Jennifer Petry asked:


Understanding cerebral palsy is the first step towards preventing it. Cerebral palsy is a condition when muscle movements and posture is affected (palsy) due to brain damage (cerebral). Unlike chicken pox or measles, cerebral palsy is not a disease but it is a condition. It is not communicable and although there is no cure it is not progressive, as brain damage does not increase over time.

Around a hundred and fifty years ago an English surgeon named William Little first documented and collected information on a peculiar condition that affected children in their early years leading to stiff, spastic muscles in their legs and to a lesser degree their arms. Little found that this condition did not worsen over the years nor did it improve. This condition, known for many years as Little’s disease, is today known as spastic diplegia, one of several types of cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy is a very diverse and complex condition with different people being affected differently. Each specific case is, therefore, as individualistic as the individual patients themselves. It is characterized by an inability to fully control motor function, particularly muscle control and coordination.

Depending on which areas of the brain have been damaged, one or more of the following may occur: muscle tightness or spasticity; involuntary movement; disturbance in gait (walk) or mobility, difficulty in swallowing and problems with speech. In addition, the following symptoms are sometimes associated with cerebral palsy: abnormal sensation and perception; impairment of sight, hearing or speech; seizures; and/or mental retardation. Other problems that may arise are difficulties in feeding, bladder and bowel control, problems with breathing because of postural difficulties, skin disorders because of pressure sores, and learning disabilities.

Despite the pain and suffering that cerebral palsy patients and their caregivers have to bear, the most heartening thing about this disorder is that today there are many measures that can be taken to try and prevent its onset. Tests and prenatal care can prepare a woman and alert her when possible causes arise.

Pregnant women are tested routinely for the Rh factor and, if Rh negative, they can be immunized within 72 hours after the birth (or after the pregnancy terminates) and thereby prevent adverse consequences of blood incompatibility in a subsequent pregnancy. If the woman has not been immunized, the consequences of blood incompatibility in the newborn can be prevented by exchange transfusion in the baby. If a newborn baby has jaundice, this can be treated with phytotherapy (light therapy), which breaks down the bilirubin around the brain. Immunization against measles for all women who have not had measles and are susceptible to becoming pregnant is an essential preventative measure.

Other preventative programs as well as facts about cerebral palsy are directed towards the prevention of prematurity; reducing the exposure of pregnant women to virus and other infections; recognition and treatment of bacterial infection of the maternal reproductive and urinary tracts; avoiding unnecessary exposure to X-rays, drugs and medications; and the control of diabetes, anemia and nutritional deficiencies. Of great importance is optimal well being prior to conception, adequate prenatal care, and protecting infants from accidents or injury.

Although incurable, the disorder can be treated and managed to provide relief to patients. With doctors accumulating new knowledge and information about the disorder every passing day, new techniques and treatments are coming to the fore. Botox, or botulism toxin, is the newest treatment to show high success rates. The Botulism toxin relieves cerebral palsy symptoms by reducing tightness in muscles, which allows better control of movement, and increasing the stretch of muscles, reducing the risk of permanent muscle contractions. In recent tests, some children were even able to write with a pen or use a computer touch screen to communicate for the first time. The continuous finding of new information on cerebral palsy leaves the door wide open for the future of cerebral palsy treatment.



Leslie

Michael Grossman asked:


Brachial Plexus Palsy (BPP) is a devastating condition that infants and some newborns can develop. The Brachial Plexus is a group of nerves on the spine that controls the feeling, control and the movement of the hands, arms and wrists. While this is not a well-discussed injury, interestingly it is more common than other birth injuries, even Cerebral Palsy and Downs Syndrome. Look at the statistics taken from the Brachial Plexus Palsy Foundation’s Website.

One in 1000, births suffer Down syndrome. Two or three per 1000 births suffer Cerebral Palsy. One per 3500, boys suffer Muscular Dystrophy. 1 in 1000 births suffer from Spina Bifida. 3 in 1000 births suffer Brachial Plexus Palsy.

