Each parent worries about the health of his child, regardless of how old the child is. However, newborn babies are most prone to various troubles, so alarming symptoms can cause serious anxiety.
After the birth of a child, various congenital or acquired pathologies can be diagnosed that could not be detected during the pregnancy of a woman. For example, unspecified encephalopathy in infants belongs to such a disease. Symptoms of the disease are partly similar to a brain tumor, since in this case this part of the body also suffers. This pathology can be triggered by several factors at once. But most often the main reason for the appearance of encephalopathy is that the mother during pregnancy decided not to give up bad habits or there was a birth injury.
If we talk about the prognosis for recovery, then with a similar diagnosis it all depends on how quickly and efficiently the diagnosis was made and therapeutic measures started. In any case, do not ignore the symptoms that are given in this article, since they can signal a rather serious lesion.
general information
For ICD-10, unspecified encephalopathy is indicated under G93. It is noteworthy that most often the manifestations of this pathology are found in very tiny children who have just been born. However, often these diagnoses are not confirmed. Therefore, it is worth listening to the opinion of several experts.
If we talk about encephalopathy (ICD-10 G93), then it can also occur in adults. Symptoms in this case will be similar. But, if we compare childhood and adult encephalopathy, you need to understand that a fragile organism is more tender and unstable. It can suffer from any injury, especially if it falls in the head area.
The risk of developing a serious illness remains even if timely treatment is given to the small patient. Therefore, you should be very careful about the manifestations that may indicate this disease. It is also worth considering in more detail the varieties and forms of pathology.
Types of Encephalopathy
There is a certain classification of this ailment. For example, a disease can be congenital and hereditary or developing in the womb of the mother. The latter is commonly called perinatal encephalopathy in infants. A child, like an adult, can suffer from acquired pathology. This happens if his body was influenced by harmful factors that affected the activity of the brain.
Symptoms of this pathology do not differ in adults and children. It is also worth noting that the development of the disease can provoke not only the fact that during pregnancy the mother did not adhere to serious rules, but also birth injuries. In this case, this kind of pathology is usually called residual. About 10% of all women in labor suffer from birth injury. In order to better understand how encephalopathy develops, what kind of disease it is and the features of its treatment, it is worth considering a classification depending on the manifestation of the ailment. This information will be useful to young parents.
Toxic encephalopathy
Also, this type of pathology is called dyscircular. With the development of this form of the disease, changes in the organic type can occur in the brain of the newborn. They affect the activity of neurons against the background of vascular diseases or the fact that toxins have entered the baby’s blood.
In this case, there are so-called unspecified causes. In addition, toxic encephalopathy in infants can be a consequence of vascular insufficiency (arterial and venous), blood diseases, viral or infectious pathologies, as well as ailments that adversely affect the activity of other organs. The list of all unpleasant diseases is much wider. These are just the main ones.
Features of the manifestation of the toxic form
If we talk about the symptoms of this type of encephalopathy in infants, then first of all it is worth paying attention to the quality of the child’s sleep. If he falls asleep for a long time and is capricious throughout the night, then this can lead to a deterioration in perception and the fact that the baby will suffer from the psyche. In this case, we are talking about the so-called pseudo-neurotic syndromes.
Additionally, you should pay attention to the appearance of dizziness and insecurity when walking (the baby may begin to stagger). Doctors also diagnose problems with blood pressure indicators. Additionally, deterioration in the functioning of the organs of vision and hearing can occur. In rare cases, the situation reaches the failure of the brain of the child.
Since the development of encephalopathy in infants adversely affects the nervous system of a fragile body, the baby may begin to manifest severe tearfulness and increased nervousness. In worse situations, small patients even develop epileptic seizures. If you do not prescribe treatment in a timely manner, then this will lead to serious abnormalities in the brain, which may be irreversible. The so-called stagnation of consciousness may develop. This means that the child throughout the whole time will be in prostration, periodically fainting, etc.
Perinatal
This type of encephalopathy in infants, as a rule, is first diagnosed in the last 12 weeks of pregnancy of a woman or immediately at the time of birth. In this case, the cause may also be unspecified.
For example, this form of encephalopathy can develop against the background of stress, poor nutrition, or serious pathologies that the expectant mother suffered from, but did not conduct timely treatment. This is most often encountered by women who are diagnosed with pneumonia or anemia.
Bilirubin
In this case, the causes of encephalopathy in infants are associated with the development of hemolytic diseases. They, in turn, are caused by the fact that the blood type of the child and mother are incompatible. In this case, the rate of bilirubin, which has not yet had time to undergo a liver treatment, will be slightly increased. This in turn leads to rather severe toxic poisoning. Hazardous substances can enter the baby’s brain that interfere with its normal functioning.
The so-called bilirubin disease can also be triggered by causes that also cause the development of jaundice. Pathology sometimes manifests itself against sepsis, birth injuries, toxoplasmosis, and a tendency to diabetes in the baby’s mother. As a result of the development of the disease, disorders occur in the process of tissue metabolism. Immunity drops, and body functions gradually begin to fail.
Bilirubin encephalopathy in infants: symptoms, external manifestations
If we talk about the clinical picture of this form of pathology, then it can be conditionally divided into three consecutive phases. At the first stage, signs characteristic of ordinary food poisoning appear. The child suffers from nausea, weakness and decreased muscle tone. However, parents should be confused that the usual treatment regimen in this situation does not give any result. The baby continues to spit up too often and refuses to eat.
The next stage is characterized by the appearance of special symptoms of encephalopathy in the baby, which correspond to nuclear jaundice. Small patients begin to constantly clench their hands into fists, and their joints are very poorly bent. During the movement of the neck, the child has painful sensations. Also, this form of encephalopathy can provoke an increase in temperature and a malfunction in the process of breathing.
