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Writer's pictureDr. Sanika Pawar

Cerebral palsy

Updated: Mar 15, 2022

Cerebral palsy (CP) is a series of conditions that impair a person's ability to move, balance, and maintain posture. The most prevalent motor impairment in children is cerebral palsy. Cerebral refers to having something to do with the brain. Palsy refers to muscular weakness or difficulty utilising the muscles. CP is caused by aberrant brain development or brain injury that inhibits a person's ability to regulate his or her muscle


Causes

  • The unusual brain growth or injury that causes CP can occur before birth, during birth, within a month of birth, or throughout the early years of a child's life, while the brain is still developing.

  • Congenital CP refers to CP caused by improper brain development or injury before or during birth. The vast majority of CP (85–90%) is congenital. In many situations, the exact cause is unknown.

  • Risk factors

  • Birthweight is underweight

  • Premature childbirth

  • Births in multiples

  • Treatments for infertility with assisted reproductive technology (ART)

  • Pregnancy-related infections

  • Kernicterus and jaundice

  • Complications during childbirth


Signs and Symptoms

Motor coordination

Spasticity is the most prevalent movement disease, characterised by stiff muscles and excessive reflexes.

Muscle tone variations, such as being either overly stiff or too floppy

Muscles that are stiff but have normal responses (rigidity)

Instability of balance and muscular coordination (ataxia)

Tremors, sometimes known as jerky involuntary movements, are a type of tremor.

Slow, writhing motions

Favoring one side of the body, such as just using one hand to reach or dragging a leg when crawling

Speaking and eating

Speech development delays

Speaking with difficulty

Suction, chewing, or eating difficulties

Excessive drooling or swallowing difficulties

Development

Delayed achievement of motor skill milestones such as sitting up or crawling

Other issues

Damage to the brain can lead to a variety of additional neurological issues, including:

Convulsions (epilepsy)

Hearing impairment

Vision issues and strange eye motions

Touch or pain sensations that are abnormal

Constipation and urine incontinence are two symptoms of bladder and bowel issues.

Emotional illnesses and behavioural issues are examples of mental health concerns.

Treatment

Medication

Physiotherapy

Speech therapy

Stretching

Muscle Strengthening

Electro-modalities

Gait training

Occupational therapy

Surgery



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