Is spinal cord puncture as a child really as worrying as you think?

Most parents feel anxious when hearing the doctor suggest a spinal puncture test to diagnose a disease. In fact, this is an essential medical procedure in the diagnosis of certain diseases.  

Your baby has been sick for a while, but he still does not get better despite taking many different medicines. During the visit, the doctor recommends that your child have a spinal puncture test. This makes you very confused and worried about what serious illness your baby has.

In fact, when you hear the name of the procedure, most parents are in the same mood as you. However, don't worry too much, read the following shares of aFamilyToday Health to understand more about the pros and cons of spinal puncture and why your baby needs to perform this test.

Lumbar puncture in a young child

Lumbar puncture, lumbar spinal canal belt, also known as the spine is a medical procedure. This procedure is performed to remove cerebrospinal fluid (a clear liquid, carrying nutrients and "buffering" into the brain and spinal cord) with a special needle inserted through the skin into the canal. After taking a small amount of cerebrospinal fluid, the needle is removed.

Many parents feel anxious and confused when hearing this procedure because it sounds scary and painful. Another reason is that you are afraid that your child has a dangerous disease so the new doctor ordered this test.

Why is the doctor asking you to have your baby have a spinal puncture test?  

Here are some reasons why doctors ask you to have your child a spinal puncture test:

1. Suspect that the child has a viral or bacterial infection

There are certain types of bacteria or viruses that can lurk in the cerebrospinal fluid, causing damage to the nervous system. Therefore, the doctor will order this test to determine if the baby has a blood infection or other infections related to the nervous system.

2. Detecting diseases of the nervous system

Some nervous system diseases such as Guillain-Barre syndrome and multiple sclerosis can only be accurately diagnosed by performing a spinal puncture test.

3. Detect subarachnoid hemorrhage

Subarachnoid hemorrhage is sudden bleeding condition into a space (subarachnoid area) in the middle of the brain and the membranes covering the brain. This can be an aneurysm or some head injury.

4. Diagnosis of cancer

Some types of cancer, such as lymphoma and leukemia, can easily be diagnosed by examining the spinal fluid.

5. Propose the right treatment

Sometimes your doctor will ask you to have this test done to get an overview of your child's nervous system or based on the results to come up with some suitable treatment options.

Spinal puncture process in young children

The whole test can take about 30 minutes. During the procedure, the doctor inserts a very thin needle right between the two vertebrae to collect samples of the cerebrospinal fluid.

For babies: The baby will be placed on his side in a bent position, with the knees close to the abdomen so that the lumbar vertebrae expand.

For young children: For older children, they can sit with their head tilted forward or in a recumbent position.

After the cerebrospinal fluid is collected, the doctor pulls out the needle and covers it with a small bandage.

When your baby is prescribed a spinal puncture, what should you do?

In explaining the test procedure, your doctor may ask you to sign a number of forms certifying that you have understood all the testing steps and the risks involved. In addition, you also need to provide some information about the medical history as well as the medications that the child is taking. Before the test, your doctor will ask you to stop some medications and make small changes to your diet.

The dangers of a spinal puncture

When you have this test done, the first thing you need to do is learn about the possible risks. Here are some common problems:

Cause headaches, make children cry and irritable

The area where the pulp is taken may become inflamed

Backache.

In addition, there are more dangerous risks such as:

Reduces the infant's heart rate: In this case, the baby needs extra oxygen

Improper cleaning can cause infection in the skin where the marrow is taken, affecting the nervous system

Can rupture of blood vessels, leading to serious neurological disorders

If the child moves or struggles during the test, the cerebrospinal fluid is at risk of being mixed with the blood. If this is the case, the cerebrospinal fluid will not be used, so the doctor may ask you to have your child start again.

How to take care of a child after lumbar spinal puncture

Here are some things to keep in mind when caring for your child:

Give your child plenty of fluids: Give your child plenty of fluids to replace the lost cerebrospinal fluid. You can give your child juice or soup to enhance the body's hydration.

Get plenty of rest: Rest after the test is essential to help your body recover quickly.

Inactive: Do not let your child move a lot or do vigorously as this can cause blood to leak out.

Clean it often: Keep the injection site clean and change the dressing regularly as directed by your doctor to avoid risk of infection.

When should you see your baby after having a lumbar puncture test?

You need to bring your child to the hospital immediately to see the doctor promptly if:

Babies don't stop crying but for unknown reasons

Children have seizures after spinal puncture

Your baby may vomit during the test, however, if your baby still vomits after a few hours or days, you need to see your baby immediately

Children show signs of tiredness and sleepiness

The child refuses to eat and drink.

Some frequently asked questions

Here are some frequently asked questions about newborn and young spinal screening questions that parents often ask:

1. How to keep my baby still during the test?

Stay with them and try to distract them. If your baby is an adult, you can explain in advance what your baby will experience during the test.

2. How long does the test take?

Test takes only a minute or two if the baby is lying in the correct position and not fussy.

When you hear that your child has to do a spinal puncture test, parents will surely have a lot of worries and worries in their mind. However, you need to remember that this is one of the safe and necessary tests to diagnose and detect some serious diseases early. If you still have questions regarding this test, you can see your doctor for more answers.