This diagnosis is currently one of the most common. Organic damage to the central nervous system (CNS) in its classical content is a neurological diagnosis, i.e. is under the purview of a neurologist. But the symptoms and syndromes accompanying this diagnosis can relate to any other medical specialty.

This diagnosis means that the human brain is defective to a certain extent. But, if there is a mild degree (5-20%) of “organics” ( organic damage central nervous system) is inherent in almost all people (98-99%) and does not require any special medical interventions, then the average degree (20-50%) of organics is not just a quantitatively different state, but a qualitatively different (fundamentally more severe) type of disorder of the nervous system.

The causes of organic lesions are divided into congenital and acquired. Congenital cases include cases where during pregnancy the mother of the unborn child suffered some kind of infection (acute respiratory infection, flu, sore throat, etc.), took certain medications, alcohol, or smoked. The unified blood supply system will bring stress hormones into the fetal body during periods psychological stress mother. In addition, they influence sudden changes temperature and pressure, exposure to radioactive substances and x-rays, toxic substances dissolved in water, contained in the air, in food, etc.

There are several particularly critical periods when even a slight external impact on the mother’s body can lead to the death of the fetus or cause such significant changes in the structure of the body (and, including the brain) of the future person that, firstly, no medical intervention is possible correct, and secondly, these changes can lead to the early death of a child before the age of 5 - 15 (and usually mothers report this) or cause disability from the very beginning. early age. And in the very best case scenario lead to severe brain inferiority, when even at maximum stress the brain is able to work at only 20-40 percent of its potential power. Almost always these disorders are accompanied by varying degrees severity of disharmony mental activity when, with reduced mental potential, they are not always sharpened positive qualities character.

This can also be facilitated by taking certain medications, physical and emotional overload, asphyxia during childbirth (oxygen starvation of the fetus), prolonged labor, early placental abruption, uterine atony, etc. After childbirth severe infections(with pronounced symptoms of intoxication, high temperature etc.) up to 3 years can give rise to acquired organic changes in the brain. Brain injuries with or without loss of consciousness, long-term general anesthesia or short-term, drug use, alcohol abuse, long-term (several months) independent (without prescription and constant supervision of an experienced psychiatrist or psychotherapist) use of certain psychotropic drugs can lead to some reversible or irreversible changes in the functioning of the brain.

Diagnosis of organic matter is quite simple. A professional psychiatrist can already determine the presence or absence of organic matter by the child’s face. And, in some cases, even the degree of its severity. Another question is that there are hundreds of types of disorders in the functioning of the brain, and in each specific case they are in a very special combination and connection with each other.

Laboratory diagnostics is based on a series of procedures that are quite harmless to the body and informative for the doctor: EEG - electroencephalogram, REG - rheoencephalogram (examination of cerebral vessels), USDG (M-echoEG) - ultrasound diagnostics brain. These three examinations are similar in form to an electrocardiogram, only they are taken from a person’s head. Computed tomography, with its very impressive and expressive name, is actually capable of identifying a very small number of types of brain pathology - a tumor, a space-occupying process, an aneurysm ( pathological expansion brain vessels), expansion of the main cisterns of the brain (with increased intracranial pressure). The most informative study is the EEG.

Let us note that practically no disorders of the central nervous system disappear on their own, and with age they not only do not decrease, but intensify both quantitatively and qualitatively. The mental development of a child directly depends on the state of the brain. If the brain has at least some damage, then this will definitely reduce the intensity mental development child in the future (difficulty in the processes of thinking, memorization and recall, impoverishment of imagination and fantasy). In addition, a person’s character is formed distorted, with varying degrees of severity. certain type psychopathization. The presence of even small but numerous changes in the child’s psychology and psyche leads to a significant decrease in the organization of his external and internal phenomena and actions. There is an impoverishment of emotions and some flattening of them, which directly and indirectly affects the child’s facial expressions and gestures.

