clenched hands. The neck bends painfully, bilirubin encephalopathy can lead to an increase in body temperature and even respiratory failure.
A false effect occurs, which actually indicates that the treatment does not produce results. Usually, a short-term improvement is replaced by a return of symptoms in an intensified form - to cerebral palsy, a mask-like face, overstrain of the back muscles, and rolling of the iris behind the eyelid.

Treatment of the disease

Every doctor will advise you to start a complex of preventive and therapeutic measures already when the primary symptoms of encephalopathy appear. So, in addition to medications, it is prescribed special diet, in which you need to eliminate as much as possible the consumption of table salt, polyunsaturated fats, cholesterol, and chocolate. Instead, consume more iodine-containing foods, vitamins and ascorbic acid.

As it became known only recently, the perinatal form of the disease in newborns can be inherited. However, this information is unspecified. Symptoms in the youngest children are not as pronounced as in adults, and therefore it is rarely possible to diagnose the disease in time and take measures to eliminate it. The most terrible consequence of encephalopathy in newborns is a lack of supply of nutrients to the brain (for example, when the bilirubin form of encephalopathy occurs). As a result, nerve cells acquire signs of dystrophy and die, due to which important departments and functions of the body stop developing.

Types of encephalopathy

The disease can be caused not only by non-compliance with the diet during pregnancy, but also by birth trauma - such cases of residual encephalopathy account for about 8-10% of all registered cases.

The children's nervous system is very unstable and delicate, especially when receiving traumatic brain injuries, there is a risk of developing consequences even some time after treatment has been provided. Compare: if a child can get a concussion only from jumping from a great height or sudden braking while running, what could cause a rupture of the vessel?

Discirculatory or toxic

Vascular insufficiency.
Arterial or venous aneurysm.
Blood diseases - toxicoplasmosis, leukemia, bilirubin deficiency or elevated level, etc.
Viruses and infectious diseases - from jaundice (Botkin's disease) to hepatitis, influenza with complications, pneumonia.
Diseases of other organs, etc.

Signs of encephalopathy begin to appear in children with sleep disorders: the child has trouble falling asleep and is capricious. His perception deteriorates, his psyche suffers. All these are symptoms of the so-called pseudoneurasthenic syndrome. It includes dizziness and unsteadiness when walking, problems with blood pressure, and failure of the brain to perform the work of the organs of hearing or vision. Since the children's nervous system is quite fragile, sudden changes in mood may occur - tearfulness, increased activity or the consequences of epileptic encephalopathy in children.

If treatment is not prescribed on time, perinatal or other encephalopathy that is not specified during the diagnostic process will lead to more harmful abnormalities in the functioning of the brain. Stagnation of consciousness will become permanent; for children it is like being in prostration. Frequent fainting, asymmetry of tendon reflexes, and increased muscle tone in newborns and older children are possible. Finally, symptoms will often manifest as vegetative-vascular dystonia and lability. As for the emotional state, it is accompanied by deterioration of attention and memory in children.

Perinatal

Another form of brain disease is encephalopathy, which appears either in the last 12 weeks of pregnancy or during childbirth. The reason may be either unspecified - stress, trauma, poor nutrition, or a specific disease suffered by the expectant mother. For example, anemia or pneumonia.

To prevent encephalopathy in newborns, it is recommended to monitor your diet, walk in the fresh air and completely relieve yourself of stress. You should also be careful with the consumption of coffee, chocolate, especially alcohol and cigarettes - even passive smoking provokes such an illness as perinatal or a form of residual encephalopathy of the brain in newborns. By the way, even if the disease could not be avoided (birth trauma), treatment in the first weeks of life is quite easy, and the chances of completely getting rid of the consequences by 12 months of life are 90-95%.

Bilirubin

This form of cerebral encephalopathy occurs due to a hemolytic disease, which is caused by incompatibility of blood groups between mothers and children. If bilirubin, which has not been processed by the liver, is elevated in the blood - above 0.1-0.2 grams per 1 liter, then it leads to toxic poisoning, that is, to the entry of dangerous substances into the brain area.

Bilirubin disease encephalopathy can be caused by causes of jaundice:

Sepsis.
Birth injuries or injuries received during the life of children.
Toxoplasmosis.
Propensity for maternal diabetes mellitus.
Heredity in children.
Unfinished treatment of intrauterine jaundice.

The clinical picture divides symptoms into three phases:

Signs of food poisoning appear, such as weakness, nausea, decreased skeletal muscle tone. However, conventional treatment for poisoning does not help: babies continue to regurgitate frequently and may refuse to eat.
Symptoms present in kernicterus appear - bent joints, clenched hands. The neck bends painfully, bilirubin encephalopathy can lead to an increase in body temperature and even respiratory failure.
A false effect occurs, which actually indicates that the treatment does not produce results. Usually, a short-term improvement is replaced by a return of symptoms in an intensified form - to cerebral palsy, a mask-like face, overstrain of the back muscles, and rolling of the iris behind the eyelid.

