[Minimal early-childhood brain damage in the pediatric practice and disability insurance].

In modern practice the pediatrician is called upon daily to take preventive, curative and rehabilitative action in children with cerebro-organic and psychosocial risk factors: 1. Eearly diagnosis of handicaps by POLTIBAC on the occasion of individual vaccinations and infectious diseases. 2. Fitness programs for infants to improve the mother-child relationship and reduce frustrations in children's homes and day nurseries. 3. Psychohygiene and mini-psychotherapy of ambivalent mothers during every pediatric consultation. The pediatrician's second patient is the mother. 4. The self-help mentality in pediatrician, parents and educationists assumes increasing importance as economy cames to rule pediatric practice in view of the cost explosion in the health sector. 5. In the Canton of St. Gall increasing numbers of children with cerebral lesions have been registered with the Disablement Insurance since 1970: in 1972 12%, in 1973 14% and in 1974 19% of first-registered minors. Since 1961 all definitely cerebral motor disorders have been registered with the Disablement Insurance, and since 1971 the infantile psychoorganic syndrome and questionable minimal "dyskinesias" have also been registered. The diagnostic and therapeutic costs for infantile minimal brain lesions according to Disablement Insurance tariffs are computed.