There are three types of this condition reported by the BPP foundation. They are: (in order of severity) Stretch: The least severe of BPP injuries, are caused by swelling in the region of the Brachial Plexus, often spontaneously heals to restore 90 to 100% of the hand(s)/arm(s) use. Rupture: Nerves are completely severed from the plexus (Shoulder region bones and muscles) and require surgery for any possibility of healing. Even with surgery, though it cannot be guaranteed all patients will regain arm, hand and wrist use. Avulsion is the total tearing of the nerves from the spine and the Plexus. This is the most severe form of BPP. Avulsion requires surgery and often muscle transfer for any hope of recovery.

Here are the affects of Brachial Plexus Palsy:

Some individuals may have no control of hand, arms, and wrist. Some may have little control of arm and hand but no control of wrist. In the more acute cases, there may be no use of the affected arm(s) at all, so it will just hang limp. There are sometimes ****** “sagging” on the affected side of the body. Other affects are numbness or lack of sensation in the affected arm/hand/shoulder.

Causes of Brachial Plexus Palsy:

Most injuries occur during birth if babies’ shoulders are spread widely apart. This will cause the severance or tearing of the nerves as described above. The condition can be caused by forceps or other birthing processes that may involve moving a babies’ shoulder head and neck region enough to cause tearing of the brachial nerves.

It is also possible for infants to be harmed to a degree where they develop Brachial Plexus Palsy if they are abused by caretakers.

If you or someone you know has a child that either has been diagnosed with BPP, or has signs of BPP, you may be entitled to damages. Only a qualified attorney can help you find the underlying cause of your baby’s condition and only an attorney can get you the compensation you and your baby deserve.



Elsie

Paul Hata asked:


Cerebral Palsy is a non progressive neuromuscular disorder causing mild to severe disabilities throughout life.This condition is manifested as a group of persisting qualitative motor disorders which appear in young children due to damage to the brain during delivery or due to some pathological conditions in the intrauterine life.The neuroligical problems are multiple but non progressive in nature.Approximately 2 per 100 live birth is having this problem.This disease is having no hereditary tendency.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

1.Injury to the brain during delivery.

2.As a complication of forceps delivery.

3.Lack of oxygen supply to the baby during delivery.

4.Infections during delivery.

Signs and symptoms of Cerebral Palsy

The signs and symptoms may not be similar in all babies affected.Depending upon the damage to the brain there may be mild to severe lesions.

1.Mild cases - 20% children will have mild disability.

2.Moderate cases - 50% cases are having moderate disability.

The affected children require self help for assisting their impaired ambulation capacity.

3.Severe cases -About 30% of the affected children are totally incapacited and bedridden.

They always need care from others.

Abnormal findings of Cerebral palsy

1,Abnormal neonatal reflexes.

2,Stiffness of all muscles with awkward motion.

3,Extention of extremities on vertical suspension of the infant.

4,Scissoring of the lower limbs due to spasm of the adductor muscles of the thigh.

5,In severe cases the back bend backwards like and arch.

6,May have total or partial paralysis.

7,Arrest of neurological and behavioral developement.

8,Swallowing may be difficult in some cases.

9,Drooling of saliva.

10,Mild to severe mental retardations.

11,Abnormal movements are seen in some cases.

12,Tremors with typical movements.

13,If cerebellum is affected there will be loss of muscle tone with difficulty in walking.

14,Complete or partial loss of hearing.

15,Speech may be affected.

16,Squint and other visual problems may be associated.

17,Convulsions may be seen in some children.

Cerebral palsy is diagnosed by detailed clinical examination and by eliminating other similar diseases like brain tumour, progressive atrophy ect.All investigations like CT scan,MRI and routine investigations are needed to ruleout other diseases.

Management of Cerebral Palsy

1.General Management - This includes proper nutrition and personal care. Symptomatic medicines are needed to reduce convulsions and muscle stiffness. Diazepam can reduce spasticity and athetosis.