Treatment of the disease

Each doctor will advise starting a set of preventive and therapeutic measures as soon as the primary symptoms of encephalopathy appear. So, in addition to medications, a special diet is prescribed, in which it is necessary to eliminate as much as possible the consumption of table salt, polyunsaturated fats, cholesterol, and chocolate. Instead, consume more iodine-containing foods, vitamins and ascorbic acid.

As for tablets and injections, children are often prescribed cholesterol-lowering drugs Miscleron, Dioponin, and hormonal drugs in the form of injections and vasodilators for dystonia - Papaverine, No-Shpa, nicotinic acid. To relieve symptoms - tranquilizers such as Elenium or valerian-based, as well as tablets for headaches and dizziness. It all depends on how deeply the symptoms manifest themselves and at what age the child is in order to prescribe the correct dosage. Of course, with growth and development it will be necessary to be observed by a neurologist. Surround your child with care, send him to sports, find a hobby - and the disease will cure itself.

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Weakness and dizziness do not go away after a cold. It's been a month now, what should I do?

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I've been feeling dizzy, nauseous and tired for more than 2 days now! My blood pressure is always low! Pills don't help! It feels like the ground is disappearing from under your feet! I eat well! What could it be?

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Katya, my husband has now been in a deep coma for 6 days, the doctors are giving no hope at all, his body has stopped fighting, I still hope,

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Katya, thank you. It is these words of hope that are so lacking, my mother has been in the ICU ward since Friday evening, yesterday they said that she was in a coma and that they rarely get out, after your words hope appeared!

The information presented on the site is for informational purposes only and does not replace qualified medical care and is not intended for self-diagnosis and self-treatment. The selection and prescription of medications, treatment methods, as well as monitoring their use can only be carried out by the attending physician. Be sure to consult a specialist.

Encephalopathy in infants.

Encephalopathy.

This is not an inflammatory disease of the brain; it is associated with impaired blood supply, reduction and destruction of brain cells. It can be an acquired disease, as a result of birth trauma, hypoxia, which leads to serious brain disorders, but most often it is a congenital pathology. This disease is diagnosed in approximately 50% of infants. More severe forms of PPCNS occur in only 10% of newborns. Premature babies are more vulnerable. Congenital is encephalopathy in an infant, complicated during childbirth (birth trauma, placental abruption, abnormal position of the fetus, a large head in a child, a narrow pelvis in a woman). It can be suspected for the first time immediately after the birth of a child. At birth, the internal organs, including the central nervous system, are not fully developed; the development of all systems requires a period of time. There are several forms of encephalopathy.

Perinatal encephalopathy in newborns.

It is considered from the 28th week of pregnancy to the 8th day of the child’s life. It can occur if (causes of encephalopathy):

The child's mother is too young or old
Abortion
Miscarriages
Infertility treatment
Mom's diabetes
Mom's heart defects
Mom's flu
Smoking, alcohol
Toxicosis
Risk of miscarriage
Working in hazardous industries
Taking medications
Fast (less than 6 hours, slow more than 24 hours) labor
C-section
Premature placental abruption
Umbilical cord entanglement, umbilical cord prolapse
Multiple birth

Periods of perinatal encephalopathy in newborns.

Acute period: days to months.
Early recovery period up to 4 – 6 months.
Late recovery period up to 1 – 2 years.

IN acute period observed: lethargy, muscle hypotonia, decreased reflexes (sluggish sucking) or, conversely, hyperexcitability of the nervous system (shallow sleep, trembling of the chin and limbs), throwing the head back.

The early period of perinatal encephalopathy in newborns, when general cerebral symptoms decrease and focal brain lesions appear. Muscle hypotonicity or hypertonicity appears. Paresis and paralysis, hyperkinesis are possible (enlargement of the head, expansion of the venous network on the forehead, temples, enlargement and bulging of the fontanel. Marbling and pallor of the skin, cold hands and feet, changes in the gastrointestinal tract (constipation, diarrhea, increased gas formation), disturbance heart and breathing rhythm.

Late period of perinatal encephalopathy in newborns, muscle tone and other functions gradually normalize. Dynamic development occurs in the central nervous system and psyche of the child. The formation of pre-speech and speech development. At this age, you can already notice that the child is lagging behind, those reflexes and skills that should be there are either not there, or they are very weak, motor skills are sharply delayed, speech disorders, delayed mental development. There may be persistent spastic syndrome or, conversely, muscle hypotension.

