What is Cerebral Palsy (CP)?

Cerebral palsy is a permanent disorder affecting posture and movement. A person with cerebral palsy is unable to move and maintain balance and posture. CP is one of the most common diseases among children. Male children are more likely to suffer from it compared to females [1]. CP manifests itself as having problems with using muscles and maintaining tone.  

 

What are the Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?

The signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy vary from person to person, ranging from mild to severe in intensity. The symptoms develop over a few months. So, it might take a few months to years for the symptoms to be apparent to be diagnosed. Following are the signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy [2]:

• Muscle stiffness
• Rigidity
• Spasticity
• Areflexia, hyperreflexia, and hyperreflexia
• Floppy body
• Crossed or scissor legs
• Toe walking
• Lack of balance
• Lack of muscle coordination
• Jerky body movements
• Favouring one side of the body
• Poor fine motor skills such as buttoning the shirt
• Delayed speech development
• Difficulty in speaking, eating, or chewing
• Drooling
• Difficulty learning
• Hearing problems
• Poor bowel and bladder control
• Abnormal sensations
• Delayed growth
• Intellectual disability

 

What are the Types of Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is divided into four types depending on the dominant signs and symptoms. The following are the types of cerebral palsy [3]:

• Spastic cerebral palsy
• Ataxic cerebral palsy
• Dyskinetic cerebral palsy
• Mixed cerebral palsy

 

What Causes Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy results from an insult or damage to the developing brain leading to the inability of the child to control his/her muscles. Abnormal brain development is one of the leading causes of cerebral palsy. Abnormal brain development can be due to many reasons. Decreased oxygen supply to the brain during birth is also a common cause of developing CP [4]. This developmental damage can occur before birth, during birth, and even after birth in childhood when the brain is still developing. Other common causes include low birth weight, prematurity, infections, traumatic brain injury, and intraventricular bleeding.

 

What are the Treatment Options for Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy treatment options aim to improve the quality of life and minimise disabilities. There is no cure for it, but the interventions can help improve the quality of life. A multidisciplinary approach is advised for better outcomes. Lifelong care is usually required for CP patients. The following are common effective treatment options [5]:

• Medications: different muscle relaxants are commonly prescribed to relax rigid muscles. Commonly used drugs include baclofen, diazepam, and tizanidine. These medicines can be given orally through spinal injections.
• Therapies: physical therapy can help improve movement and posture to a great extent. Combined with occupational therapy, speech and recreational therapies are also helpful in improving the life quality of a CP patient.
• Surgery: severe contractures and skeletal deformities can be treated with orthopaedic surgeries.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538147/
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538147/#:~:text=Cerebral%20palsy%20may%20have%20several,hearing%20abnormalities%2C%20and%20communication%20difficulties.
3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7082248/#:~:text=Cerebral%20palsy%20(CP)%20is%20a,quadriplegia%2C%20and%20extrapyramidal%20or%20dyskinetic.
4. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538147/#:~:text=The%20significant%20risk%20factors%20for,common%20cause%20of%20childhood%20disability.
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538147/#:~:text=Treatment%20%2F%20Management&text=Oral%20and%20injectable%20(e.g.%2C%20botulinum,gastrointestinal%20disturbances%2C%20and%20behavior%20disorders.

 

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