Neurological Diagnostic Challenges
Despite dealing with the most complex object in the universe, the human brain, neurologists have the added complication that all their patients will present with any of a small collection symptoms affecting all of the body systems and with varying degrees of severity – pins and needles, headaches, dizziness, fits, weakness, disturbed vision, hearing and sensations and movement control problems. Neurology exemplifies some of the biggest challenges in medicine today – public health awareness and technological developments.
This makes it hard to distinguish between quite normal mundane symptoms and those which are caused by a serious neurological condition. A very clear example of this is the case of brain tumours in children – this video highlights the importance of awareness campaigns for parents.
That is a very critical part of the battle, but medical professionals need further assistance by way of diagnostic tests, either technological or biological. New technologies such as scanner have revolutionised neurological diagnostics, but the secrets of the brain and its pathology is still a well hidden secret. The difficulties in developing therapies for these symptoms, for example neuralgia, demonstrate the challenges in developing diagnostic tests for such non-specific symptoms and the causative range of diseases.
Between better awareness amongst the public and improved diagnostic techniques in hospitals, patients with more obscure neurological conditions should begin to expect quicker and more accurate diagnosis