In the third stage, the situation may improve. However, such manifestations have only a short-term effect. After some time, the child may begin to manifest increased symptoms. Ultimately, there is a risk of even cerebral palsy. Also, among the symptoms of the third stage, rolling iris over the centuries can be distinguished.
Diagnostics
If parents suspect that their baby is suffering from encephalopathy, what kind of disease is it worth checking with a specialist. First of all, you need to seem to a neurologist. He will conduct a routine inspection and survey. After this, it is necessary to undergo an examination, which includes an MRI of the baby's brain, EEG and ECHO-EG, as well as ultrasound of the vessels of the head. Additionally, rheoencephalography is performed.
Thanks to these diagnostic measures, it becomes possible to get a complete picture of the state of the baby's vascular system, as well as to note the possible appearance of morphological changes in the brain. Any deviations must be considered.
The doctor also conducts additional tests and determines how much brain activity of a small patient is associated with intracranial pressure. In addition, the list of these measures allows you to clarify the diagnosis and exclude any other serious pathologies, for example, a brain tumor, which may manifest similar symptoms.
It is imperative to pass a general blood and urine test. Doctors also perform an ultrasound of the internal organs.
Since we are talking about brain encephalopathy in infants, the doctor should be extremely careful when expressing any theories. He must be sure of the correctness of the diagnosis, so as not to harm the fragile baby. Therefore, most often with a suspicion of this pathology, a consultation is convened, consisting of qualified specialists in various fields. A cardiologist, neurologist, gastroenterologist, pulmonologist and others can take part in the studies.
Parents can not understand the complaints of the baby, as he just simply can not explain their condition. Accordingly, the overall picture of the manifestations is rather blurry. Therefore, the doctor should rely not only on the description of the symptoms received from the mother and father of the small patient, but also take advantage of the experience of colleagues who may have encountered such ailments in their practice most often.
You need to understand that the treatment of encephalopathy is a very complex process, which takes a lot of time. It often happens that the changes that occur in the brain remain in the child forever. Therefore, it is important to prevent the patient from deteriorating.
Encephalopathy in the baby: the consequences of pathology
It is easy to guess that this disease is extremely dangerous. If we talk about complications, then in this case it all depends on the severity and stage of development of the disease. The consequences can be very different. If the baby suffered a mild form of encephalopathy and treatment was started in a timely manner, then in this case complications can be avoided.
A third of the children who have been diagnosed with this disease are completely cured and begin to lead an absolutely normal lifestyle. However, timely detection of pathology is far from always possible. If this happened, then most likely, part of the nerve cells are already irretrievably damaged. In this case, the most dangerous consequences can be expected. For example, a child may begin to seriously lag behind in development. This is the most common complication of this pathology.
As a child grows up, problems with memory, concentration of attention may appear. It is more difficult for him to study, so it may be necessary to send the child to a specialized school. In addition, serious malfunctions can occur in the operation of some internal organs, as well as systems. This, in turn, often leads to the development of severe and even life-threatening pathologies.
Treatment
It is worth noting that this pathology should in no case even be tried to treat on its own. At this age, it is very dangerous to give children any drugs without an appropriate prescription from a doctor.
Methods of treating encephalopathy in infants may vary depending on the form and stage of the disease. If the baby suffers from an acute form of pathology, then in this case it is necessary to immediately reduce the internal cranial pressure. This will help get rid of seizures and other dangerous symptoms. By and large, such surgery is the only way that can save the life of a small patient.
Also, the removal of puffiness and alleviation of the patient's condition is ensured by mechanical ventilation and normalization of metabolic processes. For this, the doctor prescribes specialized drugs, as well as drugs from the category of angioprotectors. They are necessary in order to strengthen the walls of the vascular system and properly configure the outflow of venous blood.
In some situations, treatment includes the use of tranquilizers, which are necessary in order to calm the baby during seizures. At the same time, it is required to maintain the child’s immune system. For this, vitamin complexes are usually used.
Forecasts
If we talk about the prospects that await a child who has suffered this pathology, then everything depends not only on how quickly the doctors took measures, but also on the rehabilitation period. At this time, the doctor recommends a massage, exercise therapy and other courses of physiotherapy exercises.
It is imperative to follow the baby's rest regimen, walk with him, spend as much time as possible in the fresh air and give preference only to proper nutrition.
The prognosis of encephalopathy in infants is different. But in most situations, with proper treatment and rehabilitation, recovery occurs within a few years. When the baby reaches this age, it will be possible to determine whether he is not behind the peers in development. Most often, this only happens with complications.
How to prevent the development of dangerous pathology
According to statistics and observations of doctors, problems begin at a time when the mother of the unborn baby does not follow all the necessary recommendations. If a woman leads a healthy lifestyle, takes the necessary vitamins, is often in the fresh air, does not get nervous and does not engage in heavy physical exertion, then, as a rule, the possibility of developing an ailment in a baby is minimized.
However, you need to understand that pathology can also form against the background of various injuries. Therefore, a woman needs to be as careful as possible. If any unpleasant symptoms occur, it is better to play it safe and consult a specialist for recommendations.
In addition, doctors recommend stopping the use of coffee and chocolate, as well as completely eliminate alcohol, cigarettes and other bad habits. Even second-hand smoke can cause the initial stage of development of a mass of ailments.
However, even if a woman complies with all the requirements, she is not protected from birth injury. But do not despair. Today, medicine does not stand still. In 80% of cases, it is possible to completely get rid of a severe pathology during the first year of the baby's life.