Increased excitability in infants Komarovsky. Perinatal encephalopathy

SNRV - syndrome of increased neuro-reflex excitability, is a neurological disorder that is quite common in children in the first year of life, especially up to 3 months of age. Such children are restless, sleep little, have trouble falling asleep and suck the breast sluggishly. They often flinch, worry and cry when touched, and can be difficult to calm down.

Very often the syndrome is not detected on time, since consultation with a pediatric neurologist is not included in the list of mandatory ones. Therefore, parents who notice symptoms of increased excitability in their baby should quickly show him to a specialist. This will help avoid deterioration of the condition in the future, namely the development of hyperactivity syndrome and even epileptic syndrome. If the correction of SNRV is started in time, the baby’s condition returns to normal by the age of one year.

Why does it develop, how does hyperexcitability syndrome manifest in infants, how is it treated? Let's talk about it:

Causes of hyperexcitability syndrome in infants

Most often, this condition is diagnosed in babies who have experienced oxygen starvation or hypoxia before birth or during childbirth.

The health of the mother during pregnancy, as well as the baby himself immediately after birth, has a great influence on the functioning of the baby’s brain and the state of his nervous system. These are, first of all, various infectious diseases.

Risk factors for the development of this syndrome also include: worries, stress of the mother during pregnancy, severe toxicosis, rapid labor.

SNRV in an infant - symptoms of increased excitability in an infant

During communication with the baby by parents, as well as during a medical examination, when they touch him, turn him, talk to him, he begins to scream loudly. At the same time, the cry is high-pitched, irritated. In addition, he exhibits motor restlessness, shudders, and trembling of the limbs and chin is observed.

In addition, the syndrome of increased excitability in infants manifests itself in increased muscle tone. When nervous, he throws his head back, and the movements of his arms and legs become large-scale. Convulsive syndrome is expressed by various paroxysmal phenomena.

It is difficult to calm the baby down; he falls asleep poorly, sleeps little, and sucks poorly. Often parents notice that he just lies with his eyes open and looks at one point.

Correction methods

The need for corrective measures is determined and developed by a neuropathologist. Before this, the baby is examined to exclude other diseases that cause similar symptoms. Such pathologies include, among other things, increased intracranial pressure in a child. The condition also often results in restlessness, trouble sleeping, and frequent crying.

Once the diagnosis of SNRV is confirmed, the doctor will determine the measures necessary for your baby, and drug treatment will not necessarily be prescribed. The prescription of medications depends on the child’s condition and is always individual.

Traditional correction methods include:

Massage (general, acupressure or relaxing). This very effective method helps reduce muscle tone and reduces nervous excitability. The course of therapeutic massage is carried out only by a specialist. For classes you will need to visit a children's clinic or other medical institution.

Swimming and gymnastics. Exercises in water are very beneficial for a child, especially those with SAD syndrome. Swimming trains muscles, reduces their tone, and relaxes. Gymnastics trains the baby’s brain, sending the right impulses to it. When performing exercises, its damaged tissues are restored faster and more actively. Therapeutic gymnastics is carried out under the guidance of a specialist in a clinic.

In addition, the child should establish a daily routine. In general, this is a simple but extremely effective method that promotes the normal development of the child. For hyperexcitability syndrome, it is also used for therapeutic purposes. Hours for sleeping, playing, eating, walking outdoors, etc. should be set. Your doctor will help you develop the right regimen.

Drug treatment of increased excitability in infants

Sometimes it is necessary to carry out medication correction of increased excitability in infants. Magnesium preparations, soothing herbs such as motherwort or valerian, and vitamin B6 are prescribed. According to indications, medications that improve cerebral circulation are used.

When diagnosing increased intracranial pressure, the doctor will prescribe diuretics and drugs containing potassium. Naturally, in age-appropriate dosages.

Usually, dosage forms in the form of suspensions are prescribed for infants. If the drug is produced only in tablet form, the required amount of tablets is crushed and then mixed with water, breast milk or infant formula.

