Causes & Treatment for Cerebral Palsy.  

Cerebral palsy is a medical condition caused by a permanent brain injury that occurs before, during, or shortly after birth. The primary characteristic of cerebral palsy is a lack of muscle control and movement. Cerebral palsy is not a progressive disease, however, the effects have been known to change over time. Although the cause of cerebral palsy is not known for certain, there is evidence that links it to both the health history of the mother and child, and accidents causing brain damage. The diagnosis of cerebral palsy is often made immediately after birth, but it can also be made later in childhood.

Cerebral palsy may cause a number of symptoms, including seizures, spasms, visual and hearing problems, hyperactivity, and learning disorders. There is not a cure, however several therapies are available for the treatment of cerebral palsy. Although living with cerebral palsy can be difficult, it is certainly possible to be successful while coping with the disorder.

It can also be a challenge if you are a parent of a child with cerebral palsy. However, there are many resources available to assist you in learning how to help your child cope. If there is a possibility of an injury to your child before, during, or shortly after birth, it is important to contact an attorney to discuss your legal rights.

source: cerebral palsy information

There are many causes of Cerebral Palsy, some congenital anomalies and some have associated it with RH Incompatibility. There is no current cure for this disorder but rather the treatment revolves around family education and also physical therapy is a good help. Some medications given are antispasticity drugs to relax the muscles. As you say touch therapy is also good for Cerebral Palsy patients. Currently, there are many more studies being done to help alleviate the life of Cerebral Palsy patients.

Cause

Since cerebral palsy refers to a group of disorders, there is no exact known cause. Some major causes are asphyxia, hypoxia of the brain, birth trauma or premature birth, genetic susceptibility, certain infections in the mother during and before birth, central nervous system infections, trauma, and consecutive hematomas. After birth, the condition may be caused by toxins, physical brain injury, incidents involving hypoxia to the brain (such as near drowning), and encephalitis or meningitis. However the cause of most individual cases of cerebral palsy is unknown.

Recent research has demonstrated that intrapartum asphyxia is not the most important cause, probably accounting for no more than 10 percent of all cases; rather, infections in the mother, even infections that are not easily detected, may triple the risk of the child developing the disorder, mainly as the result of the toxicity to the fetal brain of cytokines that are produced as part of the inflammatory response.[citation needed]

Premature babies have a higher risk because their organs are not yet fully developed. This increases the risk of asphyxia and other injury to the brain, which in turn increases the incidence of cerebral palsy. Periventricular leukomalacia is an important cause of cerebral palsy.

Also, some structural brain anomalies such as lissencephaly cause symptoms of CP, although whether that could be considered CP is a matter of opinion (some people say CP must be due to brain damage, whereas these people never had a normal brain). Often this goes along with rare chromosome disorders.

[edit] Bones

In order for bones to attain their normal shape and size, they require the stresses from normal musculature. Osseous findings will therefore mirror the specific muscular deficits in a given person with CP. The shafts of the bones are often thin (gracile). When compared to these thin shafts (diaphyses) the metaphyses often appear quite enlarged (ballooning). With lack of use, articular cartilage may atrophy, leading to narrowed joint spaces. Depending on the degree of spasticity, a person with CP may Exhibit a variety of angular joint deformities. Because vertebral bodies need vertical gravitational loading forces to develop properly, spasticity and an abnormal gait can hinder proper and/or full bone and skeletal development.

[edit] Prognosis

Cerebral palsy is not a progressive disorder. A person with the disorder may improve somewhat during childhood if he or she receives extensive care from specialists, but once bones and musculature become more established, orthaepedic surgery becomes required for fundamental improvement.

The ability to live independently with cerebral palsy varies widely depending on severity of the disability. Some individuals with CP will require personal assistant services for all activities of daily living. Others can live semi-independently in the community with support for certain activities. Still others can live with complete independence. The need for personal assistance often changes with increasing age and the associated functional decline. However, in most cases, persons with CP can expect to have a normal life expectancy; survival has been shown to be associated with the ability to ambulate, roll and self-feed. As the condition does not directly affect reproductive function, many persons with CP can have children and parent successfully.

[edit] Treatment

There is no cure for cerebral palsy, but various forms of therapy can help a person with the disorder to function more effectively. For instance the use of a standing frame can help reduce spasticity and improve range of motion for people with CP who use wheelchairs. Nevertheless, there is only some benefit from therapy. Treatment is usually symptomatic and focuses on helping the person to develop as many motor skills as possible or to learn how to compensate for the lack of them. Non-speaking people with cerebral palsy are often successful availing themselves of Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems such as Blissymbols.

related resource: personal care

Cerebral Palsy is a disease that usually manifests during the early years of a child’s life, and is the umbrella for a range of disorders that can affect the control of movement in some way. The symptoms of this disease usually present themselves before the age of three, and the causes of cerebral palsy can vary. There are a number of symptoms that can present themselves during the early years of a child’s life, and could indicate the presence of cerebral palsy. In some cases, it can be difficult to diagnose cerebral palsy because some of the symptoms may be so subtle that they are barely noticeable.

There are two main categories under which the various cerebral palsy types fall, and these include:

Acquired cerebral palsy: This accounts for up to twenty percent of young cerebral palsy sufferers, and is where the disorder is acquired after birth. Causes include but are not limited to brain damage or brain infections very early in life, bacterial meningitis, or head injury.