Hypoxic-ischemic damage to the nervous system.

One of the forms of encephalopathy caused by fetal hypoxia (oxygen starvation of brain cells). With chronic intrauterine hypoxia they suffer, the capillaries of the brain grow slowly and become more penetrating. During childbirth, this leads to asphyxia (severe respiratory and circulatory disorders). Therefore, asphyxia of a newborn at birth is a consequence of fetal hypoxia. Several degrees of hypoxic-ischemic form of infant encephalopathy can be distinguished:

Depression and excitation of the central nervous system, which lasts up to 7 days after birth.
After 7 days, convulsions are added, increased intracranial pressure, disturbance of heart and breathing rhythm.
Severe convulsive condition, high intracranial pressure.

Mixed lesion disease.

K hypoxic – ischemic damage central nervous system, added intracranial hemorrhages(non-traumatic) severity depends on where the hemorrhage occurred.

Traumatic damage to the central nervous system.

Damage spinal cord during childbirth, this can happen if the fetus is large or incorrectly positioned. When it is easier to remove the head and shoulders, when the head is diligently turned when it is removed, or when it is pulled behind the head, the obstetrician performs these manipulations to reduce the child’s hypoxia. It all depends on the experience of the doctor. Damage can also occur during caesarean section with a “cosmetic incision” that is not sufficient to remove the child’s head. Artificial ventilation of the lungs in the first 2 days can lead to damage, especially in premature and low-weight children.

Metabolic disorders.

Alcohol syndrome, nicotine, drug disorders occur as a result of the cessation of the intake of alcohol, nicotine, and drugs.

Intrauterine infection.

Depends on the type and severity of the disease. Such children are often born in a state of asphyxia, with low weight, an enlarged liver, developmental defects, and there may be a convulsive syndrome.

In the maternity hospital, neonatologists examine newborns and identify perinatal lesion central nervous system and prescribe treatment. But this treatment must be continued at home. What should alert the mother: frequent restlessness of the child, regurgitation, trembling of the chin, arms and legs, freezing of the child in one position, unusual eye movements, rapid head growth of more than 1 cm per week, enlargement of the edges of the fontanel and its bulging.

If your baby has something, you need to consult a neurologist, the sooner the better, and start treatment for full recovery your baby's health.

Treatment of encephalopathy in infants.

Treatment is usually complex, it begins after a complete examination of the baby, for this you need to pass tests:

NSG (neurosonography)
EEG (encephaloelectrography)
MRI (magnetic resonance imaging)
Cerebrospinal fluid
Neurologist
Oculist

At proper treatment When diagnosed in time, encephalopathy in infants is well treated, treatment is carried out both at home and in the hospital, it all depends on the severity of the disease, but treatment is carried out over a long period of time and in courses. Drugs are prescribed to restore the structure of the brain, improve blood supply to the brain, B vitamins (Magne B6, Magnelis), sedatives, drugs that treat symptoms: for seizures, anticonvulsants (Konvulex, Finlepsin, Depakine), drugs that relieve muscle hypertonicity, as well as drugs that treat movement disorders. Other drugs can be prescribed intramuscularly and intravenously. Electrophoresis is well used for the treatment of encephalopathy (if there is no history of seizures), neurologists like to prescribe physical therapy, massage, and herbal medicine. One of the important principles of treatment is: a daily routine with alternating sleep and wakefulness, mandatory walks in the fresh air, proper balanced diet. If you follow all the principles of treatment and regularly visit a neurologist, pediatrician, or physiotherapist, most children have a chance of a full recovery, without consequences in adulthood.

With a diagnosis of encephalopathy, children are registered at a dispensary for further observation at least twice a year.

Consequences of encephalopathy in a newborn.

With severe damage to brain cells, poor or untimely treatment, complications arise:

Therefore, it is very important to begin treatment of encephalopathy as quickly as possible and follow all the recommendations of specialists.

Prevention of encephalopathy.

During pregnancy, the mother must monitor her health, receive adequate nutrition, and not have bad habits or avoid them, regularly visit an antenatal clinic, take vitamins.

To prevent the child from receiving a birth injury, you must listen to the obstetrician’s recommendations and follow them.

Encephalopathy in newborns

Encephalopathy is a brain pathology caused by the death of nerve cells. In the presence of encephalopathy in children and adults, there is a disturbance in the blood supply, and oxygen deficiency in the brain also occurs. Encephalopathy is not a separate disease. This concept usually means general pathological conditions and diseases of the brain. Encephalopathy can be congenital or acquired. Congenital pathology occurs when a traumatic brain injury occurs during childbirth, due to abnormalities in brain development and metabolic disorders in the embryonic period. Acquired encephalopathy occurs for various reasons:

Due to exposure to toxic agents;
If you receive a head injury;
Due to metabolic disorders in the body;
Due to exposure to ionizing radiation;
For disorders of the blood supply to the brain.

