Neuralgia in a child causes severe pain, which occurs against the background of damage to the peripheral part of the nervous system. In children, intercostal and trigeminal neuralgia are detected. Untimely therapy or failure to seek medical help leads to attention deficit, delayed development of the speech apparatus and hyperactivity. Children diagnosed with neuralgia are apathetic, nervous, tearful.
Provocative factors
Such factors contribute to the development of neuralgia:
- lack of oxygen during the formation of the fetus;
- insufficient concentration of hemoglobin in a pregnant woman;
- smoking of the future mother;
- injuries during delivery;
- depression and stress while waiting for crumbs;
- premature birth;
- infectious pathologies;
- spinal diseases;
- increased physical activity;
- constant drafts, dampness;
- long stay of the baby in a kangaroo bag;
- anomalies of the musculoskeletal system.
Diagnosis of neuralgia
In order to diagnose neuralgia in a child, the following activities are carried out:
- history of the child is being studied;
- inspection is carried out;
- a small patient is examined by a neurologist, during the consultation, the sensitivity of the area of pain concentration is determined, the nature of the pain is determined, the causes of the pathology are determined;
- do electroneuromyography - evaluate the speed of the impulse along nerve fibers, as well as the degree of damage;
- material taken from nerves is subject to microscopic examination;
- examine the condition of blood vessels;
- if necessary, the child is examined by a neurosurgeon.
Symptoms
The main symptom of neuralgia in children is severe pain. In addition, the child has the following clinic:
- nervous tic;
- tearfulness;
- headache;
- increased sweating;
- involuntary movements of the muscles of the face;
- irritability;
- weakness in the lower extremities;
- excess saliva;
- temperature increase up to 38 degrees;
- severe pain when changing the position of the body;
- inability to open the jaw while crying.
When identifying the first signs of the disease, doctors recommend:
- in the near future consult a doctor;
- pass the examination;
- daily water procedures;
- protect your child from hypothermia and drafts;
- regularly perform exercises recommended by your doctor.
Treatment. Complications
After making an accurate diagnosis, the doctor prescribes complex therapy. It is selected individually depending on the severity of the clinical picture, the age of the small patient and taking into account the characteristics of the body, as well as the nature of the pain syndrome. Conservative treatment of neuralgia in children (symptoms affect the choice of methods) consists of:
- taking analgesic medications;
- herbal medicine;
- homeopathic treatment;
- physiotherapy exercises;
- Massage
- physiotherapy;
- acupuncture;
- manual therapy;
- reflexology.
Surgical treatment is indicated only in very severe cases.
All children with such a diagnosis are under observation at a neurologist in a clinic at the place of residence.
The danger of neuralgia in a child is due to the occurrence of pain shock and neuritis, as well as muscle atrophy and impaired sensitivity. To minimize the negative consequences, it is recommended that you consult a doctor at the first sign of pathology for a diagnosis and selection of complex therapy.
Prevention
Preventive measures include:
- Lack of drafts and hypothermia.
- Strengthening the immune system.
- Daily walks in the fresh air.
- Hardening.
- Balanced diet. The exception is fried, smoked, fatty spicy, sour foods, as well as fast food. Compliance with the principle of fractional nutrition, in other words, is at least five times a day in small portions. Allowed the intake of vegetables and fruits in unlimited quantities.
- Take vitamin complexes enriched with trace elements.
The clinical picture of neuralgia in an infant
The main symptoms that suggest neuralgia are as follows:
- constant shudder of the lower and upper limbs, as well as the chin;
- during heavy crying, the baby pulls the handles to the face whose muscles twitch;
- poor sleep;
- when changing the position of the body, the baby screams strongly;
- during crying, due to the cramped jaw of the jaw, the crumbs are not able to open their mouths.
If you find the above signs, you need to seek help from doctors for timely qualified assistance. To confirm the diagnosis, an examination of the fundus is performed, an ultrasound is done. If necessary, other examination methods are prescribed. For the treatment of neuralgia in infants, massage courses, physiotherapy exercises and physiotherapy are used. Pharmacotherapy is rarely used. Infant neuralgia is treatable.
