Cerebral Palsy
On this page, you will find everything you are looking for regarding cerebral palsy.
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a condition that can occur before, during, or after birth and affects body movements due to brain injury. Brain damage impacts body movement and posture, often manifesting as flexible or stiff muscles or involuntary muscle movements. It can also be associated with visual and hearing impairments, as well as issues with speech, eating, and learning.
What are the Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?
- There are four main types of cerebral palsy, each with different symptoms:
- Spastic: Muscles are weak and stiff, resulting in uncoordinated movements. Arms, legs, orathetoidboth on the same or different sides of the body can be affected.
- Athetoid: Muscles move on their own or into involuntary positions. This occurs due to the contraction and relaxation of muscles in the arms, legs, and body. If facial and tongue muscles are affected, speech becomes difficult, possibly causing drooling.
- Ataxic: Movements are jerky due to balance and coordination problems. It can lead to unsteady walking and difficulty with rapid movement. Those with ataxic cerebral palsy might also experience involuntary hand tremors.
Mixed: The individual exhibitsa combination ofthe above characteristics.
People with cerebral palsy may or may not suffer from other conditions such as intellectual disability, epilepsy, delayed growth, spinal deformities, and vision, hearing, or speech problems. The symptoms of cerebral palsy do not change over time.
What Are the Causes and Risk Factors of Cerebral Palsy?
- Cerebral palsy occurs when there is damage to the developing brain in the area controlling muscle tone (motor cortex). Injury to the fetus can occur due to:
- Low oxygen levels.
- Poor circulation.
- Infection.
Failure of the brain to develop normally in the fetus.
- Risk factors forcerebral palsy include:
- Premature birth andlow birth weight.
- Some pregnancy complications.
- Infections contracted bythe motherduring pregnancy.
- Prolonged oxygen deprivation during pregnancy or childbirth, or severe jaundice after birth.
- Injury or bleeding in the child’s brain.
- Genetic mutations affecting brain development.
Being a twin, triplet, or part of another multiple birth.
How is Cerebral Palsy Diagnosed?:.
- The physician takesa medical historyand conducts aphysical examination, andmay request additionalprocedures as needed,such as:
- Brain imaging, such as ultrasound, CT scan,or MRI, these tests helps to distinguishcerebral palsy from other possible causes.
Blood tests torule out othermuscle problem causes.EEG).
If the child has associated conditions, like epilepsy, there may be another set of tests, such as a brain activity test (EEG).
How is Cerebral Palsy Treated?
- Though cerebral palsy cannot be cured, its symptoms can be managed, such as:
- Physical therapy: to assist with daily tasks like sitting, walking, dressing, and using the toilet, and provide exercises to help strengthen muscles.
- Certain types of medications .
Using special braces to help with muscle imbalance.
Certain types of surgery and mechanical aids are used to overcome other disabilities.
How is Cerebral Palsy Prevented?
Pregnant women should follow up with their doctor throughout pregnancy for advice, periodic examinations, and to try to avoid reasons leading to impaired fetal growth or oxygen supply.
- What are the Complications of Cerebral Palsy?
- Weak muscle problems, spasms, and poorcoordination can contribute to several complicationsin childhood or adulthood, including:
- Malnutrition.
- Mental health disorders like depression (evidence to be included).
- Heart and lung diseases.
- Joint and muscle infections.
- Osteoporosis.
Other complications may include sleep disorders, chronic pain, skin cracking, bowel problems, and oral health issues.
Muscle contraction and atrophy.
When Should You See a Doctor?
- You need to talk to a doctor if your child has not shown signs of development like crawling, walking, talking, is slow in developing physical skills, or if their muscles are tight, loose, or in an unusual position. For example, if your child does not walk between 12 and 18 months of age or does not speak in simple sentences before 24 months, or exhibits signs of cerebral palsy mentioned above, do not hesitate to seek help from specialists.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is cerebral palsy a genetic disease?
No, cerebral palsy is not a hereditary condition in itself, but its causes may include a genetic disease.