Causes

Brain pathology occurs rarely in newborns. The reasons why encephalopathy may occur are as follows:

Deviations and pathological processes during pregnancy;
Complicated childbirth or traumatic brain injury during this process;
Metabolic disorders in the baby's body;
Infection of the expectant mother with infectious diseases during gestation;
Fetal hypoxia can cause encephalopathy in the newborn. There is insufficient blood supply to the baby's brain;
Congenital diseases of the child.

Symptoms

When a pathological disorder of the brain occurs, the baby may exhibit certain signs.

Impaired motor activity of a newborn: hypertonicity and hypotonicity of muscle tissue. It is necessary to distinguish physical tone from encephalopathy syndrome. With hypertonicity and hypotonicity, asymmetrical facial lines and a disproportionate body are observed.
Increased excitability of the baby: quality of sleep, time to fall asleep, possible trembling of the limbs and chin.
Increased lethargy and lethargy of the newborn.
Sluggish sucking and disturbances during swallowing.
Manifestation of intracranial hypertension. A possible complication of the brain in the form of dropsy. For this reason, surgery is necessary. Hypertension can be determined by a swollen and enlarged fontanel, as well as by a large head size.
The occurrence of convulsions, frequent regurgitation, increased salivation.

Diagnosis of encephalopathy in a newborn

A neurologist will be able to diagnose a pathological disorder of the brain through a visual examination and after receiving the results of laboratory and instrumental examinations.

The child is sent for a general blood and urine test;
A biochemical blood test is required;
Blood test for the presence of toxins in the child’s body;
Oxygemometry is prescribed: the level of oxygen in the blood is studied;
Cerebrospinal fluid analysis is required;
Computer or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain, ultrasound and other instrumental methods may be prescribed. In some cases, a consultation with an ophthalmologist, speech therapist and psychologist is required to determine the diagnosis.

Complications

How dangerous is encephalopathy for a newborn? Depending on the severity of the pathology, the consequences and complications may be different. With a mild form of encephalopathy, if diagnosis and treatment are carried out in a timely manner, many diseases of the central nervous system are curable. According to statistics, 1/3 of the children who were diagnosed with this disease were completely cured of the pathology. If treatment is not prescribed on time or significant damage to nerve cells occurs, dangerous consequences may occur.

Developmental delay in a child is the most common consequence of a congenital disease. In the future, the child remembers poorly, cannot concentrate, and is incapable of learning.
Violation of the functions of internal organs and systems.
The occurrence of serious and dangerous diseases.

Treatment

What can you do

Encephalopathy cannot be treated on its own. It is necessary to consult a doctor and follow all treatment recommendations. Parents should give the baby the prescribed medications in dosage according to the instructions. If complications occur, you must inform your doctor. Also, mothers and fathers must provide the child with adequate nutrition. If necessary, you can give vitamin complexes to increase the effectiveness of the immune system. But taking vitamins and other nutritional supplements should be done after consulting a doctor.

What does a doctor do

If the signs of pathology are mild, the newborn is treated at home.
If there are serious disorders of the central nervous system, the baby should be hospitalized.
Treatment of a newborn will take into account the severity of encephalopathy and the individual characteristics of his body.
If the lungs are underdeveloped, artificial ventilation is prescribed.
Nutrition can be provided through a tube.
The infant may be prescribed oxygen therapy and hemodialysis.
Residual encephalopathy requires long-term treatment with many medications, depending on the manifestation and signs of the disease. Nootropic drugs and medications are prescribed for hypertension, motor impairment, and convulsive syndrome.
Medicines can be administered intramuscularly, intravenously or using electrophoresis.
Surgery may be performed to improve blood circulation to the brain. Surgery is often performed without compromising the integrity of brain tissue.
Massage, physiotherapeutic procedures and physical therapy exercises are prescribed as additional treatment methods.

Prevention

Congenital pathology can be prevented in the embryonic period. During pregnancy, the expectant mother should:

look after your health,
avoid stressful situations,
do not take medications without a doctor’s prescription,
not be exposed to toxic agents,
eat well,
eliminate infectious diseases in a timely manner,
follow measures to increase the effectiveness of immunity,
undergo regular examinations and examinations at the antenatal clinic.

During childbirth, doctors must be extremely careful to prevent brain damage and other complications.

In a week, my daughter will turn 1 year and 4 months old. Since 1 month we have been registered with a neurologist with a diagnosis of 93.4 - unspecified encephalopathy. According to the latest NSG - mild dilatation of the lateral ventricles. Also, since 6 months, we have been seeing an orthopedist about valgus (we have been there for a year, he said it is improving) and a physical therapy doctor (we have been there for a year - valgus, mobile joints, weak ligaments). From 6 months we do massage in the clinic (at this moment fourth session with us), as prescribed by the doctor, we underwent general quartz exercise therapy to strengthen the bones.