Dantrolene sodium helps to relax skeletal muscles.

2.Physiotherapy - Here massage,exercise, hydrotherapy and ect are needed.Special training is given to train walking,swallowing and talking.The affected children are also trained to hold articles for routine activities.

3.Rehabilitation - Moral and social support should be given to these children.They should be send to special schools where special training can be given by trained staff.Mentally retarded children need special training.Depending up on the disabitity special instruments and machines are given for locomotion and to assist their daytoday activities.

4.Occupational Therapy - This is given by occupational therapists.They train the disabled people to do some suitable works so that these people can have their own income.



Micheal

John Ugoshowa asked:


It is a non progressive neuromuscular disorder causing mild to severe disabilities throughout life.This condition is manifested as a group of persisting qualitative motor disorders which appear in young children due to damage to the brain during delivery or due to some pathological conditions in the intrauterine life.The neuroligical problems are multiple but non progressive in nature.Approximately 2 per 100 live birth is having this problem.This disease is having no hereditary tendency.

Causes of cerebral palsy:

1) Injury to the brain during delivery.

2) As a complication of forceps delivery.

3) Lack of oxygen supply to the baby during delivery.

4) Infections during delivery.

Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy:-

The signs and symptoms may not be similar in all babies affected.Depending upon the damage to the brain there may be mild to severe lesions.

Mild cases:- 20% children will have mild disability.

Moderate cases:-50% cases are having moderate disability.The affected children require self help for assisting their impaired ambulation capacity.

Severe cases:-About 30% of the affected children are totally incapacited and bedridden and they allways need care from others.

Abnormal findings in cerebral palsy:-

1,Abnormal neonatal reflexes.

2,Stiffness of all muscles with awkward motion.

3,Extention of extremities on vertical suspension of the infant.

4,Scissoring of the lower limbs due to spasm of the adductor muscles of the thigh.

5,In severe cases the back bend backwards like and arch.

6,May have total or partial paralysis.

7,Arrest of neurological and behavioral developement.

8,Swallowing may be difficult in some cases.

9,Drooling of saliva.

10,Mild to severe mental retardations.

11,Abnormal movements are seen in some cases.

12,Tremors with typical movements.

13,If cerebellum is affected there will be loss of muscle tone with difficulty in walking.

14,Complete or partial loss of hearing.

15,Speech may be affected.

16,Squint and other visual problems may be associated.

17,Convulsions may be seen in some children.

Cerebral palsy is diagnosed by detailed clinical examination and by eliminating other similar diseases like brain tumour, progressive atrophy ect.All investigations like CT scan,MRI and routine investigations are needed to ruleout other diseases.

Management of carebral palsy:-

General management:

This includes proper nutrition and personal care. Symptomatic medicines are needed to reduce convulsions and muscle stiffness. Diazepam can reduce spasticity and athetosis.

Dantrolene sodium helps to relax skeletal muscles.

Physiotherapy:

Here massage,exercise, hydrotherapy and ect are needed.Special training is given to train walking,swallowing and talking.The affected children are also trained to hold articles for routine activities.

Rehabilitation:

Moral and social support should be given to these children.They should be send to special schools where special training can be given by trained staff.Mentally retarded children need special training.Depending up on the disabitity special instruments and machines are given for locomotion and to assist their daytoday activities.

Occupational therapy:

This is given by occupational therapists.They train the disabled people to do some suitable works so that these people can have their own income.