Alternative treatment for increased excitability in infants

Healing baths with infusions and decoctions of medicinal plants provide a good calming and relaxing effect. The baby's skin is penetrated with nerve endings and quickly absorbs all the beneficial substances contained in plants. It is recommended to take such baths before bedtime.

The water temperature for swimming should not exceed 36-37 degrees. Therefore, always use a thermometer. The course of treatment is 15 procedures.

Here, for example, is a good healthy recipe:

Finely chop 50 g of calamus roots and 20 g of willow bark, mix. Combine with 20 g of dried juniper berries. Pour everything into a large saucepan. Add 3 liters of boiling water. Simmer at a gentle simmer for 15 minutes. Then insulate it and wait until it cools down. Pour the cooled broth through cheesecloth into a prepared bath of water. The duration of a child's bath is 10 minutes.

In addition to this collection, it is useful to take baths with an infusion of mint, chamomile, string, and a decoction of pine needles. A bath with sea salt will relax and soothe you. Be sure to discuss the possibility of using medicinal baths for your baby with your doctor.

In conclusion, it should be noted that any corrective technique usually includes a whole range of different measures. If there is such a need, include medications. If you follow all the recommendations of the attending physician, the symptoms of SIDS disappear without a trace by the age of one year and no longer bother the baby.

Angioneurologist

Perinatal encephalopathy (or PEP) is a large group of brain lesions in the newborn that occur during pregnancy and childbirth, varying in cause and origin. Perinatal encephalopathy can manifest itself in the form of various syndromes, the most common of which are: syndrome of increased neuro-reflex excitability and central nervous system depression syndrome

Syndrome of increased neuro-reflex excitability

Increased neuro-reflex arousal in a newborn is characterized by a pronounced reaction to various types of irritation: the baby becomes anxious, trembles, cries and screams in response to any touches and sounds. In addition, the baby has an increase in muscle tone, he often begins to throw his head back. If the central nervous system is damaged, it is practically impossible to calm the child.

Newborns with NWS sleep very little and are very difficult to feed. Most often, such children additionally experience convulsive syndrome. For diagnosis, doctors use a certain classification of seizures.

It must be remembered that only a doctor can make the correct diagnosis. When diagnosing, he pays attention to muscle tone, as well as the child’s reflexes. Second, the doctor checks the child's intracranial pressure. It is important to examine the child’s behavior for appropriateness to age and development.

After diagnosing SPNRS, the specialist prescribes medications to improve cerebral circulation, sedatives and prescribes massage. If increased intracranial pressure is detected, additional diuretics may be prescribed.

You should not think that this symptom will go away as the baby grows and develops. Parents need to constantly monitor intracranial pressure, which in the future will help avoid such serious disorders as headaches and vegetative-vascular dystonia.

The most effective treatment for NSAIDs is movement. However, this method of treatment requires a lot of effort from parents: massage and gymnastics, as well as other procedures, must be carried out daily. At the same time, the child’s brain begins to receive the correct information and recovers faster.

CNS depression syndrome

This syndrome is characterized by a weak reaction of the newborn to the environment, general lethargy. Other symptoms of central nervous system depression include depressed reflexes, a sharp decrease in spontaneous motor activity, and severe muscle hypotonia.

Today, experts distinguish 4 main degrees of central nervous system depression:

• Lethargy. At this stage, the child is practically constantly in a state of sleep. He can be awakened by external stimuli, but if left alone he quickly falls asleep again;
• Stunned. In this state, the child reacts to tactile stimulation only with a frown or a short-term grimace, as well as weak movements in the limbs. Upon examination, the grasping reflex is evoked, but all other reflexes are absent.
• Stupor. The child reacts very weakly to irritations, and only to painful ones. The rest of the clinical picture is similar to the state of stupor.
• Coma. The child has no reaction to painful stimuli at all. In coma I, the newborn retains brainstem level reflexes and some other reactions to external stimuli. In coma II, some of the brainstem level reflexes disappear, and in coma III they disappear completely. It is worth noting that in most cases, the absence of brainstem level reflexes indicates severe brain damage. This assumes an unfavorable prognosis. The absence of reflexes at the moments of recovery from a comatose state also indicates the presence of persistent neurological disorders.

