Cerebral Palsy – Types, Signs and Symptoms, Causes, Prevention and Treatment
1. What is Cerebral Palsy?
Movement, muscle tone, and posture are affected by Cerebral Palsy, a neuro-motor disorder. A person with Cerebral Palsy may have difficulty moving in a coordinated and purposeful manner. People who suffer from cerebral palsy have trouble breathing, controlling their bladders and bowels, eating, and talking because of their motor skills and muscles. The management of Cerebral Palsy requires occupational and physical therapies.
Definition of Cerebral Palsy (CP): Although the general term "Cerebral Palsy," often known as "CP," is used to describe a loss or impairment of motor function, brain injury is the true cause of the condition. While a child's brain is still developing, such as before birth, during labour, or right after delivery, brain damage is brought on by an injury to the brain or aberrant brain growth.
Movement, muscle tone, and posture are affected by Cerebral Palsy, a neuro-motor disorder. A person with Cerebral Palsy may have difficulty moving in a coordinated and purposeful manner. People who suffer from cerebral palsy have trouble breathing, controlling their bladders and bowels, eating, and talking because of their motor skills and muscles. The management of Cerebral Palsy requires occupational and physical therapies.
Definition of Cerebral Palsy (CP): Although the general term "Cerebral Palsy," often known as "CP," is used to describe a loss or impairment of motor function, brain injury is the true cause of the condition. While a child's brain is still developing, such as before birth, during labour, or right after delivery, brain damage is brought on by an injury to the brain or aberrant brain growth.
2. Colour For Cerebral Palsy
The awareness colour for cerebral palsy is green. Every illness or reason has a colour. For instance, cerebral palsy is green, breast cancer is yellow, children cancer is yellow, and heart illness is red. Why is green associated with awareness of cerebral palsy? Green is a colour that represents rebirth, growth, and bright vitality. Green seems to be the ideal colour for cerebral palsy because it affects thousands of children and a new generation of adults is learning how to live with this condition!
The awareness colour for cerebral palsy is green. Every illness or reason has a colour. For instance, cerebral palsy is green, breast cancer is yellow, children cancer is yellow, and heart illness is red. Why is green associated with awareness of cerebral palsy? Green is a colour that represents rebirth, growth, and bright vitality. Green seems to be the ideal colour for cerebral palsy because it affects thousands of children and a new generation of adults is learning how to live with this condition!
3. What are the Types of Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy can be divided into a number of subtypes based on the body parts and types of movements that are impaired as well as the severity of the symptoms.
Spastic Cerebral Palsy: This is the most prevalent type. Spastic cerebral palsy is characterised by stiff muscles that create jerky or repetitive motions. Spastic cerebral palsy can be classified into several types based on the body parts affected.
Spastic diplegia or diparesis: This variety is characterised by muscle rigidity in the legs, with less severe symptoms in the arms and face. Intelligence and linguistic skills are typically normal.
Spastic hemiplegia or hemiparesis: This form affects only one side of the body's arm, hand, and sometimes leg. Children with this kind may experience difficulties in learning to speak, although their intelligence is often normal.
Spastic quadriplegia or quadriparesis: It causes extreme rigidity in the limbs and legs as well as a floppy, or weak, neck, making it the most severe type of cerebral palsy. In addition to frequently having difficulty speaking, people with spastic quadriplegia are typically unable to walk. IDD of whatever severity could also manifest in this fashion.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: Balance and depth perception are impaired by this type of the illness. Ataxic cerebral palsy patients walk clumsily and struggle with rapid or precise actions like writing, buttoning shirts, or reaching for books.
Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: Slow, uncontrollable jerky motions of the hands, feet, arms, or legs are a part of this type. Some young children may drool or make faces because of overactive facial and tongue muscles. These individuals frequently struggle to walk or sit upright. Normal cognitive functioning is unaffected by dyskinetic cerebral palsy.
Cerebral palsy can be divided into a number of subtypes based on the body parts and types of movements that are impaired as well as the severity of the symptoms.
Spastic Cerebral Palsy: This is the most prevalent type. Spastic cerebral palsy is characterised by stiff muscles that create jerky or repetitive motions. Spastic cerebral palsy can be classified into several types based on the body parts affected.