Marion

David Chandler asked:


Cerebral palsy is not a disease it is a condition. Cerebral refers to the brain and palsy means weakness or lack of muscle control. In addition, cerebral palsy is not a single problem, but a complex disease in which virtually all brain cell types could need repair. Approximately 90 percent of all cases are caused by brain injury during the prenatal period (before labor begins). This condition is caused by damage to brain cells that control the movement of muscles. A person with cerebral palsy can have mild to severe physical disabilities. There are varying degrees of therapies depending on the degree of condition. However, just because a person has cerebral palsy, it does not mean they will have other disabilities. Causes and Risks

Recent studies suggest that cerebral palsy is mostly due to factors affecting the brain before birth. In about 70 percent of cases, cerebral palsy results from events occurring before birth that can disrupt normal development of the brain. This condition is caused by an injury to the brain during pregnancy, at birth, or shortly after birth. The symptoms are usually not noticeable at birth. It was previously assumed that it was caused by fetal distress, such as a lack of oxygen, during the birth process. However, lack of oxygen at birth has not been shown to be the major cause. The motor deficits of babies are usually unrecognizable before 4-6 months of age.

A preemie’s risk of cerebral palsy is much higher than that of a full-term baby. In addition, exposure to herpes group B viruses was associated with a two-fold increase in risk. Reproductive/urinary tract infections also may increase the risk in a preterm delivery. Preemie’s are already at risk for cerebral palsy and account for approximately one-third of the cases. Adequate prenatal care may reduce the risk of the unborn baby.

Viral infections, lead poisoning, or head injuries that occur early in life can result in acquired cerebral palsy, a less common condition. Spastic cerebral palsy, the most common type, is a condition in which there is too much muscle tone. However, cerebral palsy is NOT a progressive condition, meaning that it does not worsen over time. Cerebral palsy generally is a long-lasting (chronic) condition.

There are roughly 8,000 infants born with this condition each year and some 1,200-1,500 preschool age children acquire cerebral palsy annually. Most children are diagnosed by age 5. Despite significant improvements in obstetric and neonatal care in recent years, the incidence of cerebral palsy has not decreased.

Types Athetoid cerebral palsy affects the ability to control muscles, leading to involuntary and uncontrolled movements in the affected muscles

Spastic cerebral palsy is the most common type of cerebral palsy. Approximately 60 percent of all individuals with cerebral palsy have spasticity that is characterized by tense, contracted muscles. Doctors will often describe which type of spastic cerebral palsy a patient has, based on which limbs are affected. Ataxic cerebral palsy affects the sense of balance and depth perception. Children who suffer from ataxic cerebral palsy can be described as being very shaky and unsteady.

Symptoms

Children with cerebral palsy may develop eating difficulties, bladder and bowel control problems, breathing problems, and learning disabilities. Children with cerebral palsy have limited use of their arms due to the dysfunction of their neural motor control and stiffness of their joints. Dysarthria is common in people with cerebral palsy, due to problems involving the muscles that control speech and mastication. Although Cerebral Palsy is a permanent condition, as a person learns and grows and practices skills, more control over movement may be achieved.

Treatment

Treatment of cerebral palsy requires a team of specialists to help maximize and coordinate movement, minimize discomfort and pain, and prevent long-term complications. Because the symptoms of cerebral palsy can cause behavioral and emotional problems, many children benefit from counseling or behavior therapy. It is also not “curable” in the accepted sense, although education, therapy, and applied technology can help persons with cerebral palsy lead productive lives.

The goal of drug therapy is to reduce the effects and prevent complications. Physical, speech, and occupational therapy along with counseling today are employed to help people lead healthy, productive lives. Most children with cerebral palsy benefit from early and regular physical and occupational therapy. In addition, education, therapy, and applied technology can help persons with cerebral palsy lead productive lives.

Conclusion

With early and ongoing treatment, the disabilities associated with cerebral palsy can be reduced. People living with cerebral palsy are usually able to live independently in the community, with or without assistance. With support and treatment, though, many people with cerebral palsy can live healthy, happy lives.



Hazel

Christy Myers asked:


At present there is no perfect treatment of cerebral palsy. However some treatment developed to reduce the severity of the cerebral palsy. There are many cases give positive results in the cerebral palsy. There are many therapies use to treat the cerebral palsy. It was notices that not all the therapies are applied on the same symptoms. Depends on the symptoms the doctor decides which therapy is most suitable for the patients. The parents and the child’s care specialist select the treatments offer benefit to the child.