Doctors are sounding the alarm - the number of patients diagnosed with “Higher Nervous Excitability Syndrome” is increasing exponentially and very soon may become a serious problem on a global scale. Any person is susceptible to this disorder of the nervous system, regardless of age and gender, although teenagers and male children suffer more often than others from nervous excitability. What causes the disorder and is it possible to fight it? In this article we will answer all your questions.

Symptoms of the disease

Persons with this disorder can be easily identified by external signs: asymmetry of the facial muscles, impaired movement of the eyeballs, poor orientation in space and time, as well as awkwardness and lack of composure. In addition, the patient complains of constant headaches, and an experienced doctor may note a slight delay in intellectual development. However, the main symptom of nervous excitability is insomnia. At the same time, we can talk about insomnia only when a person does not fall asleep for 3-4 hours and constantly turns over from side to side, trying to find a comfortable position. In addition, with insomnia, a person may wake up in the middle of the night and not sleep a wink until the morning.

Causes of the disease

This disorder occurs in adults and children. In adults, this disease develops against a background of constant stress, a frantic pace of life, lack of proper rest, and especially lack of sleep. As a rule, in 80% of cases, residents of megacities suffer from this disorder. Children are mainly susceptible to this disease, since their nervous system is not yet stable enough and cannot cope with the huge amount of information received. The disease is aggravated by excessive workloads in educational institutions, a turbulent situation within the family and, of course, sitting for many hours in front of the TV and computer. Computer games have a particularly negative effect on the psyche. In addition to emotional and mental factors, suspicious character traits can provoke increased nervous excitability. Moreover, in most cases, the doctor detects both of these reasons in the patient.

Treatment of the disease

To combat this disorder, modern medicine produces many drugs. The most popular medicines, such as or extract, have a plant base. In addition, an experienced specialist, depending on gender, age, and the cause of the nervous disorder, may recommend one of the following medications:

• sedatives in capsules and drops Barboval or;
• cardiac drug Tricardin;
• metabolic agent;
• homeopathic medicines Calm and Cardioica;
• nootropic drug;
• antimenopausal drug Klimadinon;
• vitamin preparation with metabolic action Magnefar B6.

You can also fight the syndrome of increased nervous excitability using traditional methods. To do this, you need to prepare a decoction of calendula flowers and leaves. To prepare the product you need to take 2 tbsp. dried calendula and oregano flowers, as well as 1 tbsp. tansy. After mixing the herbs, pour boiling water over them and leave for an hour. You need to take the product ½ cup 2 times a day for three weeks.

Disease prevention

Increased nervous excitability is not a diagnosis that requires serious medical treatment. This is only a minor disorder that requires correction, including by normalizing life. To do this, you need to regulate your sleep schedule, which means going to bed at a certain time and sleeping at least 8 hours a day. In addition, you should avoid worries and stress, reduce the time spent at the computer and regularly take walks in nature. Peace and tranquility to you!

Keywords: perinatal encephalopathy (PEP) or perinatal damage to the central nervous system (PP CNS), hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome (HHS); dilatation of the cerebral ventricles, interhemispheric fissure and subarachnoid spaces, pseudocysts on neurosonography (NSG), muscular dystonia syndrome (MSD), hyperexcitability syndrome, perinatal convulsions.

