What is vegetative-vascular dystonia in children and how to cope with it. Dystonia in infants What is muscular dystonia

To one degree or another, vegetative-vascular dystonia (VSD) appears in many children(according to various sources, cases are diagnosed in 50-70%).

Children of primary school age and adolescence are most susceptible to developing the pathology, and the disease is more common in girls.

VSD is not considered an independent disease, but is a consequence of certain deviations in the functioning of internal organs and systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, nervous).

What are the signs of anemia in children? Find out about this from ours.

Characteristics of the disease

The disease manifests itself differently in a child, depending on which organ is affected.

At the same time, pathology is not an independent disease, but, in the presence of certain negative factors can provoke the development of serious diseases, such as stomach ulcer, persistent change.

The autonomic nervous system of the human body influences the activities of all its organs and systems and regulates their functions. With VSD, the regulatory process is disrupted, therefore, internal organs begin to work incorrectly.

As a result, symptoms of the disease arise. The autonomic nervous system itself considered hidden, since a person is not able to notice any changes in her condition.

However, disruptions in its functioning can provoke the development of serious health problems, which means that such a phenomenon as VSD cannot be ignored.

Reasons for development

The factors that provoke the emergence and development of VSD are diverse and numerous.

Thus, VSD, manifested in newborns caused by congenital causes, such as severe pregnancy (toxicosis, oligohydramnios, threat of miscarriage), abnormalities in the formation of internal organs of the fetus (kidneys, liver), genetic predisposition, as well as extensive ones, for example, if a nursing mother does not follow the principles of proper nutrition (eats foods allergens) during breastfeeding.

In children older The following factors can lead to the development of VSD:

Features of physique (in children with insufficient or excessive body weight, VSD develops more often).
Unfavorable emotional atmosphere in the family, in the team.
Increased physical activity (when a child is involved in strenuous sports) and emotional fatigue (with intense intellectual activity as part of school activities).
Diseases of the respiratory, digestive, and endocrine systems that have a chronic course.
Frequent and prolonged infectious pathologies.
Sedentary lifestyle.
Disturbance in periods of sleep and wakefulness.

In adolescents, the most common cause of the development of VSD is considered to be hormonal changes in the body associated with puberty.

Classification of the disease

As a criterion for the classification of VSD It is customary to use blood pressure indicators, in which pathology develops. Thus, the following types of disease are distinguished:

hypertensive, when VSD is accompanied by an increase in pressure;
hypotonic, with low blood pressure;
mixed, when the pressure level changes from time to time, sometimes increasing, sometimes decreasing.

Depending on the clinical manifestations, the following are distinguished: types of pathology How:

vascular (accompanied by changes in pressure);
cardiac (in which disturbances in the functioning of the cardiovascular system occur);
respiratory (accompanied by difficulty breathing);
neurotic (manifests in the form of frequent mood swings, sleep disturbances).

Clinical manifestations

VSD is a disease, the clinical picture of which can be different, depending on the form and nature of the disorders. Thus, the pathology manifests itself in the form of the following symptoms:

Form	Characteristic signs and features of the course
Cardiological	Suddenly the child feels pain in his heart. Painful sensations most often occur during physical activity, but can also occur if the child is at rest. The nature and intensity of pain varies. The pain can be sudden and very strong and long-lasting, or moderate and short-term.
Tachycardic	The patient's heart rate is disrupted (at a normal rate of 90 beats, the heart begins to beat at a speed of up to 150 beats per minute). This contributes to impaired blood flow and increased blood pressure. This form occurs quite rarely in children, as it is considered a disease characteristic of the older generation.
Bradycardic	It is considered a rather rare form of VSD, in which there is a significant decrease in heart rate and a decrease in blood pressure. This type of pathology is accompanied by general weakness, deterioration of health, dizziness, and in some cases, fainting.
Arrhythmic	In this case, the heart rate periodically decreases or increases (these states alternate), in addition, there are disturbances in the functioning of the musculoskeletal system and pathologies of other internal organs, such as the liver, kidneys, and gall bladder. As a result of negative processes in the body, disturbances in the functioning of the thyroid gland are observed, as a result of which a hormonal imbalance occurs in the child’s body.

Exists a number of common features, which are characteristic of any of the forms indicated above:

Drug therapy

The following groups of drugs are used to treat VSD in children:

In severe cases, the child may be prescribed antidepressants, tranquilizers, as well as means to eliminate pathologies of the heart.