Intercostal neuralgia
Intercostal nerves depart from the spinal cord , which are located in the intercostal spaces. With their irritation, neuralgia occurs. In children, this ailment is not common. The main symptom of the disease is a sharp pain in the region of the ribs, which gives back to the back. Additional symptoms of intercostal neuralgia in children include:
- the appearance of pain when changing the position of the body, coughing, sneezing, sudden movements;
- the occurrence of pain during palpation of the chest, spine;
- inconvenience when inhaling and exhaling;
- involuntary muscle contraction;
- loss of sensitivity in some parts of the body;
- increased sweating;
- redness of skin in the area where the irritated nerve is located;
- cramps of the upper limbs are possible;
- palpitations and rapid heartbeat.
After some time, the pain goes away, because the nerve root dies. The condition improves, but then pain reappears, preventing a full chest from breathing. If the disease passes into a neglected form, then it will become more difficult to treat it. Therefore, when the above symptoms of a child occur, it is necessary to show the neurologist.
Therapy of intercostal neuralgia
If a child experiences pain in the chest area, they should contact a pediatrician. The doctor will conduct an examination and first of all make an ECG to detect the work of the heart muscle. Most likely, an x-ray of the lungs will be prescribed to exclude pulmonary pathology. Then the sick child is sent to a neurologist who is involved in the treatment of intercostal neuralgia in children.
He conducts an additional examination using computer diagnostics, myelography and electrospondylography. And only after an accurate diagnosis is made, the necessary therapy is prescribed. Depending on the condition of the child, treatment is carried out in a hospital or on an outpatient basis. It is required to observe bed rest in the early days. It is advisable to lie on a hard surface. To do this, put a wooden shield under the mattress. To reduce pain, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are prescribed. A large role in the treatment is given to:
- physiotherapy exercises;
- physiotherapeutic procedures;
- Massage
- acupuncture;
- manual therapy;
- homeopathy.
In addition, gels and creams are used for local anesthesia.
Topographic anatomy of the trigeminal nerve
Trinity is one of the largest cranial nerves. It consists of a sensitive and motor core and fibers. Leaving the trigeminal node, the sensitive part is divided into three branches:
- orbital;
- maxillary;
- mandibular.
These branches carry out the sensitivity of the soft tissues of the skull and face, mucous membranes and tissues of the mouth, nose, teeth. The motor part controls the tissues of the lower lip, jaw, gums and chewing muscles. With inflammation of the trigeminal nerve, the work of the corresponding motor and sensory systems is disrupted. More often pain occurs on one side of the face, but there is also bilateral inflammation of the trigeminal nerve.
Causes of trigeminal neuralgia in children
The following causes cause the disease:
- Strong subcooling - constant exposure to drafts or under operating air conditioning.
- Features of the anatomical location of the nerve - a close superficial location causes increased sensitivity.
- Infections of the nose and throat - sinusitis, sinusitis, tonsillitis.
- Chronic problems of a dental nature - caries.
- Tumors that contribute to pinching and causing neuralgia in a child.
- Complications after traumatic brain injury.
- Herpes virus infection, chickenpox.
- Consequences after surgery on the face.
Before treatment, it is important to establish the cause of the trigeminal inflammation. The success of the chosen therapy largely depends on this.
Symptoms associated with facial inflammation
With inflammation of the trigeminal nerve pain immediately occurs in the face, and they can resemble the symptoms of diseases of other organs. There are two types of trigeminal neuralgia in a child:
- Typical - bouts of burning, severe pain occur cyclically, gradually reaching a peak and gradually subsiding. Their frequency is strictly individual, from once a day to repetition every hour. The sensation resembles an electric shock.
- Atypical - are rare. Pain is constantly observed. They are distributed over half the face.
Other symptoms include:
- decreased or increased sensitivity of the skin in the area of the face with an inflamed nerve;
- nerve tics - involuntary muscle twitching;
- increased salivation and lacrimation;
- redness of the skin;
- sleep disturbance;
- constant fatigue and bad mood.
Often, pain attacks with inflammation of the trigeminal nerve in a child provoke touching the face, blowing wind, talking, smiling, brushing your teeth.
Facial inflammation therapy
To treat neuralgia in a child, the doctor prescribes the following therapy:
- Procedures to eliminate foci of infection of a dental and otolaryngological nature.
- NSAIDs that relieve pain and inflammation.
- Group B vitamins and drugs to improve peripheral blood supply.
- Anticonvulsants are used individually.
- Dry heat is recommended on the affected part of the face.
It is not necessary to self-medicate a serious disease, an early visit to a doctor gives positive results.
Any pathology of the nervous system, including neuralgia, can affect the development of the vital organs of the child.