It turns out... more than 70-80%! Children in their first year of life come for consultation to neurological centers about a non-existent diagnosis - perinatal encephalopathy (PEP):

Child neurology is a relatively new field, but it is already going through difficult times. At the moment, many doctors practicing in the field of infant neurology, as well as parents of infants with any changes in the nervous system and mental sphere, find themselves “between two fires.” On the one hand, the school of “Soviet child neurology” is excessive diagnosis and incorrect assessment of functional and physiological changes in the nervous system of a child in the first year of life, combined with long-outdated recommendations for intensive treatment with a variety of medications. On the other hand, there is often an obvious underestimation of existing psychoneurological symptoms, ignorance of general pediatrics and the fundamentals of medical psychology, some therapeutic nihilism and fear of using the potential of modern drug therapy; and as a result - lost time and missed opportunities. At the same time, unfortunately, a certain (and sometimes significant) “formality” and “automaticity” of modern medical technologies lead, at a minimum, to the development of psychological problems in the child and his family members. The concept of “norm” in neurology at the end of the 20th century was sharply narrowed; now it is intensively and not always justifiably expanding. Probably the truth is somewhere in the middle...

According to the perinatal neurology clinic of the NEVRO-MED medical center and other leading medical centers in Moscow (and probably in other places), until now, more 80%!!! children in their first year of life are referred by a pediatrician or neurologist from a district clinic for a consultation regarding non-existent diagnosis - perinatal encephalopathy (PEP):

The diagnosis of “perinatal encephalopathy” (PEP) in Soviet child neurology very vaguely characterized almost any dysfunction (and even structure) of the brain in the perinatal period of a child’s life (from about 7 months of intrauterine development of the child and up to 1 month of life after childbirth), arising as a result pathologies of cerebral blood flow and oxygen deficiency.

Such a diagnosis was usually based on one or more sets of any signs (syndromes) of a probable nervous system disorder, for example, hypertensive-hydrocephalic syndrome (HHS), muscular dystonia syndrome (MDS), hyperexcitability syndrome.

After conducting an appropriate comprehensive examination: clinical examination in combination with analysis of data from additional research methods (ultrasound of the brain - neurosonography) and cerebral circulation (Dopplerography of cerebral vessels), fundus examination and other methods, the percentage of reliable diagnoses of perinatal brain damage (hypoxic, traumatic, toxic-metabolic, infectious) is reduced to 3-4% - this is more than 20 times!

The most bleak thing about these figures is not only a certain reluctance of individual doctors to use the knowledge of modern neurology and conscientious delusion, but also a clearly visible psychological (and not only) comfort in the pursuit of such “overdiagnosis.”

Hypertension-hydrocephalic syndrome (HHS): increased intracranial pressure (ICP) and hydrocephalus

Until now, the diagnosis of “intracranial hypertension” (increased intracranial pressure ( ICP)), one of the most commonly used and “favorite” medical terms among pediatric neurologists and pediatricians, which can explain almost everything! and at any age, complaints from parents.

For example, a child often cries and shudders, sleeps poorly, spits up a lot, eats poorly and gains little weight, eyes widen, walks on tiptoes, his arms and chin tremble, there are convulsions and there is a lag in psycho-speech and motor development: “it’s only his fault - increased intracranial pressure." Isn't that a convenient diagnosis?

Quite often, the main argument for parents is “heavy artillery” - data from instrumental diagnostic methods with mysterious scientific graphs and figures. The methods can be used either completely outdated and uninformative / echoencephalography ( ECHO-EG) and rheoencephalography ( REG)/, or examinations “from the wrong opera” ( EEG), or incorrect, in isolation from clinical manifestations, subjective interpretation of normal variants during neurosonodopplerography or tomography.

Unhappy mothers of such children unwittingly, at the suggestion of doctors (or voluntarily, feeding on their own anxiety and fears), pick up the flag of “intracranial hypertension” and for a long time end up in the system of monitoring and treatment of perinatal encephalopathy.

In fact, intracranial hypertension is a very serious and quite rare neurological and neurosurgical pathology. It accompanies severe neuroinfections and brain injuries, hydrocephalus, cerebrovascular accidents, brain tumors, etc.

Hospitalization is mandatory and urgent!!!

Intracranial hypertension (if it really exists) is not difficult for attentive parents to notice: it is characterized by constant or paroxysmal headaches (usually in the morning), nausea and vomiting not associated with food. The child is often lethargic and sad, is constantly capricious, refuses to eat, he always wants to lie down and cuddle with his mother.