The central nervous system regulates the functioning of all internal organs. And if it does not work fully, then the other organs, even with the most careful care for each of them separately, will not be able, in principle, to work normally if they are poorly regulated by the brain. One of the most common diseases of our time, vegetative-vascular dystonia, against the background of organic matter, acquires a more severe, peculiar and atypical course. And thus, not only does it cause more trouble, but these “troubles” themselves are more malignant in nature. Physical development the body goes with any disorders - there may be a violation of the figure, a decrease in muscle tone, a decrease in their resistance to physical activity of even moderate magnitude. The likelihood of increased intracranial pressure increases by 2-6 times. This can lead to frequent headaches and various kinds of unpleasant sensations in the head area, reducing the productivity of mental and physical labor by 2-4 times. The likelihood of endocrine disorders also increases and increases by 3-4 times, which leads to minor additional stress factors. diabetes mellitus, bronchial asthma, imbalances of sex hormones with subsequent disruption of the sexual development of the body as a whole (an increase in the amount of male sex hormones in girls and female hormones- in boys), the risk of developing a brain tumor increases, convulsive syndrome(local or general convulsions with loss of consciousness), epilepsy (group 2 disability), cerebrovascular accidents in adulthood, if present hypertension even medium degree severity (stroke), diencephalic syndrome (attacks causeless fear, various expressed discomfort in any part of the body, lasting from a few minutes to several hours). Over time, hearing and vision may decrease, coordination of movements of a sports, household, aesthetic and technical nature may be impaired, complicating social and professional adaptation.

Organic treatment is a long process. Must be taken twice a year for 1-2 months vascular drugs. Concomitant neuropsychic disorders also require their own separate and special correction, which must be carried out by a psychiatrist. To monitor the degree of effectiveness of organic treatment and the nature and magnitude of changes in the state of the brain, monitoring by the doctor himself at the appointment and EEG, REG, and ultrasound are used.

Make an appointment

A newborn child is not yet a fully completed creation of nature. Although the baby has arms and legs, and his eyes seem to look at his mother consciously, in fact, it takes time for many body systems to complete the maturation. Digestive system, vision, and nervous system continue to develop after the baby is born. The newborn's central nervous system is one of the most important systems, since it regulates the development of the little man and influences how harmoniously he will feel in a new world for him. Unfortunately, at present, lesions of the central nervous system of newborns are not uncommon. The consequences of damage to the central nervous system of newborns can permanently turn the baby into a disabled person.

Features of the newborn's central nervous system

The central nervous system of newborns has a number of features. A newborn baby has a fairly large brain mass, it makes up 10% of the body weight. By comparison, the adult brain weighs 2.5% of body weight. At the same time, large convolutions and grooves of the brain have less pronounced depth than in an adult. At the moment of birth, the baby has not yet fully differentiated the right and left hemispheres, while there are unconditioned reflex reactions.

During the first 2-3 days, there is an increase in the level of non-opiate peptides, which are involved in the regulation of certain hormones responsible for the functions of the gastrointestinal tract. There is also an active development of auditory and visual analyzers, which is facilitated by close contact with the mother. A newborn baby has a very developed taste and olfactory analyzer, and the threshold for the sensation of taste is much higher than that of an adult.

Damage to the central nervous system of newborns

Lesions of the central nervous system of newborns can be mild, moderate or severe. The Apgar scale is used to assess the child's condition. Lesions of the central nervous system of mild severity in newborns are indicated by points of 6-7 and are quite easily corrected with the help of primary resuscitation means.

The average degree of damage to the central nervous system of newborns is indicated by Apgar scores of 4-5. The child has increased intracranial pressure, a decrease, or vice versa, an increase in muscle tone. For several days, the baby may completely lack spontaneous movements, and suppression of the main innate reflexes is also observed. If treatment is started on time, then by 6-7 days of life the baby’s condition will stabilize.

In the case of severe damage to the central nervous system, the newborn is born in a state of hypoxemic shock. There is a lack of breathing, disturbance heart rate, muscle atony and suppression of reflexes. With such damage to the newborn’s central nervous system, cardiac and respiratory resuscitation, as well as restoration of metabolism, will be required to restore the functioning of important systems. The child has cardiovascular and brain disorders. At severe defeat CNS is indicated for a newborn intensive care, but the prognosis remains unfavorable.

Causes of development of perinatal lesions of the central nervous system in newborns

The main reason for the development of perinatal lesions of the central nervous system in newborns is oxygen starvation, which the child experiences in the womb or during childbirth. From duration oxygen starvation suffered by the baby depends on the degree perinatal lesion CNS in a newborn.

