Pediatric neurology is the medical subfield of

neurology Neurology (from , "string, nerve" and the suffix wikt:-logia, -logia, "study of") is the branch of specialty (medicine) , medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the nervous syst ...

focused on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of pathologies related to the

central nervous system The central nervous system (CNS) is the part of the nervous system consisting primarily of the brain, spinal cord and retina. The CNS is so named because the brain integrates the received information and coordinates and influences the activity o ...

and

peripheral nervous system The peripheral nervous system (PNS) is one of two components that make up the nervous system of Bilateria, bilateral animals, with the other part being the central nervous system (CNS). The PNS consists of nerves and ganglia, which lie outside t ...

in children. While pediatric neurologists have many similarities to

neurologists Neurology (from , "string, nerve" and the suffix -logia, "study of") is the branch of medicine dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of all categories of conditions and disease involving the nervous system, which comprises the brain, the s ...

, the neurological disorders they treat can vary due to their focus on children. Pediatric neurologists treat and manage epilepsy, seizures, headaches, concussions, hydrocephalus, spinal bifida, neurological trauma, and more. The field of pediatric neurology has many practical connections to

neuroscience Neuroscience is the scientific study of the nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system), its functions, and its disorders. It is a multidisciplinary science that combines physiology, anatomy, molecular biology, ...

, the scientific study of the nervous system. Some pediatric neurologists may elect to conduct basic science research in neuroscience or conduct

clinical research Clinical research is a branch of medical research that involves people and aims to determine the effectiveness (efficacy) and safety of medications, devices, diagnostic products, and treatment regimens intended for improving human health. The ...

and

clinical trials Clinical trials are prospective biomedical or behavioral research studies on human subject research, human participants designed to answer specific questions about biomedical or behavioral interventions, including new treatments (such as novel v ...

. Even though pediatric neurology is a non-surgical field, it has many connections to

pediatric neurosurgery Pediatric Neurosurgery is a subspecialty of neurosurgery; which includes surgical procedures that are related to the nervous system, brain and spinal cord; that treats children with operable neurological disorders. __TOC__ History Boston Chil ...

, which addresses surgical issues related to the treatment of the nervous system.

Training

In the United States, pediatric neurologists must first complete a B.A. or B.S. degree while taking the required medical school pre-requisites. Following the completion of a bachelor's degree, students apply to a M.D. or D.O. program and complete a four year curriculum consisting of pre-clinical education and clinical rotations. Pediatric neurology

residency Residency may refer to: * Artist-in-residence, a program to sponsor the residence and work of visual artists, writers, musicians, etc. * Concert residency, a series of concerts performed at one venue * Domicile (law), the act of establishing or m ...

requires the completion of two years of a pediatric residency. Physicians may either apply directly to a combined five year residency or complete two preliminary pediatric years followed by a separate three years of dedicated pediatric neurology training. After the completion of residency, child neurologists will be board eligible through the

American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology The American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. (ABPN) is a not-for-profit corporation founded in 1934 following conferences of committees appointed by the American Psychiatric Association, the American Neurological Association, and the t ...

. Pediatric neurologists may also be board certified in pediatrics through the

American Board of Pediatrics American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, p ...

. In Europe, many countries recognize pediatric neurology as a specialty, however the training varies. Some countries have a full pediatric neurology training that does not require preliminary years in pediatrics before entering. Other European countries only offer pediatric neurology training to physicians fully board certified in pediatrics. Similarly, some countries will offer pediatric neurology training only to physicians who have completed a board certification in adult neurology.

References

{{reflist Pediatrics Neurology

Training

See also

References