Spastic diplegia or diparesis: This variety is characterised by muscle rigidity in the legs, with less severe symptoms in the arms and face. Intelligence and linguistic skills are typically normal.
Spastic hemiplegia or hemiparesis: This form affects only one side of the body's arm, hand, and sometimes leg. Children with this kind may experience difficulties in learning to speak, although their intelligence is often normal.
Spastic quadriplegia or quadriparesis: It causes extreme rigidity in the limbs and legs as well as a floppy, or weak, neck, making it the most severe type of cerebral palsy. In addition to frequently having difficulty speaking, people with spastic quadriplegia are typically unable to walk. IDD of whatever severity could also manifest in this fashion.
Ataxic Cerebral Palsy: Balance and depth perception are impaired by this type of the illness. Ataxic cerebral palsy patients walk clumsily and struggle with rapid or precise actions like writing, buttoning shirts, or reaching for books.
Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: Slow, uncontrollable jerky motions of the hands, feet, arms, or legs are a part of this type. Some young children may drool or make faces because of overactive facial and tongue muscles. These individuals frequently struggle to walk or sit upright. Normal cognitive functioning is unaffected by dyskinetic cerebral palsy.
4. Cerebral Palsy: Signs and Symptoms
Generally, signs and symptoms begin from infancy or the preschool years and vary widely between individuals. Disability might affect only one side of the body or the entire body.
Problems with movement and coordination
Generally, signs and symptoms begin from infancy or the preschool years and vary widely between individuals. Disability might affect only one side of the body or the entire body.
Problems with movement and coordination
- Muscle coordination issues
- Unwilled motions
- Reflexes that are abnormal or excessive
- Slow, writhing motions
- Reduced joint movement
- Paralysis due to spasticity
- Floppiness or stiffness of the trunk and limbs
- Unsteady gait
- Unusual position
- Swallowing difficulties
- Drooling excessively
- Speaking difficulties Eye muscle imbalance
- Delays in the development of speech
- Suction, chewing, or eating difficulties
- Hearing and vision issues
- Touch and pain sensations that are abnormal
- Disabilities of the mind
- Mental illnesses
- Incontinence of the bladder
5. What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is caused by faulty brain development or injury to the growing brain. This normally happens before a kid is born, but it can happen during birth or early infancy. In many situations, the cause is unknown. Many factors can contribute to issues with brain development. Among them are:
Cerebral palsy is caused by faulty brain development or injury to the growing brain. This normally happens before a kid is born, but it can happen during birth or early infancy. In many situations, the cause is unknown. Many factors can contribute to issues with brain development. Among them are:
- Gene mutations that cause genetic diseases or abnormalities in brain development.
- Maternal illnesses that harm the developing foetus.
- A foetal stroke is an interruption in the blood flow to the growing brain.
- Bleeding into the brain when in the pregnancy or as a new-born.
- Infections in infants that produce inflammation in or around the brain.
- A catastrophic head injury to a new-born, such as from a car accident, a fall, or physical abuse.
- Lack of oxygen to the brain is linked to difficult labour or delivery, albeit birth-related hypoxia is far less common than previously thought.
6. Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy symptoms and signs might become more obvious with time; therefore, a diagnosis may not be made until a few months to a year after birth. When the signs and symptoms are minor, the diagnosis may take a little longer.
Brain Scan: Brain-imaging devices can detect areas of brain injury or aberrant development. These examinations may involve the following:
Additional examinations and Tests for Cerebral Palsy: If your kid is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you will most likely be referred to specialists to be tested for other disorders that are frequently connected with the disability. These tests can detect issues with:
Cerebral palsy symptoms and signs might become more obvious with time; therefore, a diagnosis may not be made until a few months to a year after birth. When the signs and symptoms are minor, the diagnosis may take a little longer.
