Neurological disorders in infants and children include such diagnoses as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Proper diagnosis, ongoing medical treatment, and appropriate nutrition are important steps to help manage such diseases.
Neurological disorders in children can be very concerning. This is a broad category of conditions that can be caused by multiple factorsand have the potential toaffect a child’s growing brain. Some examples of neurological disorders are persistent headaches or migraines, developmental and motor delays, Tourette’s syndrome, cerebral palsy, and autism. Some of these conditions can be caused by genetic factors, while others can be caused by injury or illness, and in some cases causes that are still unclear. One reason neurological disorders in children are of concern is that a child’s nervous system, their brain and spinal cord, are still developing. Fortunately, with proper diagnosis and treatment, many of these conditions can be successfully managed so a child can grow to adulthood. While the diagnosis and treatment will be specific to each condition, proper nutrition is one common factor that can help manage the symptoms. For example, in the case of cerebral palsy, a condition that impairs motor development, an assessment of the nutritional requirements and the means of ingestion is important, as eating may be difficult due to oro-motor dysfunction. Nestlé Health Science providespediatric nutritional products that can helpthese children get the nutrition they need.
