Vegetative-vascular dystonia (VVD)
Vegetative-vascular dystonia (VVD) in children is a symptomatic complex or syndrome that develops when the normal functioning of the patient’s nervous system is disrupted. Until recently, VVD was considered an independent pathology, now it is called vegetative dysfunction syndrome and is not considered an independent nosological unit (i.e., diagnosis). We are talking about clinical signs in the structure of a particular pathological process. Be it diseases of the central nervous system, cardiovascular or endocrine pathologies. Vegetative-vascular dystonia can be corrected. This complaint remains not by way of innocent by means of it may seem next to first glance. With its development, there is a risk of complications.
Diagnosis and treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia, its primary causes – the work of several specialists at once. Pediatricians, cardiologists, endocrinologists, neurologists and others.
Causes of VSD in children
The causes of VSD development in children are multiple. Although the pathological process has been studied well, doctors cannot always name the exact factors of the disorder development. Popular cases, nervous complaints unpaid to transmissible or additional features come to the fore. In others, the main cause of the disorder concerns hormonal imbalances, as happens in adolescents during puberty.
According to statistical estimates, approximately 50-80% of children have VSD in one form or another. But a significant portion of cases end in complete recovery after puberty. Or a significant reduction in symptoms, when clinical signs disappear or manifest themselves less acutely and only from time to time, rarely.
Pathogenesis of the disorder
Disorders of the autonomic nervous system have multiple genesis. The pathological condition develops as a result of the influence of a group of factors. Among the possible causes:
- toxic lesions of the central nervous system;
- hormonal imbalance;
- hereditary characteristics;
- disorders of the heart and blood vessels;
- Disorder of coronary artery aneurysm
- psychological (mental) factors.
Toxic lesions of the central nervous system are caused by external or internal factors. A severe infectious disease can become a trigger, the initial point of development of the pathological process. Up to a common cold in the early years, when the child’s immunity is not yet active enough and ready to resist threats. External factors are more common. Some drugs, poisoning with heavy metals (salts), as well as non-metals, such as arsenic and other hazardous substances, can lead to the development of VSD in children. VSD becomes a long-term consequence of intoxication syndrome. A complication of the transferred disorder.
Hormonal imbalance plays the greatest role in puberty. Teenagers suffer from vegetative-vascular dystonia much more often than young children. The reason is the instability of the hormonal background, sharp jumps in the indicators of specific substances. Girls and young women often face a disorder such as vegetative-vascular dystonia, due to the peculiarities of the hormonal balance and irritation functioning of the reproductive system.
Hereditary or constitutional features create conditions for the transmission of not the disease itself (if VSD can be called that at all), but the prerequisites for the development of the disorder. If the parents had vegetative dysfunction, it is highly likely to develop in children. This can be avoided if you follow the rules of prevention.
The pathological condition may develop as a result of hypertension or hypotension, abnormal blood pressure readings. Also against the background of heart defects, ischemic processes. The reason is a violation of normal nutrition and cellular respiration of the patient’s brain nerve structures.
Finally, manifestations of VSD often develop in patients against the background of psychogenic factors. With neurosis, increased emotionality and mobility of the central nervous system. Due to the peculiarities of nature, the work of the central nervous system and higher nervous activity in general, girls often encounter such disorders.
Important!
The causes in some cases are complex. Simply put, the disorder develops as a mixed one, as a result of the influence of several of the described factors (or many at once). The number of causes determines the persistence and severity of the disorder.
Potential risk factors for developing the disorder
Risk factors for the development of vegetative-vascular dystonia in children are multiple. They increase the likelihood of the pathological process. Among them are:
- hypoxia in the intrauterine period, if the child did not receive enough oxygen during gestation, the nervous system will definitely suffer, the question is how and to what extent, how this will manifest itself after birth;
- severe toxicosis in the mother during pregnancy;
- birth injuries;
- intrauterine factors (maternal alcohol consumption, difficult labor, intrauterine infections, etc.);
- the presence of chronic sources of infection in the child’s body (tonsillitis, caries, and other chronic pathologies create such sources);
- previous brain infections;
- traumatic brain injury, dystonia may not develop immediately, but after a certain time, when is an individual matter;
- socio-psychological factors: insufficient upbringing, overprotection, frequent and severe stress factors;
- features of the patient’s psychotype; impressionable, vulnerable children are more likely to suffer from VSD.
Classification and types of VSD in children
The division of VSD in children into types is carried out on many grounds.
Depending on the origin, the pathological process can be:
- infectious;
- toxic;
- constitutional or hereditary;
- hormonal;
- mixed, when a group of etiological factors, reasons for the origin of the disorder, are present at once.
Based on the severity of vegetative-vascular dystonia, the following are distinguished:
- mild form, symptoms are short-term and weakly expressed, the disorder manifests itself from time to time;
- moderate form, for a disorder the development of more pronounced clinical symptoms is typical, which affects several body systems at once;
- severe form, vegetative crises occur, up to several times a week and more often.
