28. Neurological abnormalities in children

Although many neurological disorders can affect children as well as adults, many are specific to childhood, such as congenital abnormalities of the nervous system and perinatal brain damage. The severity and nature of congenital disorders depend on the cause of the damage and when it occurred. Impaired proliferation and migration of neurons can cause learning disabilities, motor problems and epilepsy. Congenital disorders due to chromosomal aberrations often cause learning disabilities. Intrauterine infections can cause severe abnormalities. Hereditary metabolic diseases can cause developmental disorders but may not manifest themselves until later in life. Neurocutaneous diseases are disorders involving the ectodermal structures of the nervous system and skin. Childhood ataxia can be a manifestation of very different disorders.