VIEWS AND REVIEWS - Utility of Databases and Information Technology in Pediatric Neurology

Significant number of neurological patients in the pediatric age group have genetic and/or metabolic basis. It is difficult to remember details of each of them as their number is very large and the disorders are encountered infrequently. This impracticality necessitates the use of various websites and data base search. The internet has become a tool by which one can obtain and disseminate information. It has enhanced the medical person's ability to know at the earliest the developments in different medical specialities. Furthermore, these rare disorders are being recognized on the basis of specialized tests available only at selected centres which deal with few of these disorders. Our objective is to provide pediatric neurologists easy access to the expanding body of medical information and also to make them aware of the advancements in information technology, which is likely to facilitate telemedicine as a future consultancy service. Information about these diseases can also be facilitated by e-consultations.