Forecast

If the problem is identified and eliminated in a timely manner, forecasts favorable.

If treatment is not started in time, very serious physiological and mental problems may develop in the future, associated, in particular, with the inability to adapt to the surrounding society.

Prevention

The development of VSD can be prevented only if the unfavorable risk factors that contribute to the development of the pathology are eliminated.

In particular, it is necessary protect the child from emotional turmoil, create favorable living conditions for him both in the family and in the children's team.

In addition, it is necessary to monitor the child’s diet and daily routine, protect him from seasonal diseases, and promptly identify and eliminate chronic pathologies.

VSD is a disease that manifests itself due to numerous causes and has a detailed clinical picture.

The pathology must be identified in time and treatment started, in this case a chance to keep the child a normal life very high.

In the absence of proper therapy, serious consequences may develop.

Doctor Komarovsky about vegetative-vascular dystonia in children in this video:

We kindly ask you not to self-medicate. Make an appointment with a doctor!

A newly born child is a small miracle that brings a lot of joy and surprises to its mother.

But, unfortunately, not all the surprises of this period are pleasant: some of them can frighten an inexperienced young woman, and, besides, they sometimes cause severe discomfort to children.

For example, muscle dystonia in infants, which may subside on its own over time, but can lead to serious and irreversible consequences. What kind of syndrome is this, is its occurrence dangerous? How to identify dystonia and what to do about it - every mother should know about this.

The unborn child who lives in the womb is in the fetal position - he keeps his arms, legs and fingers bent in order to fit compactly and comfortably in the uterus. And now the moment of birth has come: it would seem that it is time to straighten up and straighten up, but children, on average, until they reach the age of 3 months, continue to keep their limbs in a bent position - it is quite difficult to straighten them.

This condition is called “physiological muscle hypertonicity” and it is normal. However, if, after the above-mentioned time, the baby continues to tightly clench his fingers, throws his head back, cries, or, conversely, is inactive and does not try to pick up a toy with his hands, then you should think about whether the child may have muscular dystonia syndrome.

Dystonia is a fairly commonly observed condition in children of the first year of life. Simply put, it is a violation of muscle tone. The main criterion of the syndrome is the strength with which the infants’ muscles react to the applied efforts: either too sluggish or very resistant to straightening or bending.

Muscular dystonia in children is very closely related to possible brain damage during childbirth or pregnancy that occurs against the background of fetal hypoxia, the causes of which are numerous:

polyhydramnios;
alcohol poisoning;
gestosis;
disruption of the placenta;
placental abruption;
impact of negative environmental factors;
work with a certain level of harmfulness;
long or very fast labor;
C-section;
anesthesia;
obstetric pathologies.

Muscular dystonia is divided into two types - hypertonicity or hypotonicity.

Dystonia in children can affect all sides of the body, or only one (left, right, lower or upper).

Increased tone

Muscle hypertonicity or increased tone is excessive tension in the flexor or extensor muscles of the limbs. The syndrome can be pronounced or mild - either the child resists only a little, for example, during changing clothes, or does not allow him to move his limbs at all. Symptoms of muscle hypertonicity in infants:

arms and legs are pressed tightly to the body;
legs spread apart;
disturbing sleep;
causeless crying;
frequent regurgitation;
resistance to movement;
the head is thrown back;
attempts to always turn only in one direction;
Babies who have begun to walk move on tiptoes.

Pediatricians believe that during the first months of life there is no need to panic about hypertension in the infant’s muscles. By 5-6 months it usually disappears without a trace and does not interfere with the child’s development. However, it doesn’t hurt to consult a specialist in any case. And perhaps get the necessary treatment.

Muscle weakness

There is also the opposite of muscle hypertension - the state of muscles - hypotension, that is, their excessive lethargy and weakness.

The baby is calm, cries a little, does not want to move, does not hold anything well in his hands - at first the parents do not even suspect about the developing pathology.

On the contrary, they are glad that their child is an exception and an “ideal” child. However, lethargy, weakness and all of the above symptoms can signal mom and dad about the onset of dystonia.

Sometimes muscle hypotension is much more dangerous than hypertension! Because of its occurrence, the child physically develops incorrectly and cannot begin to turn on his side, sit down, and subsequently walk at the right time.

Two in one

Sometimes muscle dystonia in children manifests itself in two forms at once: the child experiences both hypertonicity and hypotonicity of the muscles. That is, in different parts of the baby’s body, the muscles do not work equally and with different strengths.

