Pediatric Neurology Kamalendu Chakrabarti
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1PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY2
3PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY
Second Edition
Kamalendu Chakrabarti MBBS DCH MD Child Specialist Kolkata, West Bengal, India Foreword Amitava Sen Dilip Mukherjee
4
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Pediatric Neurology
First Edition: 2005
Second Edition: 2013
9789350904763
Printed at
5Dedicated to
Keya and Kappa
6
7Foreword to the Second Edition
I know Dr Kamalendu Chakrabarti personally for nearly 40 years. Dr Chakrabarti is an exceptional pediatrician in many ways. He is a skilled teacher and trainer often combining conventional classroom teaching with unconventional ways. He has also authored nearly a dozen of popular books on different topics of child health as well as literature.
Pediatric Neurology is considered a specialty as many pediatricians as well as neurologists used to find examination and evaluation of developing nervous system in the newborn and child pretty difficult. Now pediatric neurology has become a common encounter. While voluminous textbooks existed on the subject, Dr Chakrabarti published his ‘simple’ 360-page book Pediatric Neurology.
It is no wonder that the first edition (2005) of Dr Chakrabarti's book Pediatric Neurology was well accepted; and after a few reprints, an updated and enlarged second edition has been published.
The author has rewritten and improved the second edition single-handedly. The diagnosis is the key to deal with neurology, especially when related to childhood neurological problems. I am happy to see that the author has dealt with the chapter clinical examination elaborately. The inclusion of clinical examination of newborn and infants below 2 years is expected to help the students immensely.
While the knowledge of pediatric neurology, including neonatal neurology, is expanding rapidly, it is creditable for the author to present the core knowledge in a capsule of around 500 pages.
Once the President of Association of British Neurologists said, “Pediatric neurologists are strange people. The trouble is they're not really interested in neurology, they're only interested in children.” On the contrary, Dr Chakrabarti has shown special interest both in pediatric neurology as well as children.
I am sure that the new edition would be of great benefit for the medical students, pediatricians and budding pediatric neurologists.
Amitava Sen md fnnf
Formerly Professor and Head (Retired)
Department of Pediatrics
Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research and
Seth Sukhlal Karnani Memorial Hospital
Kolkata, West Bengal, India89
Foreword to the first Edition
I have gone through the book entitled Pediatric Neurology by Dr Kamalendu Chakrabarti. Dr Chakrabarti deserves appreciation for the hard labor putting by him in making this volume. This book is very informative and exhausting in nature. I have no hesitation to recommend this book. I am confident that this book will be of immense help to undergraduates, postgraduates and practicing pediatricians.
Dilip Mukherjee Md Dch Phd Flap Fams
National President
IAP, 2002
Dean and Professor
Department of Pediatrics
Vivekananda Institute of Medical Sciences
Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Secretary General
Pediatric Association of SAARC
Recipient of Dr BC Roy National Award as Eminent Medical Teacher10
11Preface to the Second Edition
I am pleased to write this preface of the second edition of Pediatric Neurology. There was a big hiatus between my intention and capability for the task of handling the intricate subject like neurological problems of childhood. In spite of 8 years added to my age and acquiring the inevitable geriatric problems, I am happy that I could finish the second edition.
In this edition, I have rewritten or modified almost all the chapters and added up six new chapters. I have tried to detail the chapter of ‘Recording the Neurologic History and Examination’ extensively because it is an agreeable fact that neurological problems cannot be handled until clinical diagnosis and history is taken much into consideration along with further examination. I have tried to adhere to the principle of simplicity with lucid language, and have not stuffed the book with theoretical issues.
Although I have written the book single-handedly, yet I must mention the names of some generous people for their help and assistance. I am thankful to Ms Radha Holla, Dr Jayanti Bhattacharjee, Mithu Sikder, Sayantani Sarkar, Kakali Ganguly, Subrata Ganguly, and a few more, for their invaluable help. I am grateful to Dr (Prof) Amitava Sen for writing the Foreword for the book. My son, Kapardindu, acted as my constant assistant. My wife, Keya Chakrabarti, was my inspiration as always.
I am obliged to Shri Jitendar P Vij (Group Chairman), Mr Ankit Vij (Managing Director) and Mr Tarun Duneja (Director-Publishing) of M/s Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi, India, for taking interest in publishing this edition of the book as they had done for the first edition.
Kamalendu Chakrabarti12
13Preface to the first Edition
Since the beginning of my medical career, I have been hearing that the subject of nervous system is very difficult to grasp. Understanding, learning, retaining, getting through examinations, application of the acquired knowledge during diagnosis, and treatment of patients related to this subject are always horrifying for students of any stand and that it is beyond one's capacity to deal with the subject that has come down to the medical fraternity like a myth through ages, especially if it is related to newborn and small infants.
It cannot be denied that Mother-Nature has created human brain and its attachments in a very intricate manner. On top of that, if a medical personnel during his study and later during practice, at bedside, gets entangled in a web of confusion, as such complicated subject, becomes more complicated.
With no intention to be philosophical, I would like to state a few general facts of life. The reality behind anything difficult is that we initiate it with intricacy and carry on with this attitude down the ages without giving a second thought to it. But we should keep in mind that nothing on this earth remains undone if human intelligence and rational thinking is combined with knowledge. To achieve the desired goal, what is required is love for the subject, the care to learn and perseverance. This truth is applicable not only in Pediatric Neurology but in every sphere of life. In medicine, there are certain subjects which are apparently easy and certain subjects which are apparently difficult. Leaving aside specialization, the doctor needs to carry the knowledge in every subject, even if minimum, deal with any kind of clinical situation he faces since a patient seeks help from a doctor for any kind of suffering.
I have written this book with the intention to make things ‘simple’, but not ‘the simplest’. Because too much simplification may dilute the importance of the subject and minimize the facts. While writing this book, I have kept in mind to make it useful for undergraduates, postgraduates and pediatricians in general. I have tried my best to being here with all the knowledge and experiences I have gathered on the subject during my medical career. I have refrained myself from stuffing the book with too much of theoretical information. For those who want to gather more information, they can well consult the books of renowned authors. As a clinician, I feel one should know that much of facts which he can retain in any situation and able to apply effectively as and when required is certain to be successful in knowing the important facts, but handling that (however little it may be) is more important. It may appear to the reader that some information is repeated. It has been done purposely so that the reader can get complete information on the topic easily.14
I have written this book almost single handedly, but it would not have been possible without the inspiration and help of a few generous people. While expressing my gratitude to them, I must mention the names of Dr Jayanti Bhattacharjee, Dr Kalipada Soren, Dr Soma Mitra, Samit and Sanhita. I owe my gratitude to Dr Manik Ch. Pratihar for allowing me to use his flat, telephone, etc. without any personal interest during the writing of the book. I am especially grateful to (Prof) Dr Dilip Mukherjee for writing the Foreword of the book in spite of his busy schedule. Dr PK Mitra, Sonologist, has helped me by contributing the USG plate of hydrocephalus, and of course my wife Smt Keya Chakrabarti's contribution has always been an inspiration to me. My son, Kaparindu Chakrabarti, has greatly helped me in the computer works of the book.
I am obliged to M/s Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers (P) Ltd, New Delhi, India, for taking keen interest in publishing this book.
Kamalendu Chakrabarti