CEREBRAL PALSY

 Basic information

description

Cerebral palsy (CP) refers to a group of life-long disorders that affect muscle movement and body coordination. Cerebral refers to the brain and palsy refers to a disorder of movement. Most children with cerebral palsy are born with it, but symptoms may not appear for months or years. The number and severity of the symptoms and vary widely among children with CP.

FREQUENT SIGNS & SYMPTOMS

• Drooling, difficulty with sucking or swallowing.
• Lack of normal muscle tone (floppy).
• Slow development (holding head up, turning over, crawling, sitting, reaching with hand, walking, talking).
• Unusual body postures, stiffness, muscle spasms, and uncontrolled and abnormal body movements.
• Poor coordination or balance.
• Impaired hearing, vision, or speech. Crossed eyes.
• Convulsions (seizures).
• Dental problems.
• Bowel and bladder control problems.
• Normal or above normal intelligence or degrees of mental retardation.

causes

Damage to motor areas of the brain that disrupts its ability to adequately control movement and posture. The reason for the damage is often unknown. In most cases, the damage occurs before birth, but it can occur during or after childbirth. Cerebral palsy is not inherited.

risk increases with

• Prematurity and low birthweight.
• Breech birth, multiple births (e.g. twins), complicated labor and delivery, maternal bleeding late in pregnancy, or mother exposed to toxins during pregnancy.
• Birth injury, including severe oxygen shortage.
• Congenital malformation of the nervous system.
• Severe jaundice in an infant.
• Rh incompatibility (a blood disorder).
• Stroke in a fetus or newborn, or seizures in newborn.
• Low Apgar score (a rating scale done on newborns).
• An infection in the mother during pregnancy, such as rubella (German measles), toxoplasmosis, and others.
• Mothers who have thyroid problems, seizure disorder, mental retardation, or drug and alcohol abuse.
• Brain disease (meningitis or encephalitis) in infant.
• Head injuries during infancy or childhood.

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

Get treatment for, or avoid, preventable risk factors. Get good medical care during pregnancy and don't smoke, use alcohol, or abuse drugs. Protect infants from accidents or injuries.

expected outcomes

It is not progressive and children will vary widely in the severity of the condition. A child with CP may have high intelligence despite major muscular disability. Those with less-severe impairment can lead relatively normal, productive lives. Children with severe impairments may require special care.

possible complications

Joint deformities; problems with nutrition, speech, vision, or hearing; mental retardation; or seizures.

 diagnosis & treatment

general measures

• Your child's health care provider will do a physical exam. Medical tests include testing motor skills and reflexes. Tests are also done to rule out other disorders.
• You and your child's health care team will decide on a program of care based on your child's special needs. The program will change over time as the child matures and the needs change.
• The program can include drug therapy, physical therapy, occupational and speech therapy, behavior therapy, and emotional help. Braces, casts, mechanical aids, hearing aids, and surgery help some specific problems.
• Parents often join a support group to seek help.
• To learn more: United Cerebral Palsy Foundation, 1660 L St. NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036; (800) 872-5827; website: www.ucp.org.

medications

• Drugs may be prescribed to ease spasticity, to reduce abnormal movements, for seizures, or other problems.
• Stool softeners can be used for constipation.

activity

Limits or abilities will depend on degree of impairment.

diet

Eating and swallowing may be difficult. Special diets and feeding techniques may be needed.

 notify our office if

• You are concerned about your child's development or suspect cerebral palsy.
• After diagnosis, you have concerns about your child.

Special Notes: