Cerebral palsy is define as a neurological disorder that impairs balance and posture of an individual thereby affecting his/her ability to move. Cerebral Palsy, otherwise known as CP, affects 1 in 500 children around the globe. Diagnosed in early childhood, CP is the most common physical disability found in children, even today, in first world countries with the best medical care ever seen.
Cerebral Palsy varies in its overall effects, ranging from barely noticeable to extremely severe and to this day remains one of the life’s medical mysteries. As it affects so many people in the world, it is important to gain an understanding of cerebral palsy and its effects on those who are diagnosed with the disorder. There are three major types of cerebral palsy, spastic, dyskinetic, and ataxic. The first of these, spastic CP is the most common, affect about 80% of people with the disorder.
Signs and symptoms of these diseases
- Stiff muscles and exaggerated reflexes
- Stiff muscles with normal reflexes
- Lack of muscle coordition
- Tremors
- Problems with sucking or eating
- Seizures
- Delays in speech development or difficulty in speaking
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Psychiatric problem such as depression
- Difficulty in hearing or vision
- Oral disease
- Lung disease
- Osteoarthritis
- Neurological problem
- Osteopenia
Cerebral palsy is caused when the parts of the brain that control movement or posture doesn’t develop properly or get damaged. The factors that cause problem in brain development include.
- Maternal infection which affects the developing foetus
- Mutations in genes which may lead to abnormal brain development
- Stroke
- Traumatic head injury
Risk factors involved in cerebral palsy
During pregnancy different problems may arise due to increase of cerebral palsy in the baby
- Chicken pox
- Rubella
- Herpes
- Zika virus
- Jaundice
How to diagnose the cerebral palsy
- Cranial ultrasound
- Magnetic resonance imaging
- Electroencephalogram
How to treat or prevent cerebral palsy
- Home care includes
- Exercising regularly
- Sufficient food and nutrition
- Bowel care
In children
The condition often sets in before a child is even born, and can affect the development of muscle tone, movement, and sensory perception as a child grows. Normal childhood milestones, such as walking or talking for the first time, will usually occur later in children with cerebral palsy.
At the age of 2 to 3 years, a more comprehensive diagnosis of cerebral palsy is usually possible, but the severity is not usually fully assessed until the age of 4 to 5 years.
A diagnosis of cerebral palsy requires regular assessments, to make comparisons and determine what the developmental needs and issues are.
It takes time to make a comprehensive and confident diagnosis, as a careful assessment must be carried out several times.