Paediatric Care

How can medical cannabis help in Paediatric Care?

Overview

The aim of paediatric care is to treat and manage the symptoms of acutely ill young people and children suffering with a number of complex conditions. It is divided into four key categories:

  • General paediatrics: a hospital role covering children from birth to the age of 16 
  • Neonatology: specialising in looking after newborn babies, usually based in an intensive care unit looking after premature babies or those with problems at birth
  • Community paediatrics: based in the community to look after children with developmental, social, or behavioural problems and those with a physical disability
  • Paediatric cardiology: a small area specialising in the diagnosis and treatment of children with heart conditions

When it comes to our children, having the best possible care is every parent and caregiver’s number one priority. When traditional methods don’t offer adequate support or improvement, medical cannabis can be a safe and effective option, even for children.

There are a number of conditions that affect children in unique ways and therefore need to be treated with these particular challenges in mind. They include:

  • Rare and chronic epileptic disorders
  • Behavioural issues
  • Anxiety and depression disorders
  • Chronic pain
  • Gastroenterological conditions
  • Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome

Children can of course contract many of the same illnesses and conditions that adults do too, but it’s important to notice the distinction for these conditions, where they can either only affect children or affect children in a different way than they do adults. This is especially important for epilepsy, where there are specific epileptic conditions that only affect children.

The exact symptoms experienced by the child will naturally depend on what condition they have been diagnosed with. Depending on the condition, they may suffer from:

  • Seizures
  • Developmental issues
  • Stress and anxiety
  • Speech or memory loss
  • Chronic pain

Treatment for children must always be considered carefully, as some treatments that are used on adults cannot be used on children. The form of treatment will usually depend on the condition and the severity of symptoms. 

For example, treatment for paediatric neurology will often vary in comparison to treating epilepsy or other childhood conditions. However, they may include:

  • Prescription medications, such as pain relief
  • Behavioural therapy
  • Psychological therapy
  • Certain surgeries

How we can help

For some conditions, traditional forms of therapy do not provide adequate relief and the symptoms still affect a child’s day-to-day life significantly. Medical cannabis has been found by some patients to help with a variety of symptoms.

Severe epilepsy is the most commonly-used case study for the efficacy of medical cannabis. Certain childhood syndromes such as Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS), which typically don’t respond to antiseizure medications, have been treated successfully with medicinal cannabis. 

For example, this study from 2019, ‘Medical Marijuana in the Pediatric Population With Epilepsy-What You Should Know’ by Michelle Markle and Donna G. Nativio, “provides anecdotal evidence of the positive effect [medical cannabis] has on children suffering from seizures”.

In addition, certain paediatric neurology and gastroenterological conditions have also shown positive improvements to cannabinoid therapies. Our partners typically prescribe low, precise dosages to ensure the safety of our younger patients with in-depth reviews of medication adjustments.

The Medical Cannabis Clinics’ team is dedicated to raising awareness about how medical cannabis can help with paediatric care. Our experts are ready to cooperate with you and your individual needs to find a treatment plan that works for you. Your prescription can be tailored to suit your individual circumstances and needs, with ongoing support and adjustments made as necessary.

At The Medical Cannabis Clinics, we offer personalised treatment plans and private care for patients through online video link consultations with our expert specialist doctors, who will guide you through the treatment options available from the clinic.

Appointments start from just £49. Book a private consultation today and one of our expert specialist doctors will be able to offer you targeted advice and treatment plans, unique to your needs and symptoms.

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Conditions

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Pain

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Neurological

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Psychiatric

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Gastrointestinal

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Oncological

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Paediatric

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Palliative

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Dermatological

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Complex

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