The needle does not go near the spinal cord. It is the only way to be sure if your child has meningitis or not, and is also used for other tests.In a lumbar puncture, a doctor uses a needle to take fluid from your child's lower back.If your child has a headache or sore back, you can give them some paracetamol (see our fact sheet BandAid) on your child's back, it can be taken off the next day or left to fall off by itself if your child prefers. If there is a dressing or sticking plaster (e.g. The risk of any serious complications, including bleeding, infection or damage toĪfter the procedure, your child can be bathed normally. A small number of children may have a headache or backache for a day or two after the test. Sometimes doctors are not able to get fluid, and they may have to try more than once. Medicine to make them feel calmer and less scared.Ī lumbar puncture is a safe test. Your child may be given some cream or an injection to help numb the area where the needle will go in, and some children can be given In addition, babies and small children do not like being held in place and will often cry. This area is called the subarachnoid space.Ī lumbar puncture is an uncomfortable test, and sometimes painful. A doctor then puts a needle into the spaces between the spineīones (see white arrows in the figure below) to the area where the fluid is. Young children and babies will be held in position by an assistant. Babies will be curled in a ball to get a better position. Lumbar punctures are also done for other reasons, but your child's doctor will discuss these with you before performing an LP.ĭuring a lumbar puncture, your child will lie on their side with their knees tucked into their chest and head bent forward. If your child has meningitis, they will need other tests and treatment in hospital. Meningitis may be suspected in a baby with a fever, especially in babies less than one month old.Įarly diagnosis of meningitis can greatly improve your child's chances of a full recovery. This test may be done to find out if a child has meningitis (a serious infection around the brain). Why does my child need a lumbar puncture?Ī lumbar puncture is needed to test the fluid around the brain and spinal cord. Lumbar punctures are also sometimes called a spinal tap or LP. Your child lies on their side and is held still, and a doctor puts a needle between the bones of the lower back. This fluid is called cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF. A lumbar puncture is a test where a doctor uses a needle to get fluid from your child's lower back.
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