In addition to hypoxia, it can lead to the development of damage to the newborn’s central nervous system. intrauterine infections, birth trauma, malformations of the spinal cord and brain, as well as hereditary factors causing metabolic disorders.

Hypoxic - ischemic damage to the central nervous system in newborns

Since hypoxia more often than other causes causes damage to the central nervous system of newborns, each expectant mother should know what causes fetal hypoxia and how to avoid it. Hypoxic severity - ischemic lesion The central nervous system in newborns depends on the duration of hypoxia in the child in the intrauterine state. If hypoxia is short-term, then the resulting disorders are not as serious as if the fetus experiences oxygen starvation long period, or hypoxia occurs frequently.

In this case, functional brain disorders or even death of nerve cells may occur. To prevent hypoxic-ischemic damage to the central nervous system in newborns, a pregnant woman should be attentive to her health. Conditions such as early and late toxicosis, uterine tone, some chronic diseases provoke the occurrence of fetal hypoxia, therefore, at the slightest suspicion, you need to undergo treatment prescribed by a specialist.

Symptoms of ischemic damage to the central nervous system of newborns

Damage to the nervous system can be manifested by several symptoms, one of which is depression of the central nervous system in newborns. When the central nervous system is depressed in newborns, there is a decrease in muscle tone and, as a consequence, motor activity. In addition, when the central nervous system is depressed in newborns, the child sucks poorly and swallows poorly. Sometimes facial asymmetry and strabismus may occur.

The syndrome of increased neuro-reflex excitability is also a consequence of damage to the central nervous system of the newborn. The baby constantly shudders, becomes restless, and there is tremor of the chin and limbs.

A hydrocephalic symptom also indicates damage to the newborn’s central nervous system. It manifests itself in the fact that the newborn’s head and fontanel are disproportionately enlarged, which is due to a large accumulation of fluid.

How to treat CNS lesions?

Treatment of central nervous system lesions in newborns may take long time, but at the same time, if the damage is not too severe, there is a possibility of almost full recovery functions of the central nervous system. Plays an important role in the treatment of central nervous system lesions in newborns. proper care for the child. In addition to medications prescribed by a doctor that improve cerebral circulation, massage and physical therapy are always included. Treatment of central nervous system lesions in newborns is carried out in accordance with the symptoms.

The main problem is the fact that the true extent of damage to the newborn’s central nervous system becomes apparent only after 4-6 months. Therefore, it is very important to make every effort to improve the functions of the newborn’s central nervous system, regardless of the severity of hypoxia.

Organic damage to the central nervous system is a pathology that consists of the death of neurons in the brain or spinal cord, necrosis of tissues of the central nervous system or their progressive degradation, due to which it becomes inferior and cannot adequately perform its functions in ensuring the functioning of the body and motor activity of the body. , and also mental activity.

Organic damage to the central nervous system has another name - encephalopathy. This may be a congenital or acquired disease due to a negative effect on the nervous system.

Acquired can develop in people of any age due to various injuries, poisoning, alcohol or drug addiction, suffered infectious diseases, radiation and similar factors.

Congenital or residual - inherited due to genetic malfunctions, fetal development disorders during the perinatal period (the period of time between the one hundred and fifty-fourth day of pregnancy and the seventh day of extrauterine existence), as well as due to birth injuries.

The classification of lesions depends on the cause of the development of the pathology:

• Discirculatory – caused by a violation of the blood supply.
• Ischemic – discirculatory organic lesion, supplemented destructive processes in specific areas.
• Toxic – cell death due to toxins (poisons).
• Radiation – radiation damage.
• Perinatal-hypoxic – due to fetal hypoxia.
• Mixed type.
• Residual – resulting from a violation of intrauterine development or birth injuries.

Causes of acquired organic brain damage

It is not at all difficult to acquire damage to cells of the spinal cord or brain, since they are very sensitive to any negative impact, but most often it develops for the following reasons:

• Spinal injuries or traumatic brain injuries.
• Toxic damage, including alcohol, medications, drugs and psychotropic drugs.
• Vascular diseases that cause circulatory disorders, and with it hypoxia or lack of nutrients or tissue injury, such as a stroke.
• Infectious diseases.

