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Overview
Premature babies and those who have very low birth weights are at the most risk of developing cerebral palsy. In fact, for every thousand babies born, between two and four will have the disorder. Actually, cerebral palsy is not one specific condition; it is used to identify a group of disorders that all impair the development of the child's ability to coordinate his voluntary muscles.
Symptoms
Babies who are lethargic or fussy and who have low muscle tone may have cerebral palsy, a condition which is not simple to diagnose. If the baby's irritability is expressed with a high-pitched cry that doesn't sound quite right, and she rolls over, sits, crawls, walks or talks later than other babies, these symptoms may result in a diagnosis of cerebral palsy. Other symptoms may include limbs that tremble or are stiff, as well as difficulty sucking and swallowing, poor reflexes or seizures.
Diagnosis
There is a wide range of both the symptoms of cerebral palsy in infants and their severity. In general, the condition is marked by a lack of coordination that is also accompanied by stiff muscles. An actual diagnosis occurs when a team of medical and therapeutic professionals comes to a consensus. Usually brain imaging technology such as CT scans or MRI scans contributes to the diagnosis.
Treatment
There is no known cure for cerebral palsy, so once an infant has been diagnosed with cerebral palsy the treatment is to enroll him in whichever therapies will be the most developmentally beneficial at any one time. Usually occupational therapy assists with the development of fine-motor coordination. Physical therapy helps the child develop gross-motor coordination. Vision therapy and speech therapy may also be indicated.
Causes
Cerebral palsy in infants is caused by a brain injury that may occur before, during or after the child is born. When the brain injury happens in utero, it is often the result of a disease that the mother contracted while she was pregnant. If she contracted rubela, chicken pox, cytomegalovirus or toxoplasmosis during pregnancy, the child may be born with symptoms of cerebral palsy.
Expert Insight
Other causes of cerebral palsy symptoms in infants include congenital conditions, a lack of oxygen during the birth process or a stroke. After birth, if the baby gets meningitis, viral encephalitis or severe jaundice, he may be at risk of developing cerebral palsy. While this is a difficult condition because of its impact on a child's ability to move, eat, speak or swallow, most children who have cerebral palsy exhibit normal intelligence according to the Cerebral Palsy Source website. The condition mainly impacts the areas of the brain that control motor functions. Of course, in some cases cerebral palsy does co-exist with various other mental disabilities. Each case of cerebral palsy is unique, which is why it involves a team of experts to treat it.
