Neurology Knowledge Base

A guide to common pediatric neurological concerns, symptoms, and resources—designed to support families, caregivers, and healthcare professionals seeking clarity and trusted information.

Headaches and Migraines:

  • Chronic headache, whether migrainous or not
  • Headache of uncertain etiology
  • Headache not responding to first line therapy (i.e. Tylenol and NSAIDs)
  • Headache with any other neurological symptoms​

Post-concussive syndrome:

  • Symptoms following head injuries

Seizures:

  • Febrile seizures if uncertain about treatment/prognosis
  • First time seizures in anyone under 17 years old
  • Second time seizures if 17 years old and older
  • Seizures caused by known triggers if uncertain of treatment
  • Seizures not responsive to first-line medication
  • Seizure syndromes, whether known or unknown (JME, absence, etc)
  • Query seizure (usually the question is seizure vs syncope)
  • Loss of consciousness for unclear reasons, especially if recurrent

Weakness:

  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Stiffness, cramps
  • Contractures for unclear reasons, whether present from birth or newly developed
  • Unusual limb posturing
  • Facial movement weakness
  • High CK for unclear reasons
  • Other strength abnormalities from unclear causes
  • Gait dysfunction, whether long standing or new onset
  • Difficulty getting up from sitting position
  • Hemiplegia, especially intermittent

Movement Abnormalities / Movement Disorders:

  • Excessive movement (e.g. chorea, dystonia, tics)
  • Reduced movement (e.g. bradykinesia)
  • Bulbar problems (e.g. dysphagia, dysarthria) for unclear causes
  •  Eye movement abnormalities (e.g. gaze restriction, nystagmus)
  • Ataxia or incoordination, whether chronic, progressive, or intermittent

Note: Acute onset ataxia should be referred directly to Hospital Emergency

Sensory complaints:

  • tingling, burning, or reduced sensation

Developmental regression / delay:

  • Dysmorphic child with neurological features (e.g. developmental delays, seizures, abnormal stature)

Note: Dysmorphic child without any neurological features is best assessed by a general pediatrician and/or geneticist; however, if there are concerns about possible or probable neurological involvement, a referral is welcome

Facial and Body Asymmetries:

  • Facial asymmetries (e.g. seventh cranial nerve paralysis, whether from Bell’s palsy or unknown, or present from birth; other cranial nerve palsies or weaknesses, especially new onset palsies)
  • Body asymmetries (e.g. limb length discrepancy with weakness and/or contractures, skin asymmetries – e.g. a rash restricted to one half of the body, or present in a dermatomal distribution)

Query neurological presentation with unclear etiology:

  • New onset behavioural or attention difficulties
    (e.g. new onset ADHD in a previously attentive school-aged child or older, irritability in a previously easy-going child)

Behavioral Disorders:

  • Assessment and treatment of patients with query Tourette’s Syndrome
  • Previously diagnosed ADHD with other neurological difficulties, such as muscle weakness, developmental delay, seizures, dysmorphic features skin findings, etc., and/or if the ADHD appears to be new in onset (as described above).
  • Previously diagnosed Adult Spectrum Disorders (ASD) who have other neurological difficulties, in particular, but not limited to, seizures.

Note: ADHD is best treated or assessed through Psychology and Psychiatry, as behavioral intervention is the best first and major step to treatment. This also applies to Obsessive-Compulsive disorders, Oppositional-Defiant disorders, etc.

Children with query Autism Spectrum Disorders; like ADHD, must be diagnosed through the appropriate clinics (in particular, the Autism Clinic at the Alberta Children’s Hospital)