Dr. Karthika I K
MBBS, MD, DNB, MRCPCH, Post-doctoral Fellowship in Paediatric Neurology
Overview
Dr. Karthika IK serves as an Associate Consultant in Paediatric Neurology at Aster MIMS, Kannur, bringing with her a strong academic background and extensive clinical expertise in the care of children with neurological disorders. She completed her MBBS from Government Medical College, Trivandrum, followed by an MD in Paediatrics from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bhubaneswar, and also holds the Diplomate of National Board (DNB) in Paediatrics.
She has over two years of experience as a Senior Resident in Paediatrics at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar, where she gained comprehensive training across the spectrum of paediatric illnesses. Pursuing her passion for child neurology, she undertook a prestigious two-year Postdoctoral Fellowship in Paediatric Neurology at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, which provided her with advanced training and broad exposure to rare and complex paediatric neurological disorders.
In addition to her Indian qualifications, Dr. Karthika has successfully cleared all parts of the MRCPCH examination from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, U.K., with excellent scores in the final clinical examination, underscoring her international academic standing and commitment to the highest standards of paediatric care. Her clinical interests include childhood epilepsy, neurodevelopmental disorders, neuromuscular diseases, paediatric stroke, and a wide range of acute and chronic neurological conditions in children.
Dr. Karthika is dedicated to delivering evidence-based, patient-centred neurological care and to advancing paediatric health outcomes. She strongly believes in listening to families, answering their questions, and supporting each child with the best possible treatment.
Areas of Special Interest
Clinical Expertise
- Comprehensive evaluation and management of childhood epilepsy, including drug-resistant epilepsies and presurgical evaluation
- Developmental and behavioural neurology, including autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, intellectual disability, learning disorders, and cerebral palsy
- Neonatal neurology, including neonatal seizures, hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, prematurity-related brain injury, intraventricular hemorrhage, and neurodevelopmental follow-up
- Acute neurological emergencies, including status epilepticus, CNS infections, paediatric stroke, metabolic crises, and demyelinating disorders
- Neuromuscular disorders, including Duchenne muscular dystrophy, spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), congenital myopathies, peripheral neuropathies, and neuromuscular junction disorders such as myasthenia gravis
- Neurogenetic and metabolic neurology, including inherited metabolic disorders, mitochondrial disorders, leukodystrophies, lysosomal storage disorders, and rare genetic syndromes
- Headache and movement disorders, including paediatric migraine, chronic daily headache, tic disorders, dystonia, chorea, and ataxias
- Neuroimmunology and demyelinating diseases, including acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), MOG antibody disease, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), and paediatric multiple sclerosis
- Neurocutaneous syndromes and neuro-oncology, including tuberous sclerosis complex, neurofibromatosis, Sturge-Weber syndrome, and brain tumors
- Sleep neurology, including sleep-related epilepsy, parasomnias, narcolepsy, and other paediatric sleep disorders
- Long-term follow-up of children with hydrocephalus, cerebral malformations, craniosynostosis, and post-neurosurgical care
- Strong background in multidisciplinary care involving rehabilitation, psychology, and allied specialties
Procedural / Diagnostic Expertise
- Paediatric EEG reporting and video-EEG monitoring
- Interpretation of paediatric neuroimaging (MRI/CT)
- Nerve conduction studies and EMG in children
- Developmental assessments and neuropsychological screening tools
Awards and Recognitions
- Received first prize for poster presentation in the National Conference of Paediatric Infectious Diseases in 2021
- Received first prize in oral presentation in the State Respiratory Conference in 2020
- All India runner-up in the postgraduate quiz conducted by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics nationwide in 2020
- Presented posters and oral papers in state conferences and attended advanced ventilator support (Paediatric and Neonatal) workshops conducted by the Indian Academy of Paediatrics
- Completed Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Life Support (ALS), and Basic and Advanced Neonatal Resuscitation Programme (NRP) training
- Received second prize in research presentation at the National Paediatric Neurology Conference (Association of Child Neurologist – AOCN) in February 2024
Key Highlights
- Associate Consultant in Paediatric Neurology at Aster MIMS Kannur
- Strong academic foundation with training from AIIMS Bhubaneswar and CMC Vellore
- MRCPCH-qualified with excellent clinical examination performance
- Expertise in childhood epilepsy, developmental neurology, neuromuscular disorders, and paediatric stroke
- Skilled in EEG, video-EEG, neuroimaging interpretation, and developmental assessments
- Recognized for academic excellence, research contributions, and national-level presentations
- Dedicated to evidence-based, family-centred, and compassionate paediatric neurological care
Professional Experience
- Associate Consultant – Paediatric Neurology
- Aster MIMS Kannur
- Over 2 years of experience as Senior Resident in Paediatrics at AIIMS, Bhubaneswar
- Postdoctoral Fellowship in Paediatric Neurology at CMC Vellore
- Strong academic and clinical training in paediatrics and paediatric neurology
- Experienced in the evaluation and management of complex neurological disorders in children
Publications in Journals
1. Oral Azithromycin Versus Doxycycline in the Treatment of Children With Uncomplicated Scrub Typhus: A Randomized Controlled Trial. The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal. 10.1097/INF.0000000000003372
2. Should High Flow Nasal Cannula Therapy Be the Primary Mode of Respiratory Support in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit? Questions Remain! Indian Pediatrics. 10.1007/s13312-021-2206-6
3. Neurotoxic Snake Envenomation: Neostigmine-Induced Paradoxical Weakness. Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 10.1007/s12098-020-03602-7
4. COVID-19 related multi-inflammatory syndrome presenting with uveitis. Indian Journal of Ophthalmology. 10.4103/ijo.IJO_52_21
5. Respiratory Alkalosis in Neurodegenerative Disorder. Indian Journal of Pediatrics. 10.1007/s12098-020-03288-x
6. Profile and Outcome of Childhood Hydrocarbon Poisoning: An Observational Study. Cureus. 10.7759/cureus.20144
7. Clinical, laboratory profile and outcomes in children with snakebite from eastern India. Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care. 10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1965_22
8. Macrolides versus other antibiotics in pediatric scrub typhus: a meta-analysis. Indian Journal of Microbiology. 10.1016/j.ijmmb.2023.100460
9. Multiple fractures with bony deformities: an unusual clinical presentation of distal renal tubular acidosis. Research and Reviews in Paediatrics. 10.4103/rp.rrp_12_24