Depending on the course of the pathological condition, three forms are possible:
- hidden or latent, there are no symptoms, they can only be detected through diagnostics, or they are present, but very weak;
- paroxysmal or paroxysmal, as the name suggests, clinical manifestations of VSD appear from time to time;
- permanent or continuous, symptoms exist constantly, but are usually not very pronounced (becoming stronger from time to time).
According to the predominant clinical picture, we can name:
- respiratory type, in which the child has predominantly respiratory disorders;
- cardiac type, such vegetative-vascular dystonia is accompanied by disorders of the heart (neurocirculatory disorders);
- thermoregulatory type, there are jumps in body temperature without any apparent reason;
- hypertensive type (VSD of the hypertensive type in children), in which the blood pressure indicator increases;
- neurological form, characterized by symptoms of fear, anxiety without reason, up to and including a panic attack;
- crisis form, with the development of pronounced clinical symptoms of one kind or another or several syndromes at once;
- mixed type.
There are other classification methods. But they are more interesting to doctors, they allow to better understand the nature of changes in the central nervous system. Depending on the prevalence of the negative reaction of the body, systemic, local and generalized forms are possible. Based on the type of vegetative disorders, vagotonic and sympathicotonic (also mixed) forms are distinguished. The disease requires a complete classification and description to select the optimal therapy tactics.
Symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia in children
Symptoms of vegetative-vascular dystonia in children depend on the predominant form of the pathological condition. In general, clinical signs may be as follows:
- chest pain, as in heart disease;
- arrhythmia, disturbances of normal heart rhythm;
- drop or increase in blood pressure;
- lack of air, shortness of breath & suffocation;
- weakness, drowsiness;
- disturbances of normal night sleep;
- body temperature fluctuations with VSD in a child are also common;
- disturbances of normal mood, changes in emotional background (so-called lability);
- fears, phobias, anxiety, panic attacks;
- nausea and vomiting;
- digestive disorders (dyspepsia, bowel disorders, diarrhea or constipation in the patient, flatulence, increased intestinal gas formation);
- general fatigue, poor tolerance of physical and psychological stress.
Please note!
At the moment of a crisis, the symptoms become much more pronounced. In general, there are more than one and a half hundred signs that develop in children with VSD, the exact signs depend on the form of the pathological process. Digestive, cardiovascular, nervous, mental, cardiac disorders are possible, and this is not a complete list of problems. In general, such a conditional disease as VSD does not pose a threat to life. But complications are possible. Especially with a pronounced course of the disorder.
Complications of the pathological condition
Complications of the pathology develop if the disorder exists for a long time, is severe and there is no treatment. Possible negative significances:
- nervous and mental disorders
- various cardiovascular disorders, hypertension, hypotension, as well as heart nutrition disorders with the development of the ischemic process;
- inflammatory diseases & other wounds of the digestive expanse.
And this is not to mention chronic asthenia, in which the child experiences constant fatigue.
Diagnosis of VSD in children
Diagnosis of VSD in children is carried out under the supervision of a pediatrician. Other doctors are involved depending on the situation. At the initial appointment, the doctor evaluates complaints and collects anamnesis. Then prescribes specialized studies:
- laboratory tests (general blood test, biochemical test, hormone level test);
- ECG & ECHO to assess heart function;
- EEG, encephalography;
- Ultrasound of the vessels of the crown and roll neck;
- measurement of blood pressure, including daily monitoring of the indicator.
Also other studies, depending on the situation. VSD syndrome in children is masked by a lot of pathological processes. The doctor’s task is to establish what the causes of the disorder are, how dangerous it is and how to cope with it.
Methods of treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia in children
Treatment of vegetative-vascular dystonia in children is carried out to correct the primary pathological process, as well as to eliminate the symptoms of VSD. In the isolated form of dystonia, non-drug treatment is mainly carried out. Physiotherapy and massage are prescribed. Proper nutrition, dosed physical activity, and rational organization of rest are indicated.
It is possible to use antioxidants, adaptogens, vitamins, minerals. If the disorder is secondary, developing against the background of a particular disease, treatment of the underlying pathological process is indicated. Symptoms and signs disappear after therapy, there is no need to specifically stop them. Except for cases when clinical manifestations are too pronounced.
Prognosis and prevention of vegetative-vascular dystonia
Often VSD does not pose an immediate danger to the body. Therefore, the prognosis for life is favorable. If we talk about a complete cure, there are options. In some cases, the disorder can be completely corrected. In others, it can only be taken under partial control. The disorder manifests itself very differently and proceeds in the same way.
Prevention includes proper management of pregnancy in the mother. Further, the organization of rational nutrition, rest, physical activity in early childhood. If any suspicious symptoms develop, you should contact a pediatrician.