You can understand the reason for the development of one or another type of organic lesion based on the name of its variety; as mentioned above, the classification of this disease is based on the reasons.

How and why residual damage to the central nervous system occurs in children

Residual organic damage to the central nervous system in a child occurs due to a negative impact on the development of his nervous system, or due to hereditary genetic abnormalities or birth injuries.

The mechanisms of development of hereditary residual organic lesions are exactly the same as in any hereditary diseases when distortion of hereditary information due to DNA damage leads to abnormal development the child’s nervous system or the structures that support its vital functions.

An intermediate process to a non-hereditary pathology looks like a failure in the formation of cells or even entire organs of the spinal cord and brain due to negative influences environment:

• Serious illnesses suffered by the mother during pregnancy, as well as viral infections. Even the flu or a simple cold can provoke the development of residual organic damage to the fetal central nervous system.
• Lack of nutrients, minerals and vitamins.
• Toxic effects, including medicinal ones.
• Bad habits of the mother, especially smoking, alcoholism and drugs.
• Bad environment.
• Irradiation.
• Fetal hypoxia.
• Physical immaturity of the mother, or, conversely, the advanced age of the parents.
• Use of special sports nutrition or some dietary supplements.
• Severe stress.

The mechanism of the influence of stress on premature birth or a miscarriage due to convulsive contraction of its walls is understandable, not many understand how the mother’s stress leads to the death of the fetus or disruption of its development.

With severe or systematic stress, the mother’s nervous system suffers, which is responsible for all processes in her body, including the life support of the fetus. With the disruption of its activity, a variety of failures and developments can occur. vegetative syndromes– dysfunction of internal organs, which destroys the balance in the body that ensures the development and survival of the fetus.

Traumatic injuries of various nature during childbirth, which can cause organic damage to the child’s central nervous system, are also very different:

• Asphyxia.
• Injury to the spine or base of the skull due to improper removal and twisting of the child from the uterus.
• Child falling.
• Premature birth.
• Uterine atony (the uterus is unable to contract normally and push out the baby).
• Compression of the head.
• Entry of amniotic fluid into the respiratory tract.

Even during the perinatal period, a child can become infected with various infections, both from the mother during childbirth and from hospital strains.

Symptoms

Any damage to the central nervous system has symptoms in the form of disturbances in mental activity, reflexes, motor activity and disruption of the functioning of internal organs and sensory organs.

It is quite difficult even for a professional to immediately see the symptoms of residual organic damage to the central nervous system in an infant, since the movements of infants are specific, mental activity is not immediately determined, and disturbances in the functioning of internal organs can only be noticed with the naked eye when severe pathologies. But sometimes clinical manifestations can be noticed from the first days of life:

• Violation of muscle tone.
• and head (most often benign, but can also be a symptom of neurological diseases).
• Paralysis.
• Impaired reflexes.
• Chaotic rapid eye movements back and forth or frozen gaze.
• Impaired functions of the sense organs.
• Epileptic seizures.

At an older age, somewhere around three months The following symptoms may be noticed:

• Impaired mental activity: the child does not follow the toys, shows hyperactivity or, on the contrary, apathy, suffers from attention deficit, does not recognize acquaintances, etc.
• Delayed physical development, both direct growth and acquisition of skills: does not hold his head up, does not crawl, does not coordinate movements, does not try to stand up.
• Rapid physical and mental fatigue.
• Emotional instability, moodiness.
• Psychopathy (tendency to affect, aggression, disinhibition, inappropriate reactions).
• Organic-psychic infantilism, expressed in the suppression of personality, the formation of dependencies and increased reporting.
• Loss of coordination.
• Memory impairment.

If a child is suspected of having a central nervous system lesion

If any symptoms of central nervous system dysfunction appear in a child, you must immediately contact a neurologist and undergo comprehensive examination, which may include the following procedures:

• General tests, various types tomography (each type of tomography examines from its own side and therefore gives different results).
• Ultrasound of the fontanel.
• EEG is an electroencephalogram that allows you to identify foci pathological activity brain.
• X-ray.
• CSF analysis.
• Neurosonography is an analysis of neuron conductivity that helps identify minor hemorrhages or disturbances in the functioning of peripheral nerves.