Arm yourself with knowledge and read a useful informative article about the disease encephalopathy in newborns. After all, being parents means studying everything that will help maintain the degree of health in the family at around “36.6”.

Find out what encephalopathy can cause in newborns and how to recognize it in a timely manner. Find information about the signs that can help you identify illness. And what tests will help identify the disease and make a correct diagnosis.

In the article you will read everything about methods of treating a disease such as encephalopathy in newborns. Find out what effective first aid should be. How to treat: choose medications or traditional methods?

You will also learn how untimely treatment of encephalopathy in newborns can be dangerous, and why it is so important to avoid the consequences. All about how to prevent encephalopathy in newborns and prevent complications. Be healthy!

What is encephalopathy: symptoms in newborns and children under one year of age, treatment methods and prognosis for recovery

Not all parents have time to experience the joys of motherhood and fatherhood after the birth of their baby. For some, this feeling is overshadowed by a terrible diagnosis - encephalopathy. It brings together a whole group of diseases varying degrees severity, accompanied by disorders brain activity. Seen more and more often, it is quite difficult to diagnose in newborns due to the mild severity of symptoms. If not treated promptly, encephalopathy in children leads to epilepsy and paralysis. That is why it is important to know what this pathology is and what signs you should pay attention to.

What is encephalopathy?

Encephalopathy is an organic non-inflammatory lesion of brain neurons in which, under the influence of pathogenic factors, dystrophic changes, leading to disruption of brain function. The impetus for the development of this disease is chronic oxygen deficiency caused by traumatic, toxic, infectious causes. Oxygen starvation brain tissue disrupts the natural metabolic processes in them. As a result, the complete death of neurons triggers the shutdown of damaged areas of the brain.

Among the most common reasons Doctors call the occurrence of encephalopathy:

As a rule, encephalopathy is a sluggish disease, but in some cases, for example, with severe renal and liver failure, it develops rapidly and unexpectedly.

Currently, doctors divide all types of encephalopathies into 2 large groups, each of which is divided into subtypes:

Congenital. It usually occurs during an unfavorable pregnancy, abnormal brain development in the fetus, or genetic disorders of metabolic processes.
Acquired. Occurs at any age, but is more common in adults. It is characterized by the influence of pathogenic factors on the brain during a person’s lifetime.

Varieties

Encephalopathy in children is a multi-etiological disease, but in all cases it has the same morphological changes in the brain. This is destruction and reduction in the number of fully functioning neurons, foci of necrosis, damage nerve fibers central or peripheral nervous system, swelling of the meninges, the presence of areas of hemorrhage in the substance of the brain.

The table below shows the main types of this pathology.

Severity of the disease

The severity of symptoms of encephalopathy in each patient depends on the stage of the disease. Doctors distinguish 3 degrees of severity of the disease:

Easy (first). It is characterized by an almost complete absence of symptoms, which worsen after excessive loads or stress. Minor changes in brain tissue are recorded only with the help of instrumental methods diagnostics It responds well to treatment in the first year of a child’s life if medical recommendations are followed.
Average (second). Symptoms are mild and may be temporary. There is a violation of some reflexes and coordination of movements. Brain examinations reveal areas of hemorrhage.
Heavy (third). There are severe motor impairments, respiratory functions. Severe neurological disorders seriously impair the patient's quality of life, often leading to disability. At this stage, dementia develops; a person cannot take care of himself in everyday life.

Associated syndromes

Each type of encephalopathy in a child is characterized by the presence of syndromes indicating neurological dysfunction.

The most common of them are:

Hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome. Caused by increased intracranial pressure and excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in ventricular system brain. Among the signs of the syndrome in infants are a rapid increase in head circumference (by 1 cm monthly), opening of the sagittal suture, tension and bulging of the fontanel, weakly expressed congenital reflexes, strabismus and Graefe's sign (a white stripe between the pupil and the upper eyelid in a child).
Syndrome motor disorders. It manifests itself as pathological muscle tone - hypertonicity, hypotonicity or muscle dystonia. At the same time, it is difficult for a newborn to take physiological positions, and as the child grows up, there is a lag in physical and mental development. Parents should pay attention to too monotonous screaming or crying of the baby, its delayed reactions to light, visual and sound stimuli and at the first appearance of a pathological reaction, show the child to the doctor.

