Signs and symptoms

Abstract

This chapter addresses the diagnostic approach to the patterns of symptoms and signs commonly seen in the paediatric neurology clinic. It encourages pattern recognition. The presentations considered are: altered mental state (agitation/confusion); motor disorders (exercise limitation and muscle pain; eye or facial movement abnormalities; the floppy infant; a funny gait; weakness; unsteadiness or falls; toe-walking; disordered sensation, numbness, pain, dysaesthesia; deafness, loss or disturbance of hearing or vision; paroxysmal disorders (funny turns, loss of awareness, epilepsy, headache, movement disorders); developmental delay, impairment or regression, school failure; speech disturbance; behaviour disorder; symptoms that might suggest a spinal disorder such as back pain, incontinence, or scoliosis; other skeletal abnormality including abnormal skull size or shape, foot deformity; sleep disturbance.