A very serious symptom can be strabismus or difference in pupils, and, of course, disturbances of consciousness. In infants, bulging and tension of the fontanelle, divergence of the sutures between the bones of the skull, as well as excessive growth of the head circumference are very suspicious.

Without a doubt, in such cases the child must be shown to specialists as soon as possible. Quite often, one clinical examination is enough to exclude or preliminarily diagnose this pathology. Sometimes additional research methods are required (fundus examination, neurosonodopplerography, computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the brain).

Of course, expansion of the interhemispheric fissure, cerebral ventricles, subarachnoid and other spaces of the cerebrospinal fluid system on neurosonography (NSG) images or brain tomograms (CT or MRI) cannot serve as evidence of intracranial hypertension. The same applies to cerebral blood flow disorders isolated from the clinic, identified by vascular Dopplerography, and “finger impressions” on a skull x-ray.

In addition, there is no connection between intracranial hypertension and translucent vessels on the face and scalp, walking on tiptoes, trembling hands and chin, hyperexcitability, developmental disorders, poor academic performance, nosebleeds, tics, stuttering, bad behavior, etc. and so on.

That’s why, if your baby has been diagnosed with “PEP, intracranial hypertension”, based on “goggle” eyes (Graefe’s symptom, “setting sun”) and walking on tiptoes, then you shouldn’t go crazy in advance. In fact, these reactions may be characteristic of easily excitable young children. They react very emotionally to everything that surrounds them and what happens. Attentive parents will easily notice these connections.

Thus, when diagnosing PEP and increased intracranial pressure, it is naturally best to contact a specialized neurological clinic. This is the only way to be sure of the correct diagnosis and treatment.

It is absolutely unreasonable to begin treatment of this serious pathology on the recommendations of one doctor based on the above “arguments”; in addition, such unreasonable treatment is not at all safe.

Just look at the diuretic drugs that are prescribed to children for a long time, which has an extremely adverse effect on the growing body, causing metabolic disorders.

There is another, no less important aspect of the problem that must be taken into account in this situation. Sometimes medications are necessary and the wrongful refusal of them, based only on the mother’s (and more often than not the father’s) own conviction that medications are harmful, can lead to serious troubles. In addition, if there really is a serious progressive increase in intracranial pressure and the development of hydrocephalus, then often incorrect drug therapy for intracranial hypertension entails the loss of a favorable moment for surgical intervention (shunt surgery) and the development of severe irreversible consequences for the child: hydrocephalus, developmental disorders, blindness , deafness, etc.

Now a few words about no less “adored” hydrocephalus And hydrocephalic syndrome. In fact, we are talking about a progressive increase in intracranial and intracerebral spaces filled with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) due to the existing! at that moment of intracranial hypertension. In this case, neurosonograms (NSG) or tomograms reveal dilations of the ventricles of the brain, interhemispheric fissure and other parts of the cerebrospinal fluid system that change over time. Everything depends on the severity and dynamics of the symptoms, and most importantly, on the correct assessment of the relationships between the increase in intracerebral spaces and other neural changes. This can be easily determined by a qualified neurologist. True hydrocephalus, which does require treatment, like intracranial hypertension, is relatively rare. Such children must be observed by neurologists and neurosurgeons at specialized medical centers.

Unfortunately, in ordinary life such an erroneous “diagnosis” occurs in almost every fourth or fifth baby. It turns out that some doctors often incorrectly call a stable (usually slight) increase in the ventricles and other cerebrospinal fluid spaces of the brain hydrocephalus (hydrocephalic syndrome). This does not manifest itself in any way through external signs or complaints and does not require treatment. Moreover, if the child is suspected of having hydrocephalus based on a “large” head, translucent vessels on the face and scalp, etc. - this should not cause panic among parents. The large size of the head in this case plays practically no role. However, the dynamics of head circumference growth is very important. In addition, you need to know that among modern children it is not uncommon to have so-called “tadpoles” whose heads are relatively large for their age (macrocephaly). In most of these cases, infants with large heads show signs of rickets, less often - macrocephaly due to the family constitution. For example, dad or mom, or maybe grandpa has a big head, in a word, it’s a family matter and doesn’t require treatment.