It’s easy to identify: just put the baby on his tummy and watch his actions.

The child, bending in an arc, will try to roll over to the side of the body where muscle hypertension is observed.

And if the baby lies on his back, then he will tilt his head in the direction where there is muscle hypertonicity.

His leg on the same side will be tucked in, while the other may be extended and relaxed.

Young parents who suspect dystonia should not make any treatment decisions on their own. You should definitely consult a doctor and undergo diagnostics to ensure the correctness of the intended diagnosis.

Spasmodic torticollis is an extremely unpleasant neurological disease that impairs a person’s quality of life. In this topic we will talk about modern methods of treating cervical dystonia.

Diagnostics

Only a pediatric neurologist can make an accurate diagnosis, and you should contact him at the first suspicion of muscular dystonia.

As a rule, after a general examination, a specialist prescribes the following additional research methods:

echo electroencephalography;
neurosonography;
magnetic resonance imaging;
Doppler studies;
electroneurography.

The doctor will also determine the presence of special postures and movements characteristic of a child with dystonia syndrome, analyze how the baby was born, identify the absence of other diseases (such as paralysis or epilepsy) and exclude the use of medications that could cause the syndrome.

Parents should be prepared for the fact that a child with muscular dystonia will have to be regularly observed by a doctor and strictly adhere to the treatment recommended by him, which, most often, comes down to prescribing a special massage or gymnastics.

Professional massage

The generally accepted and main method of treating muscular dystonia in children is considered to be proper massage, which is performed by a specialist. Its action in case of hypertension is aimed at relaxing muscles. The masseur gently strokes the child with his hand, rubs parts of the body with his fingers, or applies acupressure.

It is worth carrying out the procedure in a warm and cozy room, since hypothermia and discomfort will lead to the baby starting to cry, and this will only strain the muscles more. Basic techniques for muscle relaxation:

massage according to Semenova;
massage of biologically active points;
Phelps shaking.

Parents can do some exercises with their child and independently at home.

If the baby has hypotension, then the elements of the massage will be based on active movements, which over time will force the muscles to work actively and correctly. The masseur taps and pinches the baby with his hand, applies acupressure stimulating massage, and strokes the baby's muscles with light pressure.

If a child has dystonia in two forms at once, then for each part of the body the specialist chooses a special and most suitable massage technique for it.

The sooner parents turn to a specialist for help and begin treatment, the greater the chance that the baby will cope with dystonia and grow up strong and healthy and will not even remember the illness that happened to him.

Risks

Muscular dystonia is not a disease that you can give up on and say: “Oh, it will go away on its own.”

This syndrome requires professional and responsible treatment, as it has a lot of negative consequences:

improper physical development;
retardation in mental or physical development;
curvature of body parts;
headache.

This is only a small superficial part of the list of all possible violations. Dystonia can cause gait disturbances in the future, the development of club feet, and much more.

Treatment

Despite the fact that many, when treating muscular dystonia syndrome in a baby, try to limit themselves to one massage, so as not to “torment” the child once again, it is still worth following other recommendations of the specialist, if any have been voiced.

To achieve the greatest effect in the treatment of this syndrome, a complex of different methods is used:

physiotherapy;
gymnastics;
baths;
taking medications.

Even after completing the course of treatment, the child should be observed by a specialist for a long time to exclude relapses and negative consequences of the disease.

Muscular dystonia is not a death sentence, and in the early stages it can be successfully treated without any consequences. It is important for parents to carefully monitor their child and visit a doctor in a timely manner, informing him of their suspicions about the presence of dystonia. And then this syndrome is quite easy to cope with, the main thing is to put in a little effort and desire.

Video on the topic

is a disease that occurs in approximately 30–80% of children. But this is only official medical statistics; the disease occurs quite often. It is not always possible to establish the correct diagnosis in time. For example, if a baby has only an elevated body temperature and no other symptoms, then parents may not always think that it might be vegetative-vascular dystonia.

What is the normal functioning of the vegetative-vascular system responsible for?

The vegetative-vascular system is a complex mechanism that is responsible for unconscious reflexes such as heartbeat, breathing and body thermoregulation.

Also, the mental state affects the vegetative-vascular system. She is able to react and control every tear, sigh and stress.

Therefore, thanks to this complex system, the child may yawn or sweat. If the system fails, then the body ceases to obey and becomes unpredictable, chaos occurs.

