Department of Pediatric Neurology - Childrens Hospital Nuremberg

About the Department of Pediatric Neurology at Childrens Hospital Nuremberg

The Department of Pediatric Neurology at the Children's Hospital Nuremberg offers the widest range of medical services for young patients with pathologies of the nervous system. The department's highly qualified team of neurologists specializes in the treatment of diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. The doctors have deep knowledge and clinical experience in medical care for children with cerebral palsy, epilepsy, dizziness, inflammatory diseases of the nervous system, and congenital anomalies of the brain and spinal cord. The medical facility admits children of all age groups, from premature and newborn infants to adolescents up to 18 years old. The specialists have the necessary diagnostic options for accurate examination of the brain and spinal cord as well as assessment of the child's nervous system functions. CT and MRI in young patients may be performed under anesthesia if required. Each child is provided with a personalized treatment regimen, which may include drug therapy, physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises, manual therapy, massage, electrical stimulation, and other effective methods. The department has a friendly atmosphere and perfectly arranged play areas for children. The department is headed by Dr. med. Almut Hirsch.

The team of the department's pediatric neurologists regularly treats young patients with epilepsy. The pathology is chronic and manifests itself in sudden seizures accompanied by loss of consciousness, movement disorders, and other symptoms. To confirm the diagnosis, the department's doctors carry out comprehensive diagnostics with an assessment of the neurological status, study the child's anamnesis, and perform a number of laboratory and instrumental tests (EEG, CT, MRI, ECG, blood, and urine tests). The specialists also carry out differential diagnostics to exclude conditions with similar symptoms, for example, febrile seizures or convulsions. Once the diagnosis is confirmed, doctors begin to elaborate a treatment regimen, taking into account the specific type of epilepsy, the duration and severity of the disease, the frequency and intensity of epileptic seizures, the child's age, and their general health condition. The primary method of combating epilepsy is drug therapy with anticonvulsants. As a rule, a single drug is selected, but sometimes a combination of several drugs may be used as well. Both the child and parents should be prepared for years of drug intake and strict adherence to the neurologist's recommendations. Balanced nutrition, normalization of sleep, and appropriate physical and mental activities play an important role in the treatment process.

In cooperation with pediatric orthopedists and experienced physiotherapists, the department's specialists treat cerebral palsy in children. Pathology is a complex of specific motor disorders, up to complete immobility, that develop due to damage to the central nervous system in the process of intrauterine development, during childbirth, or in the first years of the child's life. A child with cerebral palsy quite often has speech and mental disorders and an intellectual disability. During the diagnostics, the neurologist carefully analyzes the complaints, studies anamnesis, inquires about the course of pregnancy and childbirth, and the peculiarities of the development of the baby in the first months of life. When conducting the examination, the specialist also pays due attention to the assessment of muscle tone and the presence or absence of pathological reactions. The department's doctors obligatorily perform electroencephalography, electromyography, electroneuromyography, neurosonography, and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. As for the treatment, cerebral palsy is still incurable, so the goal of therapy is to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications, and adapt the child to life in society. The department's specialists most often resort to such methods as symptomatic drug therapy, physiotherapy, therapeutic exercises, massage, and psychotherapy.

An important role in clinical practice is also given to medical care for children with inflammatory diseases of the nervous system, such as encephalitis, meningitis, myelitis, multiple sclerosis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome. Young patients with these conditions receive anti-inflammatory drug therapy and symptomatic treatment. The timely initiation of therapeutic measures is crucial for a successful outcome because delays may lead to irreversible pathological changes or even fatal consequences.

The main areas of the department's specialization include:

• Diagnostics and treatment of epilepsy
• Diagnostics and treatment of cerebral palsy
• Diagnostics and treatment of inflammatory diseases of the nervous system: encephalitis, meningitis, myelitis, multiple sclerosis, and Guillain-Barre syndrome
• Diagnostics and treatment of spina bifida and other congenital malformations of the nervous system
• Diagnostics and treatment of congenital genetic diseases affecting the nervous system
• Diagnostics and treatment of dizziness
• Diagnostics and treatment of chronic headaches
• Diagnostics and treatment of neuromuscular and chronic neurodegenerative diseases
• Diagnostics and treatment of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Diagnostics and treatment of nervous tics
• Diagnostics and treatment of autism spectrum disorders
• Diagnostics and treatment of other neurological diseases in children

Photo of the doctor: (c) Klinik Hallerwiese-Cnopfsche Kinderklinik