Brain Scan: Brain-imaging devices can detect areas of brain injury or aberrant development. These examinations may involve the following:
- MRI
- Cranial ultrasound
Additional examinations and Tests for Cerebral Palsy: If your kid is diagnosed with cerebral palsy, you will most likely be referred to specialists to be tested for other disorders that are frequently connected with the disability. These tests can detect issues with:
- Vision /Hearing /Speech/Intellect /Development/Movement/Other medical issues
7. Prevention of Cerebral Palsy or Is it Possible to Prevent Cerebral Palsy?
Although comprehensive prevention is not yet attainable, there are a few things that can be done to lessen a child's risk of acquiring CP:
Although comprehensive prevention is not yet attainable, there are a few things that can be done to lessen a child's risk of acquiring CP:
- Avoiding exposure to illnesses or viruses known to have an effect on the health of the foetus, such as rubella or the Zika virus, while pregnant.
- Getting vaccinated against diseases like rubella before to trying to conceive.
- Addressing underlying health problems, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.
- Avoiding pregnancy-harmful substances like alcohol, tobacco, and prescription medications
- Determining whether the mother's and the child's Rh factors are compatible.
- Appropriate medical treatment during childbirth.
- Lowering the risk of birth damage and postnatal head injury.
8. Cerebral Palsy Treatment
Children and adults with cerebral palsy may need medical treatment for the rest of their lives. Cerebral palsy is incurable. There are, however, a variety of therapy choices available to enhance a child's daily functioning.
Medications for Cerebral Palsy (CP): Medications that relax muscles may be used to improve functional abilities, relieve pain, and manage consequences associated with spasticity or other cerebral palsy symptoms.
Physical Therapy: Strength, flexibility, balance, motor development, and mobility can all benefit from muscle training and activities for your child.
Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapists work with your kid to help him or her acquire independence in daily tasks and routines at home, school, and in the community.
Recreational Therapy: This treatment can enhance your child's motor skills, communication, and emotional well-being.
Speech and Language Therapy: Speech-language pathologists can assist your child in improving his or her ability to speak correctly or communicate through sign language.
Children and adults with cerebral palsy may need medical treatment for the rest of their lives. Cerebral palsy is incurable. There are, however, a variety of therapy choices available to enhance a child's daily functioning.
Medications for Cerebral Palsy (CP): Medications that relax muscles may be used to improve functional abilities, relieve pain, and manage consequences associated with spasticity or other cerebral palsy symptoms.
- Muscle or nerve injections
- Oral muscle relaxants
- Medications to reduce drooling
Physical Therapy: Strength, flexibility, balance, motor development, and mobility can all benefit from muscle training and activities for your child.
Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapists work with your kid to help him or her acquire independence in daily tasks and routines at home, school, and in the community.
Recreational Therapy: This treatment can enhance your child's motor skills, communication, and emotional well-being.
Speech and Language Therapy: Speech-language pathologists can assist your child in improving his or her ability to speak correctly or communicate through sign language.
9. How to Take Care of a Child with Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral palsy children do not necessarily have severe disabilities. A diagnosis will rarely affect life expectancy in many cases. Treatment and therapy choices for long-term treatment will depend on the severity of a child's condition. Cerebral palsy Treatment options may include:
Cerebral palsy children do not necessarily have severe disabilities. A diagnosis will rarely affect life expectancy in many cases. Treatment and therapy choices for long-term treatment will depend on the severity of a child's condition. Cerebral palsy Treatment options may include:
- Occupational and physical therapy
- Controlling seizures with medications
- Medications for muscular spasms
- Medication for pain
- Rolling walkers and wheelchairs, as well as communication aids and voice synthesisers, are examples of orthotic devices.
- Therapy for speech
- Anatomical anomalies can be corrected surgically.
- Tight muscles can be corrected and released through surgery.
10. Cerebral Palsy Prevention Measures Implemented by the Indian Government
India Newborn Action Plan (INAP), 2014: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, has included provisions for basic mother and child care as well as prevention, early detection, and management of birth abnormalities in the plan.
Rastriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, is a significant initiative aiming at early identification and early intervention for children from birth to 18 years old to cover the four "D's": defects at birth, deficiencies, diseases, and developmental delays, including disability.
India Newborn Action Plan (INAP), 2014: The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, has included provisions for basic mother and child care as well as prevention, early detection, and management of birth abnormalities in the plan.
Rastriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, is a significant initiative aiming at early identification and early intervention for children from birth to 18 years old to cover the four "D's": defects at birth, deficiencies, diseases, and developmental delays, including disability.
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