Cerebral palsy, this is a type of devastating movement condition that is caused by the disruptions in the brain development. In this particular condition, various parts of the body are being affected. There are some cases that the sensation, hearing, as well as the vision are distressed. This condition is actually a serious disorder that may start in the childhood stage. This illness may get worse as the patient age, thus having enough knowledge about the causes, symptoms, as well as the treatments for cerebral palsy can be beneficial in the prevention and treatment of it. If you want to know these and more, feel free to read on to this article.
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a condition that is characterized by the unnecessary movements and the muscle posture or tone. This condition, as stated earlier, usually appears in the early infancy or early childhood. Most of the cases of cerebral palsy are actually caused by an interruption in the development of the brain. Thus resulting in the impairment of the reflexes, uncontrolled movements, insufficient muscle development, difficulty in walking, and balance issues. This comes along with a compact range of motion because of the stiffness of the joints.
Cerebral palsy may often get worse as the patient age. However, they may manifest in various levels of sternness. It often depends on various underlying causes of the condition. for an instance, some people who suffer from cerebral palsy are capable of walking, and others cannot. Furthermore, vision and hearing conditions, going as far as blindness or deafness, may also appear in some of the cases, although some are not affected in this particular way.
Most notably perhaps, is the impact of cerebral palsy on the cognition. Thus leaving some completely not affected, although some other show some significant indications of cognitive impairment.
The abnormal brain injury or development may cause cerebral palsy. This is mainly because the damage may affect a certain part of the brain that controls the movement of the body, the posture, and the coordination. Furthermore, it may also happen even before birth, in the course of birth, or shortly after the birth.
An utmost number of children are born with cerebral palsy but do not show any symptoms, not until months or years later. Furthermore, the symptoms of the condition may vary from one person to another.
People with cerebral palsy may also have some other problems, like:
- Vision loss
- Disabilities in learning
- Difficulties in communication
- Seizures
What Causes Cerebral Palsy?
The main cause of cerebral palsy is the abnormality in the development of the brain or the damage to the developing brain. Here are some of the most common possible causes of cerebral palsy:
- Head injuries due to child abuse, sudden fall, or a car accident
- Bleeding in the brain
- Brain infections like meningitis and encephalitis
- Maternal infections like herpes simples and German measles
- Infant’s severe jaundice
- The lack of oxygen in the brain during the mother’s labor as well as in the delivery
Who is at Risk of Cerebral Palsy?
There are some factors that may put babies at risk for cerebral palsy. These include:
- Breech birth that occurs when the baby’s feet or buttocks come out first
- Being a twin or even triplet
- Low birth weight
- Premature birth
What are the Signs and Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?
When the type of cerebral palsy is severe, they often get noticeable at birth or shortly after birth. However, some of the early signs may vary depending on the specific type of it. These include the following:
- Unusual positions
- Seizures
- Shrill or weak cry
- Problems in swallowing or sucking
Some of the problems that are connected to cerebral palsy become more clear over the period of time. Or the symptoms may develop as the child grows. These may include the following:
- Accidents
- Dental problems
- Skin irritation
- Abnormal sensations
- Smaller muscles in the arms or legs
Treatments for Cerebral Palsy
The main goal of the treatments for cerebral palsy is to improve the limitations and prevent any further complications. Furthermore, the treatments for cerebral palsy may include surgery, assistive aids, as well as medications.
Surgery
Various surgery may be used in relieving the pain and improve the mobility. Moreover, it may also be necessary for releasing the tight muscles or to correct the bone abnormalities due to spasticity.
Assistive Aids
There are some assistive aids that may be beneficial in treating cerebral palsy, these include:
- Wheelchairs
- Body braces
- Walking aids
- Hearing aids
- Eyeglasses
Medications
Some medications, such as muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants are often used in treating cerebral palsy. These medications are beneficial in reducing the spasticity as well as drooling.
Some other Treatments for CP
Various treatments for cerebral palsy include:
- Social service consultation
- Psychotherapy or counseling
- Occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Speech therapy
With the proper care, attention, treatments as well as medications, the condition of cerebral palsy can be treated and will make your life much better.
