Pediatrics

Abstract

At this point, the book has focused on adult medicine. Applications in pediatric medicine include some of the adult diseases, including diabetes, sleep disturbances, dizziness, seizure, headache, asthma, etc. The main differences are that the ANS, especially the parasympathetic nervous system, is more active in pediatric patients. This greater level of activity often masks underlying autonomic dysfunction or the dysfunction may come and go as the “growth spurts” (development periods) wax and wane. Furthermore, the symptomatology may also change in between the various development periods. In this day of a mobile society, it is often the case that the pediatric patient is not with the same physician throughout their pediatric years and the cyclic nature of the symptoms associated with autonomic dysfunction is often misunderstood. Due to this heightened activity, the normal range for rest (baseline) is 2.0–15.0 bpm² for both LFa and RFa. Normal values for balance (SB) and stand responses are the same as in adults. The normal values for deep breathing and Valsalva are already age adjusted from 3 years of age. The data that we have and that is different from the adult data include sudden infant death syndrome, pediatric depression-like syndromes (including ADD/ADHD), and familial dysautonomia.