Hyperexcitability syndrome. It implies an increased nervous reaction to any irritants: touches, sounds, changes in body position. Hypertonicity and tremor of the limbs and chin are often observed. The baby's cry resembles a squeal and is accompanied by throwing back the head. He burps frequently and profusely (in fountains), and weight gain occurs slowly. The sleep-wake pattern is disrupted.
Convulsive syndrome. Is pathological reaction the body to external and internal stimuli and is manifested by involuntary muscle contractions of a local (local) and generalized (covering the entire body) nature. Attacks may be accompanied by vomiting, foaming at the mouth, regurgitation, respiratory distress and cyanosis.
Comatose syndrome. In newborns it is a consequence of birth injuries, infectious lesions, metabolic disorders and functional breathing disorders. Expressed in the oppression of the three vital important functions– consciousness, sensitivity and motor activity. With it, there is a lack of sucking and swallowing reflex in children.
Syndrome of vegetative-visceral disorders. Manifests pathological changes in the cardiovascular, respiratory systems, disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, abnormal coloring or pallor of the skin, impaired thermoregulation.
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It is a neurological-behavioral developmental disorder in which children have difficulty concentrating and perceiving information. The child is overly impulsive and does not cope well with his emotions.

Diagnostic methods

For older children, special tests are also offered to help assess memory, attention and mental condition. Today the following are used modern methods research:

Neurosonography. It is prescribed to children from birth until the large fontanelle becomes overgrown. Using a special ultrasonic sensor, they are examined brain structures and their pathologies are identified: hypertensive and hydrocephalic syndromes, hypoxic-ischemic lesions, cysts and hematomas, inflammation of the meninges.
Doppler ultrasound. Allows you to assess the condition of the blood vessels of the brain and detects disturbances in the speed of blood flow, pathologies and aneurysms of the vessels supplying the brain, blockage or narrowing of the arteries.
Electroencephalography. Registers the electrical activity of the brain, allowing one to draw conclusions about inflammatory processes, tumors, vascular pathologies in the brain, and epileptic foci.
Rheoencephalography. Represents simplest method study and evaluation vascular walls and cerebral vessels. Detects blood flow disorders and vascular hypertonicity.
Blood analysis. Allows you to determine the presence of leukocytosis, indicating inflammatory processes in the body, and the level of bilirubin, which is important in the development of bilirubin encephalopathy.

Neurosonography procedure

Treatment of encephalopathy in children

Encephalopathy is a serious diagnosis that requires immediate medical attention. Self-medication in this case is not only inappropriate, but can also lead to irreversible consequences. Only a specialist will select an individual treatment - at home or in hospital - depending on the age, anthropometric data of the child, the severity of the pathology and the severity of its symptoms, which will not suppress a number of important brain functions.

Medicines

Drug therapy is based on taking the following main groups of drugs:

Nootropics, or neurometabolic stimulants. Activate the work of nerve cells and improve blood flow. These include: Piracetam, Vinpocetine, Pantogam, Phenotropil, Actovegin, Cerebrolysin.
Vasodilators, or vasodilators. Expand the lumen blood vessels, normalizing blood flow. Among them are Papaverine and Vinpocetine.
Psycholeptics, or sedatives. Aimed at relieving increased excitability. These include Citral, Valerianahel, Elenium.
Analgesics, or painkillers. The purpose of their use is to relieve severe pain. This is Aspirin, Ibuprofen.
Anticonvulsants, or antiepileptic drugs. Aimed at reducing epileptic activity and stopping seizures of any origin. Among them are Valparin, Phenobarbital.

In addition to these medications, the doctor may prescribe antispasmodics and centrally acting muscle relaxants. Within inpatient treatment Physiotherapy procedures - electrophoresis, amplipulse therapy - have proven themselves well. For bilirubin encephalopathy, treatment with phototherapy is appropriate.

For effective fight with the consequences of perinatal or acquired encephalopathy, medications alone are not enough. Parents should be patient and focus on the physical and mental recovery of their child. To do this, you should establish a regime of wakefulness and rest for the baby, provide his diet with food, rich in vitamin B, regularly conduct physical therapy classes and massage sessions.

As the child grows up, if necessary, it is recommended to involve correctional teachers - speech therapists, defectologists. They provide assistance in social adaptation, formation of positive motivation and draw up a development plan using necessary methods, means and techniques that take into account age, individual and psychological characteristics baby.

Consequences for the child

The consequences of encephalopathy are serious. This is a delay in speech, mental and physical development, brain dysfunction, expressed by lack of attention and memory, epilepsy, hydrocephalus, children cerebral paralysis. The prognosis varies depending on the severity of the disease - from complete recovery to disability and death.

Well, I don’t know if hiring expensive specialists is really necessary. As one speech therapist I know said: “If you don’t work with your child at home yourself, I won’t help you in any way.” I'm inclined to believe him, he's a smart guy.