Sometimes, when performing neurosonography, an ultrasound diagnostic doctor finds in the brain pseudocysts- but this is not a reason to panic at all! Pseudocysts are single round tiny formations (cavities) containing cerebrospinal fluid and located in typical areas of the brain. The reasons for their appearance, as a rule, are not reliably known; they usually disappear by 8-12 months. life. It is important to know that the existence of such cysts in most children is not a risk factor for further neuropsychic development and does not require treatment. However, although quite rare, pseudocysts form at the site of subependymal hemorrhages, or are associated with perinatal cerebral ischemia or intrauterine infection. The number, size, structure and location of cysts provide specialists with very important information, taking into account which, based on a clinical examination, final conclusions are formed.

Description of NSG is not a diagnosis! and not necessarily a reason for treatment.

Most often, NSG data provide indirect and uncertain results, and are taken into account only in conjunction with the results of a clinical examination.

Once again, I remind you of the other extreme: in difficult cases, sometimes there is a clear underestimation on the part of parents (less often, doctors) of the child’s problems, which leads to a complete refusal of the necessary dynamic observation and examination, as a result of which the correct diagnosis is made late, and treatment does not lead to the desired result.

Undoubtedly, therefore, if increased intracranial pressure and hydrocephalus are suspected, diagnosis should be carried out at the highest professional level.

What is muscle tone and why is it so “loved”?

Look at your child’s medical record: is there no such diagnosis as “muscular dystonia”, “hypertension” and “hypotension”? - you probably just didn’t go with your baby to the neurologist’s clinic until he was a year old. This is, of course, a joke. However, the diagnosis of “muscular dystonia” is no less common (and perhaps more common) than hydrocephalic syndrome and increased intracranial pressure.

Changes in muscle tone can be, depending on the severity, either a variant of the norm (most often) or a serious neurological problem (this is much less common).

Briefly about external signs of changes in muscle tone.

Muscular hypotonia characterized by a decrease in resistance to passive movements and an increase in their volume. Spontaneous and voluntary motor activity may be limited; palpation of the muscles is somewhat reminiscent of “jelly or very soft dough.” Pronounced muscle hypotonia can significantly affect the rate of motor development (for more details, see the chapter on movement disorders in children of the first year of life).

Muscular dystonia characterized by a condition where muscle hypotension alternates with hypertension, as well as a variant of disharmony and asymmetry of muscle tension in individual muscle groups (for example, more in the arms than in the legs, more on the right than on the left, etc.).

At rest, these children may experience some muscle hypotonia during passive movements. When trying to actively perform any movement, during emotional reactions, when the body changes in space, muscle tone increases sharply, pathological tonic reflexes become pronounced. Often, such disorders subsequently lead to improper development of motor skills and orthopedic problems (for example, torticollis, scoliosis).

Muscular hypertension characterized by increased resistance to passive movements and limitation of spontaneous and voluntary motor activity. Severe muscle hypertension can also significantly affect the rate of motor development.

Violation of muscle tone (muscle tension at rest) can be limited to one limb or one muscle group (obstetric paresis of the arm, traumatic paresis of the leg) - and this is the most noticeable and very alarming sign, forcing parents to immediately consult a neurologist.

It is sometimes quite difficult for even a competent doctor to notice the difference between physiological changes and pathological symptoms in one consultation. The fact is that changes in muscle tone are not only associated with neurological disorders, but also strongly depend on the specific age period and other characteristics of the child’s condition (excited, crying, hungry, drowsy, cold, etc.). Thus, the presence of individual deviations in the characteristics of muscle tone does not always cause concern and require any treatment.

But even if functional disorders of muscle tone are confirmed, there is nothing to worry about. A good neurologist will most likely prescribe massage and physical therapy (exercises on large balls are very effective). Medicines are prescribed extremely rarely.

