Paediatric neurology is the branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis, treatment and management of nervous system disorders in children. Because a child’s brain and nervous system are still developing, early diagnosis and treatment can make a significant difference to their long-term health and quality of life (Shellhaas, 2022).
At The Health Suite Leicester, our paediatric neurology clinic supports babies, children and young people with a wide range of conditions. We provide expert assessment, investigations, and tailored management plans to help your child reach their full potential.
Common Conditions in Paediatric Neurology
1. Developmental Delays
Developmental delay means a child is slower to reach milestones such as speech, motor skills, or social interaction. Causes include prematurity, genetic syndromes, and medical complications (Shevell et al., 2003).
Early identification and intervention are essential, as timely therapies can greatly improve developmental outcomes.
At The Health Suite Leicester, we provide detailed assessments, review previous results, and create a personalised care plan to support your child’s development.
2. Paediatric Neuro-disability
Neuro-disability refers to long-term conditions caused by disorders of the nervous system, including autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and cerebral palsy. These can affect learning, behaviour, movement and communication, and often overlap, making diagnosis complex (Colver et al., 2018).
At The Health Suite Leicester, our paediatric neurology clinic offers expert assessment, accurate diagnosis and tailored support so your child can access the right therapies, educational recognition and long-term care.
3. Seizures and Epilepsy
Seizures are one of the most common reasons children are referred to a paediatric neurologist. While febrile seizures linked to fever are usually harmless (Offringa and Newton, 2012), recurrent or unexplained seizures may indicate epilepsy.
Epilepsy is the most common long-term neurological condition in childhood, affecting around 0.7% of children in the UK (Joint Epilepsy Council, 2011). Symptoms vary from brief episodes of staring to full convulsions. If left untreated, epilepsy can affect learning, safety and quality of life.
At The Health Suite Leicester, we can arrange brain scans such as MRI or CT and carry out EEG testing, which records brain activity and helps diagnose epilepsy. With accurate diagnosis and modern treatment, most children can achieve good seizure control and lead active lives (Berg et al., 2016).
4. Cerebral Palsy and Muscular Dystrophy
Cerebral palsy (CP) affects about 1 in 400 children in the UK (NHS Digital, 2019). It is caused by brain injury or abnormal development and leads to difficulties with muscle tone, movement and coordination. Muscular dystrophy, by contrast, is a genetic condition that causes progressive muscle weakness (Mercuri and Muntoni, 2013).
Though these conditions are not curable, early diagnosis and a multidisciplinary approach—including physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy—can improve function and quality of life (Novak et al., 2013). Our paediatric neurology team at The Health Suite can coordinate the investigations and therapies your child needs.
Why Choose The Health Suite Leicester?
At our paediatric neurology clinic, we offer:
- Comprehensive assessments and investigations.
- Access to diagnostic imaging and EEG.
- Individualised care plans tailored to your child.
- Support navigating education and therapy services.
If your child has neurological symptoms, early intervention can make all the difference. Book an appointment today at The Health Suite Leicester to speak with our expert team.
References
- Berg, A.T. et al., 2016. Mortality risks in new-onset childhood epilepsy. Pediatrics, 138(3), e20160909.
- Colver, A., Fairhurst, C. and Pharoah, P.O., 2018. Cerebral palsy. The Lancet, 383(9924), pp.1240–1249.
- Joint Epilepsy Council, 2011. Epilepsy prevalence, incidence and other statistics. London: JEC.
- Mercuri, E. and Muntoni, F., 2013. Muscular dystrophies. The Lancet, 381(9869), pp.845–860.
- NHS Digital, 2019. Hospital Admitted Patient Care Activity, 2018–19. NHS Digital.
- Novak, I. et al., 2013. A systematic review of interventions for children with cerebral palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 55(10), pp.885–910.
- Offringa, M. and Newton, R., 2012. Prolonged and recurrent febrile seizures. Epilepsia, 53(s4), pp.67–69.
- Shevell, M. et al., 2003. Practice parameter: evaluation of the child with global developmental delay. Neurology, 60(3), pp.367–380.
- Shellhaas, R.A., 2022. Pediatric neurology: scope and practice. Seminars in Pediatric Neurology, 42, p.100997.