We were once prescribed Pantogam for a month or two because the child had intrauterine hypoxia. They said it wouldn't make it worse. And here I see it in the complex of treatment of such a serious pathology. How can such strong drugs prescribe for prophylaxis?

Attention! All information on the site is provided for informational purposes only and is for informational purposes only. For all questions regarding the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, you must consult a doctor for an in-person consultation.

In a broad sense, encephalopathy in children is a disease in which the brain is affected. Numerous factors can provoke the disease.

Forecasts diseases directly depend on the timeliness of diagnosis and therapy. Ignoring the symptoms of encephalopathy can cause a fundamental disruption in the functioning of certain parts of the brain, the functionality of which cannot be restored.

Encephalopathy of the brain - what is it?

The term "encephalopathy" in medical practice a group of diseases is united inflammatory etiology, affecting the nervous system.

The cause of such pathologies is damage certain group brain neurons by negative external and internal factors.

Encephalopathy is not independent disease and develops only against the background of complications of various pathological conditions.

Why is it developing?

Factors provoking encephalopathy in newborns, differ from the causes of the disease in older children.

In the first case, the process of intrauterine development of the fetus plays an important role.

Birth injuries can also cause the development of encephalopathy.

In older children, the disease in most cases is a complication of other pathologies or a result.

Provoke encephalopathy in children the following factors may occur:

consequences of intrauterine hypoxia;
complications ;
abuse of bad habits during pregnancy;
congenital diseases of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems;
instability;
complications of infectious and viral diseases;
disruption of the circulatory system;
consequences of traumatic brain injuries;
complications ;
in the body (especially vitamin B);
toxic effects on the central nervous system.

What happens?

Encephalopathy may be congenital and acquired.

In the first case, pathology develops as a result of the negative impact of factors of various etiologies on the head of the child during its intrauterine development.

Acquired forms of the disease begin to progress after birth(including due to birth injuries). Additionally, encephalopathy is divided into several types depending on the cause that provoked the development of the disease.

Classification of encephalopathy:

In medical practice, there are three degrees of progression of encephalopathy. On initial stage development clinical manifestations illnesses may be erased. The second degree of the disease is characterized by exacerbation of symptoms.

The third stage of disease progression is accompanied by the development of irreversible processes in the child, which can cause disability and the appearance of persistent neurological disorders.

How to recognize?

The intensity of encephalopathy symptoms in children depends on numerous factors. Important role plays the child's age, the state of his nervous system, the type of cause of the disease, as well as the presence or absence of provoking chronic diseases.

The development of the pathological condition occurs gradually, but in some cases characteristic symptoms appear suddenly and with high degree intensity.

Symptoms and signs Encephalopathy in children can be caused by the following conditions:

Why is it dangerous?

Encephalopathy has an extremely negative effect on the neurons of the brain. Progression pathology can cause irreversible processes. Getting rid of some complications will be impossible.

With encephalopathy, the functioning of the nervous system is impaired, which can provoke a child’s tendency to depression, asthenic syndrome and a number of vegetative-vascular dysfunctions.

In the absence of timely treatment, complications increase in scale. Complications of encephalopathy The following pathologies may occur:

Establishing diagnosis

Several specialists are involved in the diagnosis of encephalopathy, but the diagnosis is made by neurologist.

Additional examination by specialized doctors is carried out if it is difficult to identify the causes of the disease or determine the extent of damage child's body. Main diagnostic methods encephalopathy are instrumental and laboratory procedures.

The following methods are used for diagnosis:

Treatment methods and drugs

Therapeutic course for encephalopathy assigned on an individual basis. When choosing necessary medications and procedures, the age of the child, the general clinical picture of his health, the causes of damage to brain neurons and the degree of progression of the pathology are taken into account.

Self-medication for encephalopathy should be excluded. Otherwise, it will be impossible to get rid of its complications.

When treating encephalopathy, the following may be prescribed: drugs and procedures:

What is the outcome?

In most cases, encephalopathy ends with the child’s recovery. However, such a forecast is only possible when complete and complex therapy.

If the symptoms of the pathology were ignored for a long time, the diagnosis of the disease was not carried out in a timely manner, and the treatment was carried out with violations of the regimen, then such factors can provoke complications and negative consequences for the child's body.

Encephalopathy can provoke irreversible processes in the brain, due to which it will not be possible to restore its functionality.

Prevention goals

Prevention of encephalopathy includes basic rules for caring for a child and caring for his health.

WITH early age The baby must eat properly and get enough vitamins.

Parents should promptly consult doctors if their child experiences symptoms of dysfunction of internal organs and deterioration general condition body. Special attention to your lifestyle should be given to women during pregnancy.