Hyperexcitability syndrome

(syndrome of increased neuro-reflex excitability)

Frequent crying and whims with or without cause, emotional instability and increased sensitivity to external stimuli, sleep and appetite disturbances, excessive frequent regurgitation, motor restlessness and shuddering, trembling of the chin and arms (etc.), often combined with poor growth weight and bowel dysfunction - do you recognize such a child?

All motor, sensitive and emotional reactions to external stimuli in a hyperexcitable child arise intensely and abruptly, and can fade away just as quickly. Having mastered certain motor skills, children constantly move, change positions, constantly reach for and grab objects. Children usually show a keen interest in their surroundings, but increased emotional lability often makes it difficult for them to communicate with others. They are very impressionable, emotional and vulnerable! They fall asleep extremely poorly, only with their mother, they constantly wake up and cry in their sleep. Many of them have a long-term reaction of fear when communicating with unfamiliar adults with active reactions of protest. Typically, hyperexcitability syndrome is combined with increased mental exhaustion.

The presence of such manifestations in a child is just a reason to contact a neurologist, but in no case is it a reason for parental panic, much less drug treatment.

Constant hyperexcitability is not causally specific and can most often be observed in children with temperamental characteristics (for example, the so-called choleric type of reaction).

Much less frequently, hyperexcitability can be associated and explained by perinatal pathology of the central nervous system. In addition, if a child’s behavior is suddenly disrupted unexpectedly and for a long time for virtually no apparent reason, and he or she develops hyperexcitability, the possibility of developing an adaptation disorder reaction (adaptation to external environmental conditions) due to stress cannot be ruled out. And the sooner the child is examined by specialists, the easier and faster it is possible to cope with the problem.

And, finally, most often, transient hyperexcitability is associated with pediatric problems (rickets, digestive disorders and intestinal colic, hernia, teething, etc.).

There are two extremes in the tactics of monitoring such children. Or an “explanation” of hyperexcitability using “intracranial hypertension” and intense drug treatment often using drugs with serious side effects (diacarb, phenobarbital, etc.). Or complete neglect of the problem, which can subsequently lead to the formation of persistent neurotic disorders (fears, tics, stuttering, anxiety disorders, obsessions, sleep disorders) in the child and his family members, and will require long-term psychological correction.

Of course, it is logical to assume that an adequate approach is somewhere in between...

I would especially like to draw the attention of parents to convulsions- one of the few disorders of the nervous system that really deserves close attention and serious treatment. Epileptic seizures do not occur often in infancy, but they are sometimes severe, insidious and disguised, and immediate drug therapy is almost always necessary.

Such attacks can be hidden behind any stereotypical and repetitive episodes in the child’s behavior. Incomprehensible shudders, head nods, involuntary eye movements, “freezing,” “squeezing,” “limping,” especially with a fixed gaze and lack of response to external stimuli, should alert parents and force them to turn to specialists. Otherwise, a late diagnosis and untimely prescribed drug therapy significantly reduce the chances of treatment success.

All circumstances of the seizure episode must be accurately and completely remembered and, if possible, recorded on video for further detailed description at the consultation. If convulsions last a long time or are repeated, call “03” and urgently consult a doctor.

At an early age, the child’s condition is extremely changeable, so developmental deviations and other disorders of the nervous system can sometimes be detected only during long-term dynamic monitoring of the baby, with repeated consultations. For this purpose, specific dates for planned consultations with a pediatric neurologist in the first year of life have been determined: usually at 1, 3, 6 and 12 months. It is during these periods that most serious diseases of the nervous system of children in the first year of life can be detected (hydrocephalus, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, metabolic disorders, etc.). Thus, identifying a specific neurological pathology in the early stages of development makes it possible to begin complex therapy on time and achieve the maximum possible result.

And in conclusion, I would like to remind parents: be sensitive and attentive to your kids! First of all, it is your meaningful participation in the lives of children that is the basis for their future well-being. Do not treat them for “supposed illnesses,” but if something worries and concerns you, find the opportunity to get independent advice from a qualified specialist.