The body of infants is very sensitive and vulnerable, so for them, disruptions in the functioning of the vegetative-vascular system can lead to serious consequences. What is the reason?

Causes of vegetative-vascular dystonia

This is a multifaceted disease, so there is no specific cause for its occurrence.

But there are several basic reasons:

related heredity;
difficult childbirth;
craniocerebral injuries;
stress, psychological tension (anxiety).

These reasons are not all, but from them you can already understand that VSD can manifest itself even in a newborn baby. In infants, dystonia can occur if the pregnancy proceeded with complications, if the fetus did not have enough oxygen in the womb. The disease is also possible in children who were at risk of spontaneous miscarriage, if the mother smoked during pregnancy, had diabetes, or had bleeding.

Symptoms that accompany vegetative-vascular dystonia in infants

The manifestation of symptoms and their nature depends on the person’s age.

Symptoms that appear in infants:

frequent regurgitation;
colic and frequent bloating;
unstable stool, sometimes diarrhea, sometimes constipation;
decreased appetite; subsequently, the baby gains weight more slowly than normal;
unusual manifestations on the skin, frequent diaper rash, erythema, exudative diathesis;
manifestation of allergies;
restless sleep, frequent waking up;
spontaneous crying for no reason.

Congenital pathologies that can lead to the development of the disease:

heart defects;
arrhythmia;
pathologies of the heart muscle;
heart disease of an infectious-inflammatory nature;
Graves' disease;
Itsenko-Cushing syndrome.

Prevention measures and treatment of VSD in infants

In order for there to be no reason to treat the disease, it is necessary to engage in prevention. For an infant, a properly planned daily routine and a comfortable and psychologically calm environment at home are very important.

Treatment is prescribed after a comprehensive examination by a number of specialists. As a rule, infants diagnosed with vegetative-vascular dystonia are regularly monitored by a pediatrician and neurologist, as well as a specialist depending on the symptoms of manifestation (psychiatrist, cardiologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist).

When treating this disease in infants, preference is given to non-drug treatment. It is recommended to review and adjust your daily routine, go for a relaxing, therapeutic massage, do physical therapy, and visit the pool.

Dear parents, carefully monitor their newborn children so as not to miss the obvious symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia.

For a young mother, the period of infancy is especially difficult for a child. Even a healthy baby needs to be looked after tirelessly. And there is no need to talk about children who are diagnosed with serious diseases from birth. In case of a difficult pregnancy or complications during childbirth, unpleasant consequences arise. One of them is muscular dystonia. How dangerous is this syndrome, and what treatment methods exist?

What is muscular dystonia

Muscular dystonia is a pathology that mainly affects infants. This concept includes ailments accompanied by regular spasms and muscle contractions. In this case, the motor system is disrupted, and the development of tone proceeds incorrectly. Even in the mother's womb, the baby begins to actively move. And after birth, he repeats the movements that he made in his mother’s belly. But he is no longer surrounded by anatomical fluid that facilitates usual manipulations. Now the little man has to make an effort, his movements are no longer smooth, and his coordination is lost.

When the central nervous system is disturbed, the muscles do not relax, but are in constant tone (hypertonicity), or, conversely, they are always relaxed (hypotonicity). Muscular dystonia is both muscle hypertonicity and hypotonicity. When trying to make a movement, the muscles suddenly relax or, trying to relax, become tense. In the practice of doctors, there are cases when a child suffers from both hypertonicity and hypotonicity syndrome. Asymmetric muscular dystonia occurs. One half of the body is overly active and mobile, while the other is very relaxed. On one side, the baby’s leg is constantly in a tucked position, and on the other, it is extended. The child bends in an arc and turns in the direction where the muscles are tense. In children with hemolytic disease, muscle relaxation and tension alternate.

Causes

The main factors causing muscular dystonia syndrome in infants are:

individual physiology;
neuropsychiatric disorders;
disturbance during intrauterine development;
genetic factors;
infectious diseases;
mother's alcoholism or drug addiction;
negative environmental situation;
birth injuries.

The syndrome can also be caused by:

difficult pregnancy;
threat of miscarriage;
placental abruption;
polyhydramnios;
late toxicosis or gestosis;
diabetes mellitus in mother;
bleeding, early or long painful labor, obstetric complications, cesarean section, use of anesthesia during childbirth.