If you suspect any abnormalities in your child’s health, you should consult a doctor as early as possible, since timely treatment will help avoid a huge number of problems, and will also significantly shorten the recovery time. You should not be afraid of false suspicions and unnecessary examinations, since they, unlike probable pathologies, will not harm the baby.

Sometimes this pathology is diagnosed during fetal development during a routine ultrasound examination.

Methods of treatment and rehabilitation

Treatment of the disease is quite labor-intensive and lengthy, however, with minor damage and proper therapy, congenital residual organic damage to the central nervous system in newborns can be completely eliminated, since the nerve cells of infants are able to divide for some time, and the entire nervous system of young children is very flexible.

• First of all, this pathology requires constant monitoring by a neurologist and the attentive attitude of the parents themselves.
• If necessary, carried out drug therapy both to eliminate the root cause of the disease, and in the form symptomatic treatment: withdrawal convulsive symptom, nervous excitability, etc.
• At the same time, as a method of treatment or recovery, physiotherapeutic treatment is carried out, which includes massage, acupuncture, zootherapy, swimming, gymnastics, reflexology or other methods designed to stimulate the functioning of the nervous system, encourage it to begin recovery through the formation of new neural connections and teach the child himself to use his body in case of impaired motor activity in order to minimize his inability to live independently.
• In more late age psychotherapeutic influences are used both on the child himself and on his immediate environment in order to improve the moral situation around the child and prevent development mental disorders at his place.
• Speech correction.
• Specialized training tailored to individual characteristics child.

Conservative treatment is carried out in a hospital and consists of taking medicines in the form of injections. These medications reduce brain swelling, reduce seizure activity, and improve blood circulation. Almost everyone is prescribed piracetam or drugs with a similar effect: pantogam, caviton or phenotropil.

In addition to the main drugs, symptomatic relief of the condition is carried out with the help of sedatives, painkillers, improve digestion, stabilize heart function and reduce any other negative manifestations diseases.

After eliminating the cause of the disease, therapy for its consequences is carried out, designed to restore brain function, and with them the work of internal organs and motor activity. If it is impossible to completely eliminate residual manifestations, the goal of restorative therapy is to teach the patient to live with his body, use his limbs and self-care as independently as possible.

Many parents underestimate the benefits of physiotherapeutic methods in the treatment of neurological ailments, but they are the fundamental methods for restoring lost or impaired functions.

The recovery period is extremely long, and ideally lasts a lifetime, since when the nervous system is damaged, the patient has to overcome himself every day. With due diligence and patience, by a certain age a child with encephalopathy can become completely independent and even lead active image life, the maximum possible at the level of his defeat.

It is impossible to cure the pathology on your own, and if mistakes are made due to a lack of medical education, you can not only aggravate the situation many times over, but even get death. Collaboration with a neurologist for people with encephalopathy becomes lifelong, but the use traditional methods Nobody forbids therapy.

Traditional methods of treating organic damage to the central nervous system are the most effective methods restorations that do not replace conservative treatment with physiotherapy, but they complement it very well. Only when choosing one method or another is it necessary to consult a doctor again, so as to distinguish between useful and effective methods it is extremely difficult to avoid useless and harmful ones without deep specialized medical knowledge, as well as minimal chemical literacy.

If it is impossible to visit specialized institutions to undergo a course of exercise therapy, massage and aquatherapy, they can be easily carried out at home, having mastered simple techniques with the help of a consultation with a neurologist.

No less important aspect treatment is social rehabilitation with the psychological adaptation of the patient. You should not overprotect a sick child, helping him in everything, because otherwise he will not be able to fully develop, and as a result, he will not be able to fight pathology. Help is needed only in vital important things or special cases. IN everyday life independently performing everyday duties will work as additional physical therapy or exercise therapy, and will also teach the child to overcome difficulties and that patience and perseverance always lead to excellent results.

