Developmental medicine and child neurology
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Dev Med Child Neurol · Dec 2011
ReviewCognitive and psychiatric phenotypes of movement disorders in children: a systematic review.
The cognitive and psychiatric aspects of adult movement disorders are well established, but specific behavioural profiles for paediatric movement disorders have not been delineated. Knowledge of non-motor phenotypes may guide treatment and determine which symptoms are suggestive of a specific movement disorder and which indicate medication effects. ⋯ Although the literature in non-motor phenomena is still emerging, recognition of salient cognitive and psychiatric phenomena may facilitate management of paediatric movement disorders.
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Dev Med Child Neurol · Dec 2011
Behavioural comorbidity in Tanzanian children with epilepsy: a community-based case-control study.
The aim of this study was to define the prevalence of and risk factors for behavioural disorders in children with epilepsy from a rural district of Tanzania by conducting a community-based case-control study. ⋯ Children with epilepsy in a rural area of sub-Saharan Africa have a high prevalence of behavioural disorders and attention problems, both of which are associated with frequent seizures. Providing behaviour assessment and appropriate intervention programmes for children with epilepsy may reduce the burden of behaviour disorders in this setting.
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Dev Med Child Neurol · Nov 2011
Characteristics of recurrent musculoskeletal pain in children with cerebral palsy aged 8 to 18 years.
The aim of this study was to explore the prevalence, predictors, severity, and impact of recurrent musculoskeletal pain in children and adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). ⋯ Recurrent musculoskeletal pain is the dominating pain problem in children and adolescents with CP. Monitoring of musculoskeletal pain should be part of the medical follow-up across the whole range of motor impairment.
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Dev Med Child Neurol · Oct 2011
ReviewUse of intrathecal baclofen therapy in ambulant children and adolescents with spasticity and dystonia of cerebral origin: a systematic review.
Studies on the use of intrathecal baclofen (ITB) for ambulant adults with spasticity and/or dystonia of cerebral origin are scarce, and are even more limited for children and adolescents. This systematic review investigates the use of ITB to improve walking, transfer ability, and gross motor activities in ambulant children and adolescents with spasticity and/or dystonia of cerebral origin. ⋯ Fifteen studies were of levels IV or V evidence and only one of level II according to the evidence levels of the AACPDM guidelines, but all were of low quality. No study was found on the use of ITB in ambulant children or adolescents with dystonia of cerebral origin. Not all studies used objective outcome measures to assess the ambulation, transfer ability, and gross motor activities of the participants. A proportion of participants showed improvement in all these areas but adverse events were common. A proportion of participants compromised their ambulatory and transfer abilities after ITB. There was no evidence to support the clinical use of ITB in ambulant individuals with hypertonicity without further rigorous longitudinal studies.