For a child, what is it fraught with, is there at least something good in it, and what should parents of such children do, read the website.

Each child has a different degree of emotional excitability. Polish psychologist Kazimir Dabrowski studied in detail the issue of increased emotional excitability in children. In this article we will talk about what hyperexcitability syndrome in children is and how parents can relieve their child’s excitability.

Children attend kindergartens and educational institutions and their emotionality is influenced by their educators, teachers, and classmates. Emotional excitability may turn out to be a syndrome that needs to be treated.

Excessive emotional excitability is perhaps the most significant of the five excitability (intellectual, sensory, psychomotor overexcitability, and imaginative overexcitability) identified by Casimir Dabrowski, a Polish psychologist who observed how differently how people behaved in Poland during the Second World War. Some people could commit acts of unheard of cruelty, while others risked their own lives to save others.

His observations were later formulated in the Theory of Positive Disintegration. Overexcitability, sometimes called super sensitivity, is part of the theory.

What is excessive emotional excitability?

Emotional hypersensitivity is most common among gifted children. They have the strongest emotional reactions to various events and experiences.

Children with this trait tend to have great emotional depth. They develop strong attachments to people, places and things. Because of their emotional intensity, they are often accused of overexpressing emotions or having overly dramatic and strong reactions to something. However, all their emotions are real. For such children, the ant hill seems like a huge mountain.

Emotional hypersensitivity also involves being overly concerned about others. They may worry about a child crying next to them or about a friend of the same age because of some trouble that happened to him.

These children not only sympathize with people, but also have a special relationship with animals. They often become vegetarians at a young age because they cannot handle eating a living thing.

Children do not outgrow this feature, so emotional sensitivity accompanies the child into adulthood.

Positive in increased excitability

Children with excessive emotional excitability sense and perceive things that others may miss or not notice. Their understanding of the world is structured to provide them with a depth of understanding that is highly valued. They often turn to friends and acquaintances for help and advice because of the strong connections they build.

Because of the intensity of their feelings and empathy for others, these children usually form very strong friendships. Their feelings for their friends are very deep, which is why they always remain among the most loyal friends.

Children with emotional hypersensitivity are more likely than other children to be aware of their own feelings, which allows them to create very moving works of art in any form: written, musical, acting or artistic.

Negative in increased excitability in a child

Those who have emotional hypersensitivity have great empathy for others but little compassion for themselves. They are very self-critical and have a highly developed sense of responsibility, even for those things that were not entrusted to them.

This self-criticism and sense of responsibility can cause anxiety, guilt, and a feeling that everything has failed. The anxiety they experience can make it difficult to do simple tasks or chores, even homework. They may develop psychosomatic symptoms such as stomach pain or bouts of depression.

Depression in people with excessive emotional excitability is existential, that is, they are worried about problems that relate to basic life issues: death, poverty, war, illness, etc. Attacks of depression can occur after some specific event or irritant, but often occur and spontaneously.

Children with emotional hypersensitivity need time to get used to and adapt to changes. New situations or environments can cause a child to experience a new wave of anxiety. They may be shy and avoid social activities.

What can a parent do to relieve emotional excitability in a child?

The most important step for parents of an emotionally sensitive child is to accept all of their feelings, no matter how strong they are. Perhaps the first impulse will be to try to get the child to stop overreacting and making mountains out of molehills. But remember, for such a child, a fly is really the size of an elephant.

You should also not downplay the child’s feelings or ignore them. For example, don't say that he is too sensitive and that everything will be fine. The child was not born so sensitive on purpose so as not to please you. And he is unlikely to believe that everything will be fine only if you say so. You can't know for sure, can you?

Listen to what your child tells you without comment or judgment. Sometimes he simply wants to be understood, and not to be given a lecture or stuffed with advice, and even more so, he does not want to hear condemnation. This rule especially applies to little boys because they are often considered less emotional than girls. And what happens is that children with hypersensitivity really suffer, and boys are more likely to suffer. Avoid criticism for being sensitive and overprotection from the outside world. Neither the first nor the second will help.