Cerebral palsy is a name given to a group of different nervous system disorders that are present at birth or appear in the first 3 years of life. What these disorders have in common is that the underlying brain damage doesn’t get worse over the years. They also all cause some degree of damage in the motor neurons of the brain, affecting coordination and muscle strength.
Overall, cerebral palsy affects somewhere between 1 in 500 and 1 in 1,000 newborns, though some of these are only mildly affected. The risk is highest in premature and underweight babies. The number of new cases of cerebral palsy has actually risen slightly in recent years, partly because better intensive care is keeping more premature babies alive but also because fertility treatments have led to a rise in twin and multiple births, which are more likely to result in a baby with cerebral palsy.
Other risk factors for the development of cerebral palsy include:
Although cerebral palsy is often considered a congenital (present at birth) syndrome, it can also develop after birth. A brain injury resulting from a brain infection (e.g., meningitis, encephalitis) or from a fall or accident such as a near drowning is termed acquired cerebral palsy. On the other hand, congenital cerebral palsy is a result of something going wrong during fetal development or during the birth process itself. It used to be believed that lack of oxygen during delivery was the main cause, but researchers now think this only account for about 10% of cases.
A fetus develops from a single cell, which divides repeatedly to eventually become billions of cells. During the process, groups of cells become specialized to form all the different body tissues. Likewise, various types of nerve cells form and migrate to take up their proper places throughout the brain. This process is highly complex and, not surprisingly, errors sometimes occur that disturb the normal architecture of the brain.
Errors could occur as a result of the following:
We are only now beginning to understand some of the issues surrounding the development of the fetal brain. Hopefully, more research in this area will allow us to eventually explain the exact causes of cerebral palsy.
There’s no cure for cerebral palsy, as the brain doesn’t get a second chance to grow. The aim of treatment is to provide as normal a life as possible and to maximize independence in people whose mental capacities allow it.
The first goal is to minimize disability. Above all, this means preventing or repairing muscle contractures. These are less likely if you exercise the affected limb as much as possible. Physical therapy aims to prevent contractures and poor growth caused by atrophy. Most doctors agree that exercising impaired limbs is the best way to keep them healthy and get the most out of them. Once contractures occur, surgery is often necessary. The muscle can take months to heal properly from such an operation, so prevention is usually better than cure. Botulinum toxin* injections are sometimes given for severe contractures. The toxin paralyzes the muscle, allowing it to relax.
As a child approaches school age, therapy tends to concentrate more on improving communication and minimizing socially problematic symptoms like drooling (e.g., speech therapy). Every effort is made to place children of normal intelligence in regular schools. Much of the work of therapy is actually performed by the parents, once they’ve learned the techniques.
Seizures and spasticity can often be controlled with antiseizure and muscle relaxant medications (e.g., baclofen, diazepam), and most children with cerebral palsy will be on some form of medication. Muscle problems can be minimized with modern devices like computerized speaking aids and electric wheelchairs. Some children can benefit from occupational therapy, which focuses on learning ways to do daily activities with limited capabilities.
While it’s unlikely that cerebral palsy can be eliminated completely, there are some risk factors that can be managed. Anything that increases risk of premature birth, such as tobacco, alcohol, and illegal drugs, will also increase the risk of cerebral palsy. Birth defects are more likely when the mother smokes and drinks during pregnancy.
Getting vaccinated against German measles (rubella) is one of the easiest steps a person considering pregnancy can take. They should get the immunization shot before they become pregnant, because this preventative measure is too late once a person is pregnant.
Any steps that reduce the risk of head injury in a baby or infant will also reduce the risk of cerebral palsy. A properly fitted child car seat is probably the most important measure parents can take in this regard. Meningitis can’t always be prevented, but the risk can be reduced by having your child receive recommended vaccinations, and taking your child to the doctor for any ear infections or severe headache with fever. A doctor should examine any infant below the age of 4 to 6 months that has a fever.
*All medications have both common (generic) and brand names. The brand name is what a specific manufacturer calls the product (e.g., Tylenol®). The common name is the medical name for the medication (e.g., acetaminophen). A medication may have many brand names, but only one common name. This article lists medications by their common names. For information on a given medication, check our Drug Information database. For more information on brand names, speak with your doctor or pharmacist.
All material copyright MediResource Inc. 1996 – 2026. Terms and conditions of use. The contents herein are for informational purposes only. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Source: www.medbroadcast.com/condition/getcondition/Cerebral-Palsy
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