Consequences

Organic damage to parts of the central nervous system in the perinatal period or at an older age leads to the development of a large number of various neurological syndromes:

• Hypertension-hydrocephalic – hydrocephalus, accompanied by increased intracranial pressure. It is determined in infants by the enlargement of the fontanel, its swelling or pulsation.
• Hyperexcitability syndrome - increased muscle tone, sleep disturbance, increased activity, frequent crying, high convulsive readiness or epilepsy.
• Epilepsy is a convulsive syndrome.
• Comatose syndrome with opposite symptoms of hyperexcitability, when the child is lethargic, apathetic, moves little, lacks sucking, swallowing or other reflexes.
• Autonomic-visceral dysfunction of internal organs, which can be expressed as frequent regurgitation, digestive disorders, skin manifestations and many other deviations.
• Motor disorders.
• cerebral palsy – movement disorders complicated by other defects, including mental retardation and weakness of the senses.
• Hyperactivity is an inability to concentrate and lack of attention.
• Mental retardation or physical development, or complex.
• Mental illness due to brain disorders.
• Psychological illnesses due to the patient’s discomfort among society or physical disability.

• Endocrine disorders, and as a result, decreased immunity.

Forecast

The prognosis of acquired organic damage to the central nervous system is rather unclear, since everything depends on the level of damage. In the case of congenital appearance diseases, in some cases the prognosis is more favorable, since the child’s nervous system recovers many times faster, and his body adapts to it.

After proper treatment and rehabilitation, the function of the central nervous system can be either completely restored or have some residual syndrome.

The consequences of early organic damage to the central nervous system often lead to mental and physical retardation in development, and also lead to disability.

From positive points What can be highlighted is that many parents whose children received this terrible diagnosis, with the help of intensive rehabilitation therapy, they achieve magical results, refuting the most pessimistic forecasts of doctors, providing their child with a normal future.

The central nervous system is responsible for the functioning of all organs. Disruption of brain function leads to irreversible consequences, resulting in loss of control over the body. Organic damage to the central nervous system mild degree can occur in anyone, but only severe stages require proper treatment.

Organic damage to the central nervous system in adults

Making such a diagnosis indicates the inferiority of brain function. Its damage results from long-term use medications, alcohol abuse and drug use. In addition, the causes of the disease are:

• injuries received;
• availability cancerous tumor;
• infection;
• excessive physical activity;
• exposure to stress.

Symptoms of organic damage to the central nervous system

With the development of pathological processes, apathy, decreased activity, and loss of interest in life are observed. Along with this comes indifference to one’s own appearance and sloppiness. However, sometimes the patient, on the contrary, becomes too excitable, and his emotions become inappropriate.

The following signs are also identified:

• forgetfulness, difficulty remembering names and dates;
• deterioration of intellectual abilities (impaired writing and counting);
• loss of previous speech functions, manifested in the inability to link words into sentences;
• hallucinations and delusions are possible;
• V daytime;
• decreased visual and hearing acuity.

As the disease progresses, there is significant deterioration protective properties the body, therefore, consequences of organic damage to the central nervous system may occur, such as:

• meningitis;
• neurosyphilis;
• and other serious infections.

As a rule, the disease progresses and subsequently becomes the cause of social exclusion and dementia.

Diagnosis of organic damage to the central nervous system

Timely detection of the disease allows you to begin treatment and stop its further development. The patient undergoes a brain tomography. If vascular damage is detected and cognitive impairment is simultaneously manifested, a diagnosis is made.

Treatment of organic damage to the central nervous system

No specific treatment for the disease has been developed. Basically, the fight against symptoms is carried out, during which the patient is prescribed drugs to normalize blood flow in the brain and eliminate depression. Mental work is restored by changing lifestyle and diet, which is especially necessary for certain liver diseases, atherosclerosis and alcoholism.

Perinatal damage to the central nervous system (PPNSS) of a child occurs at the most critical stage of development, namely from the 7th month to the first week of a newborn’s life.

This pathology occurs in the womb, during childbirth or in the first days of the baby’s life.

What is PPCNS

There are many varieties, each of which has a fairly extensive description, but in this case we are faced with the task of figuring out what it is - PPCNSL in newborns and how terrible such a diagnosis is.
First of all, it should be understood that this is not a specific, but a collective term. It implies various abnormalities in the functioning of the nervous system that arise due to intrauterine and birth pathologies and lead to perinatal encephalopathy.