Congenital cerebral palsy: Congenital cerebral palsy is the more common type of this disorder. It can take months for this form of the disorder to be detected, and damage to motor areas in the brain through a variety of sources can result in this conditions. This can happen in a number of ways, including infections or damage caused during pregnancy, labour, or during the delivery of the child. Also, if the infant is jaundiced when born, and the condition is left untreated, the brain can incur damage resulting in cerebral palsy.

Cerebral palsy is not a deteriorative disease, which means that it will not get worse as the child gets older. Therefore, is a cerebral palsy child continues to deteriorate in terms of developmental and motor skills as he or she gets older, it is wise to seek medical attention and look at other possibilities.

This condition is not always straightforward, and everything from the prognosis to the diagnosis and treatment can be varied and complex. This site aims to provide an insight into cerebral palsy, including the causes, symptoms, and diagnosis of this disorder. You will find some very informative articles about the various types of cerebral palsy, including:

Cerebral Palsy Overview: This article provides a general insight and overview of the disease as a whole, and briefly touches on various areas of the disease and its symptoms, enabling you to discover who it can affect, and what can cause it.

What Causes Cerebral Palsy: This article goes more indepth with regards to the causes of cerebral palsy, the different types of causes, and what the risk factors that are associated with cerebral palsy might be.

Cerebral Palsy in Newborns: This article discusses what might cause cerebral palsy in the newborn child, the different ways in which this disease might be contracted in the newborn, and what could increase the chances of cerebral palsy in the newborn.

Cerebral Palsy in the Infant or Child: This article looks at cerebral palsy in the infant or child and touches upon how cerebral palsy can come about during infancy or childhood, including accidents and illnesses.

Cerebral Palsy from the Birthing Process: This article discusses how cerebral palsy can stem from the actual birthing process and from labor complications, and what can actually cause the damage during labor and birth.

How is a Diagnosis of Cerebral Palsy Made: This article discusses how doctors make a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, the importance of assessment and testing, and why doctors might be hesitant to diagnose cerebral palsy right away.

What are the Different Types of Cerebral Palsy: This article discusses the various types of cerebral palsy, and explains a little about each type, including some statistical figures on how common each variation is.

What is the Prognosis for the Child With Cerebral Palsy: This article discusses making a prognosis on a cerebral palsy child, why this can be so difficult, the technology used to make a prognosis, and what sort of problems the child might suffer.

How Aggressive a Treatment Should be Given to a Sick Newborn: This article discusses the difficult hat can arise when it comes to treating a sick newborn, and also discusses who is usually responsible for coming to that decision.

What Medical Problems are Associated with Cerebral Palsy: Cerebral palsy can lead to a number of related problems, and this article discusses some of the issues and medical problems that can arise from this disorder.

Cerebral Palsy Treatment: Cerebral palsy is a disorder that does not get worse as the child gets older, but is a disease for which there is no actual cure. However, sufferers of cerebral palsy are able to get treatment that could reduce the symptoms of associated disabilities. You may need to dedicate time and money for this treatment however, and the levels of success can vary based on the severity of the condition.



related resource: risk assessment

My grandson who is my picture was born with cp thanks to an idiot doctor. He is now 2 and was just put on a feeding tube since he kept asperating. It is a very sad think to know that he cannot run or even talk. He tries to say a couple of words. He also has epilepsy thanks to the dr. and he is on 3 different meds. We try to work with him by massages and he will now have a therapist coming out to try to get him to have head contrl and loosen up his muscles.

The ability to live independently with cerebral palsy varies widely depending on severity of the disability. Some individuals with CP will require personal assistant services for all activities of daily living.

very well written and good thots

whoowwww! thats a really long discussion.. sadly i didnt read it all cause im pretty sure i can find that and search in the internet..
anyway, nice post even if i only red the first part.
i have a nephew who have a seizure only mild... he have that since birth.

whenever his delta wives makes spikes he is then get an attack.. jsut for an info,, when having this attack the first thing we do is pouring cold water to his head and spoon to his mouth to avoid having injury to his mouth..

but if the attck last for 3 minutes then we are on our way to hospital.

having someone you know with this kind of sickness makes you appreciate more yourself and life.

There is no specific cure for cerebral palsy. The goal of treatment is to maximize independence. Treatment is guided by the symptoms exhibited and may include physical therapy, braces, appropriate glasses and Hearing Aids, medications, special.

My brother was born three months early and has cerebral palsy. There is no cure for it, but with early frequent therapy the effect of cerebral palsy on physical functions can be significantly limited. My brother was able to walk with a walker. He lost some of his ability when he went through his growth spurts. Now at age 12 he had a baclofen pump put in his abdomen. The baclofen helps deal with his muscle spacicity. He is now going through therapy and getting the dose right in order to walk with his walker again. The cerebral palsy only effects him physically and it affects his whole body, but with lots of work he has come very far. He played soccer until he got the pump. He cannot play anymore because with the pump he cannot play contact sports. He still plays Challenger Little League Baseball. He also bowls in a junior sanctioned league and bowls in tournments. He is already earning scholarship money from bowling and is contemplating going to an Ivy league school.