Treating the cerebral palsy is complex it needs different approach and experience experts to treat the cerebral palsy. In few cases treatment given in the multidisciplinary clinic so it can cover all the aspects of the child’s. There are different types of treatment available in the cerebral palsy cases such as:

• In physical therapy the exercise like extending the mussel so it can strengthen the mussels, through physical exercise the body function can increase and the movement get strengthen.

• There are different types of equipments developed to do the exercise. The walkers, wheelchairs, scooters, and tricycles, positioning devices are used to make the payment.

• The occupational therapist is used to learn the function. It also includes alimentation, developing, and dressing.

• In spasticity, the patients are normally treated through injections in the muscles. If you get the good result it can reduce deformity, also improve the occupational and physical therapy and surgery.

• Speech therapy: Mainly in athetoid child faces the communication problems. The child suffering from uncontrolled movements of mouth and tongue. Speech therapy helps develop to improve the muscles of tongue. Speech therapy also benefits children with hearing loss.

• Vision problems: The cerebral palsy is suffering from vision problem, normally children suffering from squint and optical problems.

• Medical therapy: The children suffering from the cerebral palsy are related to seizures disorder and feeding and digestive and breathing problems.



Roger

Danny Burle asked:


Thousands of individuals have cerebral palsy, so it’s understandable that we’d want to know exactly what causes the disorder. Cerebral palsy doesn’t just occur in children, but adults can also have it. Patients with cerebral palsy can often lead normal lives. However, symptoms could become worse if appropriate treatment isn’t administered. Let’s talk about the causes of cerebral palsy.

Although there isn’t an exact cause to this date that could explain cerebral palsy, there are several theories and risk factors associated with cerebral palsy. Basically, cerebral palsy is said to possibly come from genetic and non-genetic factors. It is also said that there are controllable variables and others that aren’t, effects from culture and exchange between cultures, concealed and evident influences and a combination of all the factors just mentioned connected to the development of cerebral palsy. The major possible causes of cerebral palsy include genetic disorders, alcohol, jaundice, malnutrition, low birth weight and oxygen shortage.

There are some risk factors that could contribute to the development of cerebral palsy. Take note though that these are risk factors, and not a sign that one does have cerebral palsy. Mothers who are 40 years onwards, mothers who are 20 years onwards, fathers 20 years/under and individuals of African-American ethnicity have an increased chance of developing cerebral palsy. Children also have risk factors for developing cerebral palsy. The first child, a child born fifth or later in the family, children with low birth weight, premature babies and one of a pair of twins are more likely to have cerebral palsy.

There are even more risk factors associated with cerebral palsy. These include ABO blood type incompatibility between infant and mother, an attack against the central nervous system of a baby by microorganisms and German measles during early pregnancy. Having a risk factor does not mean that you have cerebral palsy. However, since you have a higher chance of having it, it is best to consult a health care professional for more information and a proper diagnosis.

There are some possible causes of cerebral palsy in children. Injury such as asphyxia can cause damage to the brain and may therefore cause cerebral palsy. A child can choke on an object, suffer from poisoning, drown, fall in a vehicle accident, become severely infected and suffer from physical abuse. All these can contribute to cerebral palsy and other problems such as hearing loss to retardation. The possible causes of cerebral palsy in adults are similar. Damage to the brain is considered a factor in the development of cerebral palsy in adults.

Although the exact cause of cerebral palsy is still unknown, there are several ways to treat symptoms. Cerebral palsy isn’t a progressive disorder in which the brain damage worsens over time. However, the symptoms are the ones that might get worse due to wear and tear of the entire body. When it comes to treating cerebral palsy, a lot of support for the patient is needed. The possible causes of cerebral palsy will usually be discussed before a team of health care specialists is assigned to help the patient gain optimum results from treatment.



Dolores