Ajay Taranath is a paediatric neurosurgeon based in North Adelaide, South Australia, at 72 King William St. He works with children and families, and focuses on brain and nervous system conditions that start in infancy or early childhood.
In paediatric neurosurgery, the problems can be wide-ranging. Some kids come in because of head shape changes or issues with how the skull grows, like craniosynostosis or a metopic ridge. Others are dealing with things such as hydrocephalus, where fluid builds up in the brain, or with increased head circumference that needs careful assessment.
Ajay also looks after children with development-related brain conditions. This can include cortical dysplasia, periventricular heterotopia, and other malformations that affect how the brain grows. At times, there may be bigger differences in brain structure, such as hemimegalencephaly.
Tumours and growths are also part of the picture. For example, posterior fossa tumours can cause headaches, balance problems, or other symptoms, and kids may need surgery to help take pressure off and improve how they function day to day.
He is also involved in cases where there are changes in the brain’s structures linked with specific syndromes. Dandy-Walker syndrome, Axenfeld-Rieger syndrome, and conditions connected to neuronal migration problems are examples that can bring families into paediatric neurosurgery care.
Some referrals are urgent. For instance, severe childhood infections or brain inflammation like encephalitis can become serious quickly. Other children are seen after problems in the early newborn period, including periventricular leukomalacia or complications where babies need close monitoring and timely treatment.
Not every case is only about the brain. Paediatric neurosurgery often overlaps with how a child’s overall body is affected, including conditions that come with skin or bone findings, like epidermal naevus or fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.
Over time, Ajay works as part of a wider team. That team may include paediatricians, radiology, and other specialists, depending on what the child needs. The goal is to support families through diagnosis, explain options in plain language, and provide treatment that helps the child’s health and future progress.