About Cerebral Palsy in Children

Strictly speaking, cerebral palsy is not referred to as a disease but, rather, a cluster of symptoms resulting from damage to the parts of the brain that controls our motor function. Common symptoms of cerebral palsy include stiff muscles, lack of balance and coordination, jerking, drooling, unintelligible speech, difficulty swallowing and an awkward gait. Cerebral Palsy affects about 0.5% of the world's population or 2 to 4 per 1,000 infants. It is very common with premature live births and infants born with low birth weight.

There are three main types of cerebral palsy: spastic, athetoid, ataxic. Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common among the three types. It is characterized by stiff and weak muscles which lead to difficulty in movement of some body parts. If only one half of the body is affected, the person is considered to have spastic hemiplegia CP. If both arms and legs are affected, the person is said to have spastic quadriplegia CP. However, spastic diplegiaCP affects only the lower extremities. Athetoid, which is the second type of cerebral palsy is mainly characterized by inability to control the muscles, thus body movements are contorted, spontaneous, and abrupt. Interestingly, motor symptoms of athetoid CP are greatly reduced, if not abolished, with sleeping but are aggravated by intense emotions. Those with the Ataxic type of cerebral palsy suffer from poor coordination and balance. The person's voluntary movements are characterized by jerking and trembling. Most ataxic CP sufferers also have disturbed visual and auditory perceptions. In some children, a combination of the aforementioned types may occur, which is referred to as mixed type of CP. Children who have mixed type of CP also usually suffer from mental retardation.

Cerebral palsy is rarely genetically inherited but is usually congenital i.e., present at birth but not necessarily hereditary. Brain damage that results from a mother's health problems during pregnancy such as infections or illnesses that interferes with the delivery of oxygen to the fetal brain leads to CP. In some cases, brain damage that leads to CP may occur during infancy and early childhood. Common causes of which are poisoning, malnutrition, trauma of the brain resulting from accidents and being shaken, or infections such as meningitis.

At present, there is no cure for cerebral palsy but there are several therapies that have been developed to help CP sufferers perform functions of everyday life, prevent the condition from worsening, and enhance the CP patients' quality of life. Solutions which could aid children and help them reach their maximum potential include physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, and surgery as well as medications and psychological interventions.

Because the degree of symptoms of cerebral palsy varies among children, each child will require treatment which gives attention specific to their needs. Plus, despite the physical disabilities that may interfere in normal functions and the stigma attached to this disorder, there have been many accounts of individuals suffering from cerebral palsy who have succeeded in their chosen fields and have lived a normal life.