Health Information

It is a non progressive neuromuscular disorder causing mild to severe disabilities throughout life.This condition is manifested as a group of persisting qualitative motor disorders which appear in young children due to damage to the brain during delivery or due to some pathological conditions in the intrauterine life.The neuroligical problems are multiple but non progressive in nature.Approximately 2 per 100 live birth is having this problem.This disease is having no hereditary tendency.

Causes of cerebral palsy:
1) Infections during delivery.
2) Lack of oxygen supply to the baby during delivery.
3) As a complication of forceps delivery.
4) Injury to the brain during delivery.

Management of carebral palsy:

Occupational therapy:
This is given by occupational therapists.They train the disabled people to do some suitable works so that these people can have their own income.

Rehabilitation:
Moral and social support should be given to these children.They should be send to special schools where special training can be given by trained staff.Mentally retarded children need special training.Depending up on the disabitity special instruments and machines are given for locomotion and to assist their daytoday activities.

Physiotherapy:
Here massage,exercise, hydrotherapy and ect are needed.Special training is given to train walking,swallowing and talking.The affected children are also trained to hold articles for routine activities.

General management:
This includes proper nutrition and personal care. Symptomatic medicines are needed to reduce convulsions and muscle stiffness. Diazepam can reduce spasticity and athetosis.
Dantrolene sodium helps to relax skeletal muscles.

Abnormal findings in cerebral palsy:
1)Stiffness of all muscles with awkward motion.
2)Abnormal movements are seen in some cases.
3)Scissoring of the lower limbs due to spasm of the adductor muscles of the thigh.
4)Speech may be affected.
5)Abnormal neonatal reflexes.
6)May have total or partial paralysis.
7)Arrest of neurological and behavioral developement.
8),Complete or partial loss of hearing.
9)Drooling of saliva.
10)Convulsions may be seen in some children.
11)Extention of extremities on vertical suspension of the infant.
12)Mild to severe mental retardations.
13)Tremors with typical movements.
14)Swallowing may be difficult in some cases.
15)If cerebellum is affected there will be loss of muscle tone with difficulty in walking.
16)In severe cases the back bend backwards like and arch.
17)Squint and other visual problems may be associated.

Cerebral palsy is diagnosed by detailed clinical examination and by eliminating other similar diseases like brain tumour, progressive atrophy ect.All investigations like CT scan,MRI and routine investigations are needed to ruleout other diseases.

Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy:
The signs and symptoms may not be similar in all babies affected.Depending upon the damage to the brain there may be mild to severe lesions.

Mild cases: 20% children will have mild disability.
Moderate cases:50% cases are having moderate disability.The affected children require self help for assisting their impaired ambulation capacity.
Severe cases:About 30% of the affected children are totally incapacited and bedridden and they allways need care from others.
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