Such troubles occur frequently, and many mothers have to deal with muscular dystonia syndrome in infants and undergo long-term treatment.

The muscles of infants are not developed, their movements are chaotic and impetuous. Muscle hypertonicity in newborns is considered normal and is called physiological. The usual posture of a baby is clenched palms, bent limbs, pressed to the body. The arms become straight by 2-3 months, the legs by 4-5 months. In premature babies, the hypotonic phase predominates - the relaxed body tenses up by 1.5 months, giving way to hypertonicity. With normal development, the tone disappears by 5-6 months. If by this time the condition does not change, it is necessary to undergo examination.

If hypertonicity does not go away, the muscles remain in a tense state for a long time, and lactic acid is formed, causing pain. With hypotonicity, the muscles develop poorly, and the infant develops muscular dystrophy.

Hypertonicity and hypotonicity of muscles can be a symptom of other, more dangerous diseases.

Hypertonicity is typical for:

ICP – intracranial pressure;
meningitis;
encephalopathy;
intrauterine infection;
head injury during childbirth.

Hypotonia develops when:

asphyxia - oxygen starvation;
spinal or intracranial injuries;
pathologies of the nervous system;
neuromuscular disorder;
disrupted metabolic process.

Note! Hypotonicity indicates the presence of more serious diseases than hypertonicity.

Symptoms of muscular dystonia in an infant

With muscle hypertonicity, the following are noted:

throwing the baby's head back;
limbs are not pressed against the body;
loud sound and bright light cause irritation;
restless and short sleep;
moodiness, tearfulness;
constant regurgitation in a fountain;
chin tremor;
an attempt to turn exclusively in one direction;
tiptoeing in children who have learned to walk;
twitching and painful muscle spasms.

When hypotonia occurs in an infant, the following is detected:

lethargy, poor mobility of limbs;
apathy, drowsiness;
late holding the head, turning over, sitting.

Muscular dystonia is characterized by the abnormal position of one of the child's feet or hands, when the back of the hand is turned inward. The baby cannot talk about his painful sensations. Without the help of a knowledgeable specialist, it is impossible to independently recognize the disease.

Pathology can manifest itself in varying degrees of severity - from moderate to intense, leading to severe conditions - bronchospasm, paralysis, paresis, laryngospasm.

Treatment of muscular dystonia in a newborn

Even in the maternity hospital, a neurologist can diagnose this syndrome in a baby. During a visual examination, the doctor carefully checks all the newborn’s reflexes, assesses the condition of the skull bones, the position and development of the arms and legs, and muscle tone. A pronounced pathology is noticed immediately. But it happens that its manifestations are blurred and are not revealed soon. The diagnosis can be confirmed after a thorough diagnosis - electroencephalogram, computed tomography, neurosonography, etc.

Treatment depends on the severity, age at which the disease was detected, and the presence of concomitant neurological symptoms.

If motor pathologies are moderate, safe physiotherapeutic techniques and physical therapy are used.
If there are obvious violations, the child is prescribed a comprehensive treatment with medications, physiotherapeutic courses (laser treatment, electrophoresis, ultrasound, paraffin therapy, mud baths), physical therapy (gymnastics, massage, swimming).
When treating newborns, herbal preparations are used, including horsetail extract and bearberry, which improve brain function and strengthen the nervous system.
Serious manifestations are treated with drugs that reduce intracranial pressure (Diacarb), improve neuromuscular transmission of impulses (Dibazol), and reduce muscle tone (Mydocalm).
In some cases, children are prescribed medications that improve blood supply to the brain (Pantogam, Nootropil, Cortexin).

Massage

Massage is the most effective treatment method. The doctor should determine the type of massage based on the condition of the baby. For high tone, a relaxing massage with a calming effect is indicated.

The massage therapist does:

shaking;
stroking;
rubbing;
pressing;
impact on “vital” points. Using your fingertips, press on a certain area, slightly vibrating your fingers.

If the tone is low, the massage is carried out with pinching, patting, tapping.

Physiotherapy

Gymnastics consists of a series of special exercises:

In the fetal position, when the baby's arms are folded and pressed to the chest, and the legs are pressed with the knees to the stomach, the baby is fixed and gently rocked. At the same time, the child's head bends forward.
Use a ball. The child is placed on it with his stomach and rocking movements are performed.
Swaying. The baby is held in an upright position under the armpits and rocked slightly to the sides. This exercise is good to perform in water.