Prevention of encephalopathy includes the following: recommendations:

Prevention of birth injuries in a child.
Prevention of fetal hypoxia during intrauterine development.
Strengthening the child's immune system from an early age.
Quitting bad habits during pregnancy.
Prevention of toxic effects on the children's body.
Complete and timely treatment of infectious diseases.

If a child is diagnosed with increased intracranial pressure, then it is necessary to as soon as possible conduct a comprehensive examination.

In most cases this is the first symptom a signal of dysfunction of brain neurons. Thanks to timely diagnosis Encephalopathy can be detected at the initial stage of development. The likelihood of a complete recovery for a small patient will increase significantly.

A pediatric neurologist talks about encephalopathy in children in this video:

We kindly ask you not to self-medicate. Make an appointment with a doctor!

Encephalopathies are diseases and pathological conditions in which brain damage occurs. They are caused by the death of nerve cells as a result of impaired blood supply and oxygen deficiency of the brain tissue. According to medical statistics, encephalopathy in children is becoming more common nowadays, causing real panic among parents. Despite the fact that the disease is quite serious, timely treatment often leads to a complete recovery of the child. If a cure cannot be achieved, doctors can significantly alleviate the baby’s condition and reduce the risk of severe complications.

There are many types of this disease, each of which has its own cause and symptoms. In children, perinatal and residual encephalopathy are most common.

Perinatal encephalopathy in children: causes and symptoms

Perinatal encephalopathy (PEP) is a variety of brain lesions that occur during the fetal development of the baby, as well as during childbirth. There are many reasons for the appearance of encephalopathy in children. Most common factors The following conditions are at risk:

Pregnancy too early;
Hereditary diseases and metabolic disorders;
Acute infections or chronic diseases women;
Pathological course of pregnancy (threat of miscarriage, early or late toxicosis);
Poor nutrition;
Unfavorable ecology and harmful environmental impacts;
Use of certain medications;
Immaturity or prematurity of the fetus with functional impairments in the first day of its life;
Pathological course of the birth process (weakness labor activity, rapid labor);
Injuries during childbirth.

In many cases, the cause of perinatal encephalopathy in children cannot be determined.

Since this disease covers a very wide range of pathologies and nervous disorders, its signs are quite diverse. Experts identify the most typical symptoms of encephalopathy in infants:

Late or weak first cry at birth;
Lack of sucking reflex;
Anxiety, frequent crying, sleep disturbance;
Heartbeat problems;
Increased muscle tone or excessive lethargy;
Throwing back the head, reflexive shudders;
Frequent regurgitation during and after meals;
Strabismus, goggle-eyedness.

In some cases, the signs of encephalopathy in children are mild, however, even such children need close attention doctor, and sometimes special therapy.

Treatment and consequences of perinatal encephalopathy

Treatment of encephalopathy in children is a rather lengthy process. The doctor selects treatment methods and medications individually for each child, taking into account the severity of the disease, concomitant pathologies, and general condition.

The main methods used in the treatment of the disease are: drug therapy, blockade injection, vascular, antioxidant and metabolite therapy. In severe cases, specialists treat with stem cells.

Physiotherapeutic treatment, manual and reflexology, and therapeutic exercises are successfully used. The use of phytotherapeutic methods in the treatment of encephalopathy in children makes it possible to reduce unpleasant symptoms illness. Children are prescribed herbal infusions of dandelion, clover, mint, St. John's wort, knotweed, plantain, sweet clover, and lemon balm.

Correctly chosen therapeutic tactics and constant monitoring of the child by a doctor help to minimize possible consequences encephalopathies, among which the most common diseases and conditions are early osteochondrosis, neurocircular dystonia, scoliosis, hypertension, severe migraines, hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, fine motor skills, vision problems.

Residual encephalopathy in children

Sometimes signs of perinatal encephalopathy do not appear for a long time. Then organic damage to the brain becomes noticeable, which is the beginning of the development of residual encephalopathy. In addition, head injuries can trigger this disease. toxic poisoning, increased arterial pressure, some diseases, vegetative-vascular dystonia, taking medications, etc.

It should be noted that structural and functional disorders of the brain have a very diverse clinical picture. The most common symptoms of encephalopathy in children can be identified:

Frequent fainting, migraines, paresis (partial loss or impairment motor function muscles);
Constant fatigue, lethargy;
Memory impairment, psychological disorders;
Sudden changes in emotional state;
Nausea and vomiting that does not bring relief.

The specialist chooses treatment methods based on the cause of the disease. In the treatment of residual encephalopathy in children, as a rule, symptomatic drugs are used that improve cerebral circulation. Depending on the manifestations of the disease, the doctor may prescribe anticonvulsant or diuretic medications or vitamin complexes to the small patient. 4.6 out of 5 (32 votes)