Pediatric Neurologist in Ahmedabad

1. Who is a pediatric (child) neurologist?

A child neurologist, or pediatric neurologist, is a doctor who treats children who have problems with their nervous system. Problems in the nervous system can start in the brain, spine, nerves, or muscles. These can lead to problems such as seizures, headaches, or developmental delays.

Child neurologists treat children from birth into young adulthood. They choose to make the care of children the core of their medical practice, and their advanced training and experience equip them to meet your child’s unique needs. Children are not young adults; hence their neurological condition needs to be managed by a pediatric neurologist, not an adult neurologist.

2. What training do child neurologists have?

• Four years of medical school (Dr Iyer completed MBBS from BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad)
• 3 years of general pediatrics residency (Dr Iyer completed MD Pediatrics from BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad)
• Three years of residency training in child neurology, and 6 months of training in adult neurology, 3 months in child psychiatry (Dr Iyer completed this from Glasgow, Birmingham and Liverpool, UK)
• Some child neurologists complete an additional 1-2 years of training called a fellowship, where they learn a sub-specialty within neurology, such as epilepsy, neuromuscular disease, or genetics (Dr Iyer completed complex epilepsy and epilepsy surgery fellowship from SickKids Hospital, Toronto, Canada)

3. What types of services do child neurologists provide?

Child neurologists often diagnose, treat, and manage the following conditions:

• Seizures and epilepsy
• Muscle problems which may cause weakness, such as muscular dystrophy or neuropathy
• Headaches, including migraines and concussions
• Behavioral disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), tics and Tourette Syndrome, and sleep problems
• Autism
• Developmental disorders, including cerebral palsy, delayed speech, delayed motor milestones, and coordination issues
• Intellectual disability
• Congenital malformations, which are problems in how the brain forms or develops
• Stroke and traumatic brain injury (TBI)
• Genetic conditions that affect the nervous system
• Autoimmune problems that impact the brain and spinal cord (such as multiple sclerosis)
• Infections or inflammation of the brain (such as meningitis or encephalitis)
• Brain tumors

4. What types of tests do child neurologists order?

Child neurologists often make a diagnosis by hearing about your child’s symptoms, their medical history, and physical exam, but at times, more tests are necessary to make or support a diagnosis.

Common tests that child neurologists order include:

• EEG (electroencephalogram) is a test that looks for problems with the electrical activity in your brain. This test can be used to look for seizures, and to make sure your child’s brain is making the expected types of electrical activity for their age.
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) or CT scan are types of imaging tests used to take pictures of the brain and/or spine. These can look for signs of brain tumor, stroke, infection, multiple sclerosis, certain genetic conditions, and more.
• Lumbar puncture (spinal tap) is a test where doctors insert a small needle in the lower back to take a sample of spinal fluid, which surrounds your brain and spinal cord. This can help look for signs of infection or inflammation, and also check various chemicals in the fluid.
• Blood tests may be ordered for your child. These may include basic tests checking for electrolyte changes or signs of infection, or more complicated testing such as genetic tests for specific disorders.

5. Where can I find a child neurologist?

Child neurologists’ practice in many different medical settings. They may work in hospitals or private practices.