Swimming as a treatment method

Swimming in the treatment of hypertonicity and hypotonicity syndrome in infants.

When bathing, the baby is helped to make swimming movements. Sedative infusions, lavender oil, and pine extract are added to the bath - they relax tense muscles and have a calming effect, after which the baby will sleep soundly.

Important! Muscular dystonia is treated under medical supervision.

If you do not consult a doctor in a timely manner or do not start treatment, your child may be at risk in the future:

scoliosis, poor posture;
torticollis;
foot deformity (clubfoot);
slow development.

The earlier the disease is detected, the faster it will pass without leaving behind serious consequences.

Sweating, weakness, increased fatigue, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, dizziness, nausea... Modern medical science has described about 30 syndromes and about 150 complaints, on the basis of which a diagnosis of vegetative-vascular dystonia can be established. This diagnosis is heard so often even in pediatrics that it can easily claim the title of a disease of the 21st century. So what kind of disease is this? Should parents panic if their child’s medical record shows “vegetative-vascular dystonia”?

To begin with, it must be said that this disease does not pose a great danger to the life and health of the child, and many pediatricians consider it a borderline state between pathology and health. But the disease cannot be ignored - very often vegetative-vascular dystonia in children is accompanied by high or low blood pressure, which can later lead to the development of hypertension, coronary heart disease and many other dangerous diseases. VSD is an insidious disease: it is quite difficult to diagnose due to the heterogeneity and multiplicity of symptoms, because it affects several body systems at once, and it is not easy to treat.

Childhood vegetative-vascular dystonia, if we put aside all the complex medical terms, is a condition characterized by disruption of the functioning of organs or organ systems due to a disorder of nervous regulation. The disease does not cause disruption or damage to the integrity of organs and systems. All its manifestations are associated only with disturbances in the activity of the nervous and vascular systems - with vegetative-vascular dystonia, the nerve fibers do not cope with the functions assigned to them by nature, as a result of which disturbances in vascular tone appear.

It is important to promptly and correctly identify the symptoms, carry out a diagnosis with medical help and prescribe a course of treatment if the diagnosis is confirmed, because it is very difficult for a child to be in such a state.

Causes of vegetative-vascular dystonia

In childhood, the incidence of this disease ranges from 10-50% depending on age. The main reasons for the development of the disease are:

vegetative-vascular dystonia in infants up to one year old - intrauterine infections, hypoxia, hereditary predisposition and perinatal pathology, for example, a newborn with encephalopathy has a high risk of VSD, toxic effects on the autonomic nervous system;
vegetative-vascular dystonia in children under 5 years of age - toxicoinfectious (tonsillitis, caries, chronic tonsillitis) and general infections, anemia, allergic damage to the autonomic nervous system, traumatic brain injury;
vegetative-vascular dystonia in children over 5 years of age and adolescents - high psycho-emotional stress, unbalanced nutrition, hormonal changes in the body during puberty, non-compliance with sleep and wakefulness, physical inactivity, stressful situations.

But this is just the tip of the iceberg. The appearance of VSD is always facilitated by the congenital inferiority of the child’s autonomic nervous system. Depending on age, the disease will manifest itself differently.

Manifestations of the disease. Symptoms

Parents and doctors sometimes have to spend a lot of time and effort to establish a diagnosis in a child, because very different clinical symptoms can be observed at the same time.

In childhood up to 1 year

In infants, the main symptoms that suggest dystonia are observed in the gastrointestinal tract. The newborn often cries, has unstable stools, accompanied by persistent diarrhea or constipation, and burps excessively and frequently. His appetite is reduced, and weight gain is insufficient. Such children often suffer from food allergies, diathesis, dermatitis of various origins, and have inadequate sleep, often interrupted by waking up crying. An infant is not able to voice his complaints, so diagnosing VSD at this age is most often difficult.

In preschool age

The child’s adaptive abilities are reduced - he often suffers from infectious diseases, is prone to colds, and is weather dependent. The baby chews poorly, has low body weight, is irritable, capricious, does not find a common language with his peers, is very attached to his mother, and does not want to communicate with anyone else. The child is extremely impressionable, fearful, and has low sociability.

At primary school age

At this age, paroxysmal symptoms come to the fore. The child may suffer from night terrors, insomnia, and anxiety. Hysterics, headaches, shortness of breath, increased fatigue, gait disturbances, pale skin, sudden mood swings, poor memory, sweating or chilliness are observed. Children complain of fainting conditions, body temperature often rises to low-grade fever for no apparent reason.

