Cerebral palsy is diagnosed in 5,000 children every year. The condition is not an illness but a congenital defect. There is no cure for cerebral palsy and children affected by it must deal with their symptoms throughout their lives. Cerebral palsy is not a progressive disorder and treatments are available.
Types
There are 3 types of cerebral palsy: spastic cerebral palsy is marked by stiffness and trouble moving; involuntary movement is present in athetoid cerebral palsy; and ataxic cerebral palsy disrupts balance and depth perception functions.
Effects
Any body function that involves muscle control can be affected by cerebral palsy, including breathing, eating, bladder control, bowel control, walking and talking.
Risks
Babies born prematurely are at an increased risk of having cerebral palsy.
Causes
The cause of cerebral palsy is unknown. The disease occurs when the fetal brain does not develop properly. The condition can also occur as a result of brain injury early in life or problems with delivery.
Diagnosis
Cerebral palsy is often not diagnosed until a child displays signs of delayed development; most children are diagnosed at around 18 months of age.
Treatment
Children with cerebral policy often need several types of therapy, including physical, occupational, recreational and speech therapies. Sometimes medications can help control muscle spasms and surgery may be able to relieve some problems; braces and wheelchairs may help children be more mobile.
Related Issues
Learning disabilities or mental retardation occur in a quarter of children who have cerebral palsy. Half of all children with cerebral palsy experience seizures. Vision problems and cavities are also common.
Tags: cerebral palsy, cerebral palsy, cerebral palsy, Cerebral palsy, with cerebral