Introduction: In our country, studies on the neuropediatric practice are scarce, in spite of their importance for planning of spending and resources, and definition of quality criteria.
Objective: To study the clinical workload of the main neuropediatric clinical problems.
Methods: Prospective, longitudinal, descriptive study of doctor-patient encounters, according to diagnosis, in the Child Neurology Division of a tertiaty hospital.
Results: 3,200 visits, of which 83% were ambulatory. 24 ambulatory visits per 1,000 inhabitants younger than 15 years, and year. Diagnosis demanding larger clinical activity for out-patients were: epilepsy/seizures (38%), mental retardation (17%), headaches (17%), hyperactivity/conduct disorders (12%), and cerebral palsy/permanent motor sequela (10%). Among in-patients: epilepsy/seizures (47%), mental retardation (10%), brain tumors/neurological complications of oncology disorders (8%), cerebral palsy/motor sequela (8%), and neurological complications of prematurity (7%). Among new out-patients, headaches is the most frequent diagnosis, followed by epilepsy; among new in-patients, epilepsy holds the first place, followed by neurological complications of prematurity and brain trauma. The index follow-up/first visit is much larger for the real neurologic patient than for functional disorders so frequent among new referrals.
Conclusions: The neuropediatric practice comprises essentially epilepsy, cognitive and conduct disorders, and headaches. Unfortunately, our practice is in part being defined by the pressure exerted by the primary medical care and by hospital management practices.