Cerebral palsy is a disorder that affects the coordination and the strength of various different muscles throughout the body. Cerebral palsy is the group name of the disorder, however it is possible to experience the effects of palsy in only localized areas of the body, such as just the feet or the hands. The condition does not worsen and affects the body consistently over time.
The disorder itself is of the nervous system and affects newborns or children within the first three years of age. Cerebral palsy is when the motor skills are affected, including components such as the strength of certain muscles or coordination.
Who is Affected by Cerebral Palsy?
Instances of cerebral palsy are anywhere in between 1 in 500 to 1 in 1000 in newborn babies. Babies who are premature or underweight experience higher chances of being affected by cerebral palsy.
There are many other contributing factors that could increase the chances of having a baby with cerebral palsy.
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If you experienced seizures as a child
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Experiencing a complicated delivery
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A mother with a history of mental retardation
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A mother who has seizures
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A mother with thyroid problems
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A mother develops an infection such as herpes or rubella during pregnancy
It can be very difficult for parents to know if their newborn has cerebral palsy. However, if parents start noticing the following signs, there could be a chance that their child is affected:
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Crossed eyes
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Favoring one particular side of the body over the other
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Seizures
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Complete unresponsiveness or indications that they may be deaf
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Slow growth of muscles
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Not developing at a rate that is considered normal according to doctors
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Uneven growth on one side of the body
One upside of cerebral palsy is that symptoms generally do not worsen over time. However, children can find the condition to be extremely inhibiting, especially when confronted with contracture. This is when sufferers of cerebral palsy will not use their weaker limbs as frequently, resulting in muscle atrophy.
Muscle atrophy will stop muscles from growing along side the bones. In turn, joints can be forced to flex permanently and will become paralyzed. In these instances, surgery is required to rectify the problem.
How To Treat Cerebral Palsy
Unfortunately, there is no cure for cerebral palsy. The aim of treatment is to help sufferers attain the ability to live life as normally as possible. There are a variety of different treatments that can help alleviate symptoms of cerebral palsy. Botulinum Toxin, otherwise known as Botox, has been helping those who suffer from cerebral palsy normalize their day-to-day existence. Botox is injected directly into muscles that tend to be over-spastic and can help cause temporary paralysis.
Consult with your physician to find out how Botox treatments are helping sufferers of cerebral palsy.