What is cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy, a group of disorders that disturb muscle movement and muscle posture, is caused due to atypical brain development, usually before birth. Mostly cerebral palsy affects the vision and hearing of a person.
We can dissect cerebral palsy as two types, the word ‘cerebral’ refers to the brain, and ‘palsy’ refers to weakness or fatigue caused by body movement. Cerebral palsy causes motion disabilities in childhood.
What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy?
People with cerebral palsy may face trouble in learning and understanding. The symptoms of cerebral palsy may deteriorate over time depending on the type of person.
Palsy can be affected in any part of the cerebrum. In general, signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy include problems with movement, speech and eating, physical development and other problems.
Movement and coordination
Disorders related to muscle stiffness and over reflexes in joints are:
- Different variations in muscle tones
- Muscle rigidity
- Lack of muscle coordination
- Tremors
- Slow muscle movements
- Difficulty walking
- Difficulty such as buttoning clothes or picking up utensils
Speech and eating problems
- Delay in speech development
- Difficulty in speaking
- Difficulty with sucking, chewing or eating
- Excessive drooling or swallowing problems
Development
- Delay such as sitting up or crawling
- Difficulty in learning
- Intellectual disability
- Delayed growth
Types of cerebral palsies
There are different types of cerebral palsies that affect the brain. Each type causes different movement disorders. The following are some of the types of cerebral palsy.
Spastic cerebral palsy
Spastic cerebral palsy is the common type of cerebral palsy that affects nearly eighty percent of the total cerebral palsy affected people. This type of palsy causes stiffness in muscles and abnormalities in walking.
It also leads to muscle weakness and paralysis. The symptoms of this cerebral palsy either affect the entire body or one side of the body.
Hypotonic cerebral palsy
Hypotonic cerebral palsy causes overly relaxed muscles. The legs and arms of hypotonic cerebral palsy affect people’s move very easily without stiffness. Babies who are affected by this type of cerebral palsy may face problems in breathing and have very little control of their heads. When they grow up, they may face difficulties in speaking, sitting and sometimes walking too.
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy
Dyskinetic cerebral palsy-affected people face difficulty in controlling their body movements. This type of cerebral palsy may lead to abnormal movements in the hands, arms and legs. In rare cases, the tongue and face also get affected.
Ataxic cerebral palsy
Ataxic cerebral palsy is a palsy of a very rare type. People who are affected by this cerebral palsy may face balancing problems. They may find it arduous to understand and learn new things.
Mixed cerebral palsy
This is a type of cerebral palsy where it shows symptoms related to all types of cerebral palsy. This type of cerebral palsy most often shows symptoms pertaining to spastic and dyskinetic cerebral palsy.
What causes cerebral palsy?
Abnormal brain development is the primary reason for cerebral palsy. This condition occurs before birth, during birth, or rarely before the first year of birth. In most cases, the original cause of cerebral palsy is undetermined. Some possible causes for cerebral palsy include:
- Insufficient oxygen to the brain during labour (asphyxia neonatorum)
- Gene mutations
- Jaundice during birth
- Maternal infections such as herpes simplex
- Brain infections like encephalitis and meningitis
- Intracranial haemorrhage (Brain bleeding)
- Head injuries
What are the complications of cerebral palsy?
Contracture
Contracture is shortness of muscle tissue that is caused due to tightening of the muscles. Contracture inhibits bone growth and dislocates bone muscles. Common examples of dislocation are hip dislocation and orthopaedic deformities.
Malnutrition
Swallowing can be very difficult for someone with cerebral palsy, which is common in infants. Swallowing problems lead to respiratory disorders such as aspiration pneumonia. Malnutrition diminishes growth and weakens bones.
Mental health conditions
People who are affected by cerebral palsy also suffer from other mental health conditions like depression, stress, etc.
Heart and lung disease
People affected by cerebral palsy may also develop disorders related to the heart and lungs.
Osteoporosis
Lack of mobility and insufficient nutrition lead to osteoporosis.
How to prevent cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy occurs naturally and cannot be prevented, but one can reduce the chances of getting affected by cerebral palsy.
Suppose, if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, you should follow the measures below to avoid reducing the risk of getting affected by cerebral palsy.
Compulsory vaccination
Getting vaccinated against diseases such as rubella might prevent an infection that could cause fetal brain damage.
Protect yourself
Always bear in mind when you are pregnant, be careful in every step you take forward, or else you may develop an infection that results in cerebral palsy.
Seek care early
Regular doctor visits make you feel confident and clear your doubt about pregnancy. Through regular doctor consultations, you can ensure to prevent premature birth and low birth weight problems. Thereby, you can clear doubts about birth weight-related issues.
Say no to alcohol and drugs
Abstain from health deteriorating activities like alcohol, cigarette and drugs. Cerebral palsy is caused by brain damage occuring at the onset of childhood.
As a responsible parent, pay utmost attention to your child by providing them with a seat belt and bicycle helmet while driving and make sure to supervise your child’s activity for their safety.
Treatments for cerebral palsy
Children and adults suffering from cerebral palsy may need lifelong treatment. The doctor team might include a variety of therapists and mental health specialists. These experts must address the needs and problems that are similar in people with cerebral palsy.
There is no cure for cerebral palsy. However, many applicable treatment options augment your child’s daily functioning. Early treatment improves your child’s behaviour.
Treatment for cerebral palsy includes medications, assistive aids and surgical procedures.
Assistive aids
Assistive aids for cerebral palsy include:
- Body braces
- Wheelchairs
- Eyeglasses
- Hearing aids
- Walking aids
Medications
The following are some of the underlying first treatments of cerebral palsy. Your doctor might prescribe the following medications:
- Diazepam/ Valium
- Dantrolene
- Baclofen
- Tizanidine
Surgery
Temporal surgery is performed for cerebral palsy. This surgery is also known as orthopaedic surgery. This surgery is useful to relieve pain and increase body mobility. Other surgery, such as Selective Dorsal Rhizotomy (SDR), can also be used to reduce chronic pain.
Other treatment
Other general treatments for cerebral palsy include:
- Speech therapy
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Recreational therapy
- Counselling or psychotherapy
- Social services consultations
Summing up
Cerebral palsy can occur either before birth or in early childhood. Even though cerebral palsy is an incurable disease, proper diagnosis and treatment may help people with cerebral palsy lead a normal life.