During adolescence

Due to hormonal changes, children at this age may experience disturbances in the sebaceous and sweat glands, dry and pale skin, and acne. The teenager often complains of drowsiness or insomnia, increased salivation, diarrhea, hiccups and nausea. He is suspicious and anxious, not stress-resistant.

The predominance of one or another symptom makes it possible to divide VSD according to the prevailing syndrome:

cardiac syndrome. Manifests itself in disturbances of heart rhythms - bradycardia, arrhythmia, tachycardia. Sometimes an increase or decrease in blood pressure, headaches, dizziness, a feeling of lack of air, dizziness when changing the position of the body in space, discomfort in the heart area are recorded;
respiratory syndrome. The child complains of shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, a feeling of lack of air, and it is difficult for him to inhale or exhale. Breathing is noisy and deep;
thermoregulation disorder syndrome. Manifests itself in sweating or chilliness, body temperature rises to 37.5 -37.7 degrees and lasts for several hours;
neurotic syndrome is characterized by prolonged periods of apathy, bad mood, depressive states, anxiety, susceptibility to fears or hysterics. The child is often prone to demonstrative behavior;
Vegetative-vascular crises. The child may complain of difficulty urinating, pain in the stomach or intestines, and numbness in the limbs. Laboratory tests reveal an increase in glucose levels. The skin is pale or, on the contrary, reddened, “marbled” skin is observed.

If a child exhibits any symptoms characteristic of vegetative-vascular dystonia, it is necessary to undergo a comprehensive examination of the body. Self-medication will not only bring no benefit, but can also further harm the child’s health.

The word is up to the doctors

All parents dream of their child being healthy. Therefore, the first thing to do if you suspect your baby has VSD is to contact your pediatrician. To make an accurate diagnosis and treatment, you may need to consult a neurologist, endocrinologist, or psychologist. Only the doctor decides how to treat vegetative-vascular dystonia in children, and it is up to the parents to strictly follow his recommendations.

Treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia in children is carried out mainly by non-drug methods, and as part of the diagnosis it is necessary to establish the factors that contributed to the development of the disease. Parents often try to treat their child with alternative medicine, but this can only be done after consulting a doctor.

Doctors turn to drug therapy only in cases of very severe disease, when its manifestations prevent the child from leading a normal lifestyle. It is symptomatic. The main goal of drug treatment is to restore the normal functioning of the nervous system. The main drugs for treatment are:

group of nootropics: “Pantogam”, “Actovegin”, “Cavinton”, “Piracetam”. Nootropics help improve metabolic processes in nerve cells and restore microcirculation in the brain
multivitamin complexes with micro and macro minerals. Particular priority is given to the administration of B vitamins;
antispasmodics and analgesics are prescribed for pain.

Non-drug therapy involves massage, especially often of the collar area, physiotherapeutic procedures, exercise therapy, swimming, acupuncture, herbal medicine, electrophoresis, and psychotherapy. The sanatorium-resort treatment has proven itself to be excellent.

Traditional medicine offers its own recipes for normalizing conditions with VSD. Mint tea will help relieve attacks of irritability, a decoction of valerian will calm the nervous system and make it easier to fall asleep, milk with honey before bed will improve the quality of your sleep.

Prevention of VSD

It is necessary to normalize the child's daily routine. Avoid psycho-emotional stress; the time allotted for sleep should be at least 7-8 hours. The child should receive a fully balanced diet. Pay special attention to products containing increased amounts of vitamins, potassium and magnesium.

Limit your child's time at the computer or TV screen. Instead, give him the opportunity to be outdoors more often, regardless of the time of year and the temperature outside your window.

Smoking among teenagers, unfortunately, is not uncommon. Nicotine provokes vascular spasticity, which can further aggravate the course of vegetative-vascular dystonia. It is necessary to convince the teenager of the need to say goodbye to the bad habit.

The child must lead an active lifestyle. It is advisable to play sports that do not involve much physical activity: volleyball, swimming, cycling, skiing.

Vegetative-vascular dystonia has many symptoms and manifestations, many of them appear sooner or later in almost every child, but this does not mean that it is vegetative-vascular dystonia. In no case should parents independently establish a diagnosis and engage in treatment; this is the prerogative of the doctor. And the task of parents is to create optimal conditions for his growth and development!