System | Nervous system |
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Significant diseases | Epilepsy, seizures, headache, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, tumors, concussion, spinal cord injury |
Significant tests | Computed tomography scan, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, lumbar puncture, electroencephalography, blood tests |
Specialist | Pediatric neurologist |
Pediatric neurology is the medical subfield of neurology focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of pathologies related to the central nervous system and peripheral nervous system in children. [1]
While pediatric neurologists have many similarities to neurologists, the neurological disorders they treat can vary due to their focus on children. Pediatric neurologists treat and manage epilepsy, seizures, headaches, concussions, hydrocephalus, spinal bifida, neurological trauma, and more. [2]
The field of pediatric neurology has many practical connections to neuroscience, the scientific study of the nervous system. Some pediatric neurologists may elect to conduct basic science research in neuroscience or conduct clinical research and clinical trials. Even though pediatric neurology is a non-surgical field, it has many connections to pediatric neurosurgery, which addresses surgical issues related to the treatment of the nervous system. [3]
Occupation | |
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Names | Physician |
Occupation type | Profession |
Activity sectors | Medicine |
Description | |
Education required | M.D. or D.O. (US), M.B.B.S. (UK), D.M. (Doctorate of Medicine) (India), M.B. B.Ch. B.A.O. (Republic of Ireland) [4] [5] |
Fields of employment | Hospitals, Clinics |
In the United States, pediatric neurologists must first complete a B.A. or B.S. degree while taking the required medical school pre-requisites. Following the completion of a bachelor's degree, students apply to a MD or DO program and complete a four year curriculum consisting of pre-clinical education and clinical rotations. Pediatric neurology residency requires the completion of two years of a pediatric residency. Physicians may either apply directly to a combined five year residency or complete two preliminary pediatric years followed by a separate three years of dedicated pediatric neurology training. [6]
After the completion of residency, child neurologists will be board eligible through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Pediatric neurologists may also be board certified in pediatrics through the American Board of Pediatrics. [7]
In Europe, many countries recognize pediatric neurology as a specialty, however the training varies. Some countries have a full pediatric neurology training that does not require preliminary years in pediatrics before entering. Other European countries only offer pediatric neurology training to physicians fully board certified in pediatrics. Similarly, some countries will offer pediatric neurology training only to physicians who have completed a board certification in adult neurology. [8]
Neurology is the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the nervous system, which comprises the brain, the spinal cord and the peripheral nerves. Neurological practice relies heavily on the field of neuroscience, the scientific study of the nervous system.
Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that involves the medical care of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. In the United Kingdom, paediatrics covers many of their youth until the age of 18. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends people seek pediatric care through the age of 21, but some pediatric subspecialists continue to care for adults up to 25. Worldwide age limits of pediatrics have been trending upward year after year. A medical doctor who specializes in this area is known as a pediatrician, or paediatrician. The word pediatrics and its cognates mean "healer of children", derived from the two Greek words: παῖς and ἰατρός. Pediatricians work in clinics, research centers, universities, general hospitals and children's hospitals, including those who practice pediatric subspecialties.
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Clinical neurophysiology is a medical specialty that studies the central and peripheral nervous systems through the recording of bioelectrical activity, whether spontaneous or stimulated. It encompasses both research regarding the pathophysiology along with clinical methods used to diagnose diseases involving both central and peripheral nervous systems. Examinations in the clinical neurophysiology field are not limited to tests conducted in a laboratory. It is thought of as an extension of a neurologic consultation. Tests that are conducted are concerned with measuring the electrical functions of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves in the limbs and muscles. It can give the precise definition of site, the type and degree of the lesion, along with revealing the abnormalities that are in question. Due to these abilities, clinical neurophysiology is used to mainly help diagnose diseases rather than treat them.
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Neuropathology is the study of disease of nervous system tissue, usually in the form of either small surgical biopsies or whole-body autopsies. Neuropathologists usually work in a department of anatomic pathology, but work closely with the clinical disciplines of neurology, and neurosurgery, which often depend on neuropathology for a diagnosis. Neuropathology also relates to forensic pathology because brain disease or brain injury can be related to cause of death. Neuropathology should not be confused with neuropathy, which refers to disorders of the nerves themselves rather than the tissues. In neuropathology, the branches of the specializations of nervous system as well as the tissues come together into one field of study.
A medical specialty is a branch of medical practice that is focused on a defined group of patients, diseases, skills, or philosophy. Examples include those branches of medicine that deal exclusively with children (paediatrics), cancer (oncology), laboratory medicine (pathology), or primary care. After completing medical school or other basic training, physicians or surgeons and other clinicians usually further their medical education in a specific specialty of medicine by completing a multiple-year residency to become a specialist.
Medical education in the United States includes educational activities involved in the education and training of physicians in the country, with the overall process going from entry-level training efforts through to the continuing education of qualified specialists in the context of American colleges and universities.
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