Bengaluru gets neuromuscular clinic for kids

The country's first ever centre to provide Pediatric Neuromuscular service, 'The Muscle and Nerve Clinic', was inaugurated at the Baptist hospital on Tuesday. The speciality centre will cater to patients who suffer from rare diseases affecting the muscle and nerves.

Set up in association with the Organisation for Rare Diseases, India, it aims to provide holistic and multidisciplinary care and treatment under one roof for not only the children suffering from these disorders but also their families who often need support from multiple experts in various specialities.

Rare diseases are often under-diagnosed and end up with potentially preventable complications. Through the clinic the patients can receive timely, accurate and targeted diagnosis and treatment.

Some of the conditions treated here include Duchenne Muscular dystrophy, Spinal Muscular Atrophy, Congenital Myopathies, Congenital Neuropathies, Congenital and Acquired Myasthenias and Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy among others.

Following a protocol based approach built on international standards of care the clinic hopes to improve the life span and quality of life of these children, while also providing hope to their parents. The clinic will be open in the second half of every Thursday at Baptist Hospital in Hebbal.