We can talk about PPCNSL if the baby has a history of mental, physical and speech development until they reach one year of age.

For a long time it was believed that with this disease changes in the nervous system would remain permanent, however modern medicine emphasizes that the brain small child has enormous compensatory potential and can successfully restore its functions even with moderate severity currents

Important! The pathology in severe form threatens the child’s life, as without treatment it causes irreversible damage to the central nervous system.

Often, perinatal damage to the central nervous system occurs in premature infants due to the fact that the functioning of the nervous system directly depends on body weight.

How often can babies have

According to statistics, from 5 to 55% of babies are diagnosed with PPCNS immediately after birth. Often the disease occurs in a mild and even barely noticeable form, which is why such a difference is recorded.

Among children born on time, approximately 10% have a severe degree of pathology, and in children who were born in a hurry, the disease is detected in 70% of cases.

Severity

There are three degrees of severity of the disease, each of which differs in its manifestations and further prognosis:

• A mild degree is accompanied by twitching of the baby’s chin, and he has weak reflexes. Muscle tone can be either slightly increased or decreased. The work of the nervous system can range from inhibition of nervous processes to their excitation.
• Medium degree: inhibition of nervous system processes dominates over their stimulation. The child is restless, anxious, with convulsive activity. Functioning of the heart, kidneys and digestive tract insufficient and problematic;
• Severe: the child is practically non-viable and requires resuscitation. He has serious problems with his heart and lungs.

Causes and risk groups

All causes of this disease can be roughly divided into four categories.

Damage to the central nervous system due to hypoxia (oxygen starvation) of the fetus. This is the most frequently occurring category. The reasons become various diseases expectant mother in the perinatal period, low or high water levels, multiple pregnancy.

Acute hypoxia can also occur during childbirth due to premature detachment placenta, which causes disturbances in the uteroplacental circulation. In some cases, this option is explained by compression of the baby's head as it passes through the birth canal.

Naturally, the severity of damage to the central nervous system directly depends on the duration of oxygen starvation. If the lack of oxygen has chronic form, the baby’s capillaries in the brain stop growing, and their permeability increases.

Did you know? During fetal development, the number of cellsin the fetusincreases by 250 thousand every minute. And by 9 months, the child’s brain already has more than 10 million cells.

Asphyxia occurs during childbirth due to severe violations in the functioning of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems.
The second category is lesions caused by trauma. Trauma to the nervous system occurs mechanically and possibly both during childbirth and during the first few hours after birth.

Such lesions may occur when used by obstetricians during childbirth. special tools, which help to expand or protect the perineum from tears, bring out the head or rotate it.

Too much long stay V birth canal and strong compression during pushing also injure the baby's brain and spinal cord.

The third category includes metabolic disorders in the baby. They usually arise in the womb and directly depend on the mother and what she consumes. The child may experience nicotine, alcohol and drug syndromes.

Hypoxia is also caused by toxins that appear in the mother’s body during illness or as a result of taking medications.
The fourth category is fetal infection. The virus infects the central nervous system and causes disruption of the nervous system. How the damage occurs and what its consequences are depends on the type of virus and the overall severity of the disease.

The risk group for PPCNS, first of all, includes newborns whose mothers are under 18 years old and over 30 years old, their activities are associated with hazardous production, they have bad habits and genetic diseases.

Pregnant women with renal failure, heart defects, hypertension, endocrine disorders, extragenital diseases and anemia are also at risk. These also include pregnant women who have been diagnosed with frequent medical and spontaneous infertility or infertility.

How it manifests and develops

During the course of the disease, three periods are distinguished: acute (from the prenatal period until the first month after birth), recovery (from the second month to one year, and in premature babies up to two years) and outcome of the disease. Each period has its own specific symptoms.

IN acute period The baby may experience:

• Hydrocephalus (hydrosis of the brain), due to which the baby’s head becomes enlarged, and the fontanel pulsates and protrudes above the surface of the skull;
• Convulsions of both limbs and the whole body.
• Vegetative-visceral syndrome due to impaired vascular tone;
• Inhibition of the nervous processes of the central nervous system, due to which the basic reflexes and motor activity are significantly reduced;
• Muscular dystonia can be either depression or stimulation of the central nervous system (the baby often cries for no reason, his chin trembles nervously, sleep is intermittent and inconsistent). This condition is observed with a mild degree of the disease;
• Comatose state, when the baby falls into a coma. The most severe form of the disease. The activity of the central nervous system is extremely depressed. The child is in intensive care.

