Cramps, Muscle Stiffness, and Exercise Intolerance
A cramp is an involuntary painful contraction of a muscle or part of a muscle. Cramps can occur in normal children during or after vigorous exercise, and after excessive loss…
Sensory and Autonomic Disturbances
This chapter deals primarily with sensory disturbances of the limbs and trunk. Autonomic dysfunction is often associated with sensory loss but sometimes occurs alone. Chapter 17 considers sensory disturbances of…
Flaccid Limb Weakness in Childhood
The majority of children with flaccid limb weakness have a motor unit disorder. Flaccid leg weakness may be the initial feature of disturbances in the lumbosacral region, but other symptoms…
Psychomotor Retardation and Regression
Psychomotor retardation or developmental delay refers to the slow progress in the attainment of developmental milestones. This may be caused by either static ( Box 5-1 ) or progressive (…
Increased Intracranial Pressure
The presenting complaint when dealing with increased intracranial pressure ( Box 4-1 ) varies with age. Infants may present with bulging fontanelle, macrocephaly or failure to thrive. Older children often…
Altered States of Consciousness
The terms used to describe states of decreased consciousness are listed in Table 2-1 . With the exception of coma, these definitions are not standard. However, they are more precise…
Paroxysmal Disorders
Paroxysmal disorders are characterized by the sudden onset of neurological dysfunction and stereotyped recurrence. In children, such events often clear completely. Examples of paroxysmal disorders include epilepsy, migraine, periodic paralysis,…
