Overview

Cerebral palsy (CP) may be a group of neurological (brain) disorders. These disorders affect body movement and muscle coordination. it always appears in infancy or infancy , because the brain develops. Children with CP may have stiff or weak muscles. This will cause them to form unusual muscle movements. It’s going to take a baby with CP longer than usual to start out rolling over, sitting up, crawling, or walking.

CP is often mild or severe. a toddler with mild CP may have awkward movements but require little or no assistance. A toddler with severe CP might not be ready to walk. He or she may have trouble speaking and should require lifelong care and assistance.

There are 3 general sorts of CP:

Ø     Spastic CP is that the commonest form. It causes the muscles to stiffen and makes movement difficult. It can affect only one side of the body, only the legs, or the entire body. this relies on the sort of spastic CP and therefore the severity.

Ø     Dyskinetic CP causes uncontrolled body movements. These are often slow or fast and jerky. It affects the whole body.

Ø     Ataxic CP affects balance, coordination, and depth perception. it's the smallest amount common sort of CP.Some children will show signs of quite one sort of CP. this is often mentioned as mixed CP.

Many children with CP produce other conditions also . a number of the foremost common include:

Ø  Intellectual disability or learning difficulties.

Ø  Seizures.

Ø  Delayed growth and development.

Ø  Spinal deformities.

Ø  Vision or deafness .

Ø  Speech disorders.

Ø  Infections and long-term illnesses.

Symptoms of CP

Children with CP show a good sort of symptoms. The symptoms usually don't worsen over time. They’ll include:

Ø  Stiff muscles or muscles that are too floppy.

Ø  Uncontrolled movements.

Ø  Lack of coordination.

Ø  Difficulty walking (for example, one foot or leg may drag).

Ø  Difficulty with fine control (for example, difficulty with writing or buttoning a shirt).

Ø  Difficulty speaking, swallowing, or eating.

Ø  Excessive drooling.

Ø  Seizures.

Signs of CP usually show up within the first few months of a baby’s life. They often are signs of developmental delay. this suggests they don’t reach developmental milestones within the typical time. These milestones include learning to roll over, sit, crawl, or walk.

What causes CP?

CP is caused by abnormal brain development or brain injury. The brain damage can occur before the kid is born. It also can occur during birth or within the first few years of life. In most cases, CP is present at birth.
Normally, the brain sends out messages telling the body exactly how and when to maneuver . Children with CP have damage to the a part of the brain that sends out these messages. This affects the way a toddler who has CP talks, walks, and moves.

Certain infections within the pregnant mother can increase the danger of brain damage within the developing baby and cause CP. These infections include rubella or chickenpox. Sometimes, a baby’s brain doesn't develop properly within the womb. this will also cause CP. Doctors don’t know needless to say why this happens. In some cases it are often related to the mother’s exposure to certain toxic substances.

A difficult labor or delivery can cause CP. this will happen if there's a scarcity of oxygen to the baby’s brain during birth. Severe jaundice that's left untreated in newborns also can end in CP.

Meningitis or viral encephalitis in children can cause CP. Meningitis causes inflammation of the membranes surrounding the brain and medulla spinalis . Viral encephalitis causes inflammation of the brain.

CP also can be caused by brain injuries during the primary few months or years of life. These might be from an accident or from being shaken.
In many cases, the explanation for a child’s CP isn't found.

Risk factors

Some things can increase the danger of a baby developing CP. Risk factors include:

Ø  Infection, like rubella, during a pregnant mother.

Ø  Problems with blood circulation within the brain before birth.

Ø  Abnormal brain development.

Ø  Premature birth or low birth weight.

Ø  Babies during a feet-first (breech) position at the start of labor.

Ø  Difficult labor and delivery or delivery of multiple babies.

Ø  Exposure to toxic substances during a pregnant mother.

Ø  Severe jaundice in newborns.

Ø  Infections within the baby after birth, like bacterial meningitis.

Ø  Head injuries after birth.

CP treatment

There is no cure for CP. If your child has CP, your doctor will assist you create a treatment plan. Treatment should improve his or her skills. The plan may include:

Ø     Physical therapy: Exercise and muscle training will help your child with balance, flexibility, coordination, and strength. It can help your child learn to use assistive devices. These could include crutches, braces, splints, or a wheelchair if necessary.

Ø     Speech therapy: A therapist can help your child with speaking or signing , swallowing, and eating.

Ø     Occupational therapy: This teaches your child the way to help lookout of themselves. It can help teach your child to perform daily activities reception or school. It also helps your child learn or improve fine motor skills, like writing.

Ø     Medicines: Your doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants to ease muscle stiffness. If your child has seizures, your doctor may suggest an anticonvulsant.

Ø     Surgery: Your child’s muscles or tendons might be very stiff. This limits the range of motion within the arms or legs. In these cases, your doctor may recommend surgery.

Notice: Please consult your doctor before following any instruction of www.myonlinedoctor.co.in