In the recovery period, at its very beginning, with average and severe form course of the disease, it seems as if the baby is getting better, his reflex excitability is restored, and the manifestations of PCNSL are not so obvious.
But things get worse very quickly. The child has delays in psycho-speech development, which is natural with such a disease. He later masters various motor skills, such as holding the head, crawling, sitting, walking. He also begins to speak later than his peers.

The outcome of the disease becomes clear by the time the child turns one year old.

Even if the treatment was successful, the baby may have developmental delays, hyperactivity and cerebroasthenic syndrome, due to which the baby becomes weather dependent, hysterical, gets tired quickly, sleeps poorly and is often anxious.

Did you know? From the moment of birth, a baby's brain grows three times larger every year compared to the previous year. But in old age the picture is the opposite: every year the weight of the brain decreases by one gram.

Diagnostics

Signs of PPCNSL can be noticed even in the maternity hospital, during an examination by a neonatologist. Based on clinical picture, the doctor suggests a diagnosis.
Further, after the baby leaves the maternity hospital, his condition will be monitored by a neurologist, who can prescribe following methods diagnostics:

• Brain ultrasound (neurosonography) can only be performed in the first year of life. The bones of the skull are too dense and ultrasound radiation cannot penetrate through them, so in infants the procedure is performed through a still open fontanel. This diagnostic method is simple and safe for the child.
• CT ( computed tomography) and MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) are the most informative way to look into the baby’s brain. It is resorted to if the ultrasound turned out to be uninformative, and the symptoms are moderate and severe degree manifestations. Tomography gives very detailed information. However, for the procedure to be successful, the child must lie still in the scanner, and since this is not possible in the case of an infant, special drugs may be administered to the child.
• EEG (electroencephalography) allows you to assess the functionality and condition of the brain vessels, but the procedure must be carried out several times (for comparison);
• Dopplerography allows you to evaluate blood flow in the vessels of the brain.

Treatment and rehabilitation measures

If PPCNS is detected immediately after birth, then the baby’s rehabilitation is carried out immediately. In the acute period, doctors relieve cerebral edema, eliminate and prevent seizures.

With the help of special vitamins they reduce permeability vascular walls, give medications to improve myocardial contractions, level out the metabolism of nerve tissues and create a gentle lifestyle for the baby.

During the recovery period, treatment depends on the symptoms of PPCNS that appear in newborns.

IN common child Stimulating therapy is provided, which provokes the growth of brain capillaries, improves nutrition and restoration of damaged areas.

Forecast

Even if the baby was treated correctly and on time, perinatal damage to the central nervous system will leave its marks forever. With a mild degree of the disease, such consequences will be some delay in development and impulsiveness of the baby on the one hand, as well as lethargy, apathy, anxiety and sleep disorders on the other.

A severe form of PPCNSL in newborns has the same consequences: the child may develop hydrocephalus (hydrocephalus) of the brain, childhood cerebral palsy and epilepsy.

In general, approximately 30% of children recover completely, 40% of children have impairments in the functionality of the nervous system, and another 30% have organic disorders. Sometimes death occurs.

Important! To prevent the onset of such a serious disease, a pregnant woman must undergo all routine examinations, avoid stress, infections, and eliminate bad habits from her life.

Prevention measures

Primary prevention is available in the form of a healthy lifestyle for the expectant mother.
In addition, doctors must provide competent assistance during childbirth.

Secondary prevention consists of caring for the newborn baby and preventing perinatal damage to the central nervous system. He must be regularly observed by a doctor and undergo tests. With mother's milk, the baby should receive all the substances necessary for growth.

PPCNS is a severe pathology of the intrauterine development of a child, which affects the functioning of the central nervous system. Often the disease has consequences, even with successful treatment.

Therefore, the best thing you can do for your baby is to lead a healthy lifestyle to prevent the occurrence of perinatal damage to the central nervous system.