Cerebral palsy: types, causes, symptoms and treatment
The development of the human brain is a prolonged and very complex process that begins during fetal development and lasts throughout life. This organ and the nervous system as a whole are the bases from which the set of functions of our organism is regulated, both at the level of basic functions of our organs, for example when allowing actions such as voluntary movement.
However, sometimes several problems occur during fetal development, during delivery or during the first years of life in which brain development does not occur properly and ends up preventing different skills from being displayed or carrying out various functions. When these problems of cerebral origin generate the inability to carry out the voluntary movement, we are talking about cerebral palsy .
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What is cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy is understood as the medical condition in which the presence of brain alterations or injuries during brain development causes the development of movement capacity and psychomotricity to be limited to a great extent. These limitations are usually congenital and involve a permanent alteration that alters processes such as learning.
Problems of movement, muscular rigidity, incoordination, tremors, hypotonia and hyperkinesia in the joints usually appear. This type of symptoms can be generalized or seen to a greater extent in extremities or in a specific body. In addition to it the lack or difficulties of motor control caused by cerebral palsy It can cause difficulties in feeding, breathing and excretion. Sometimes sensoperception is also affected.
It is common that delays appear in the development of the subject and that either it is late or not overcome several milestones of individuals without this problem, given the existence of a problem in the central nervous system that hinders its proper maturation. May be accompanied by intellectual disability , although it is not a symptom of this condition.
The severity of this paralysis can be enormously variable, from the moment it is hardly noticed to suppose a severe disability for the subject who suffers it, requiring constant support and care in the most serious cases.
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Types of cerebral palsy
There is no single type of cerebral palsy, but this term encompasses different subtypes of problems. Some of the most common are the following.
1. Spastic cerebral palsy
One of the most well-known and frequent forms, it is a type of cerebral palsy in which the subjects suffer a high level of muscular rigidity and great problems when mobilizing muscle groups.
There may be tetraplegia (although also diplegia, paraplegia, or hemiplegia), seizures, apraxia, high level of excitement and activation and spasticity. Anomalous postures and contractions, hypertonia and hyperflexibility are usually observed.
2. Ataxic cerebral palsy
Of the less frequent forms, it tends to occur in the form of lack of muscle tone, incoordination and lack of balance. The march, in the case of those who have it, is difficult and presents risk of falls. The oculomanual coordination also becomes complex , as well as the orientation.
3. Dyskinetic cerebral palsy
In this subtype of cerebral palsy, hypotonia and the presence of involuntary dystonic or choreic movements , often in the form of contraction. They are especially visible in the muscles of the face, which, together with the auditory problems that they usually have, can also generate great difficulties in the area of communication.
Etiology (causes)
The causes of cerebral palsy can be very varied, but usually they are due to the presence of alterations or injuries during fetal development , during childbirth or in the first years after birth.
These alterations and injuries are usually congenital, but they can also be acquired throughout the development. Some of the acquired disorders can be meningitis, encephalitis and intrauterine infections. As well can occur cardiovascular accidents, trauma, or anoxia during development or delivery. In some cases there have been cases of cerebral palsy resulting from abuse in the form of beatings or shaking in babies.
Treatment
Although it is a condition that has no cure because it is caused by a chronic and irreversible injury, it is possible to perform various treatments from a multidisciplinary perspective that allows the individual strengthen and optimize their capabilities, create and improve communication and ultimately seek to reach the highest level of development and welfare possible.
At the medical level, very diverse interventions may be required depending on the difficulties that arise, from the application of relaxing and anticonvulsant drugs to the use of surgery to treat joint deformations or to place gastric probes. At the level of prevention, it is necessary to take care of food during pregnancy (especially in conditions such as hypertension or diabetes) and avoid the consumption of substances such as alcohol or drugs.
One of the strategies to employ is occupational therapy, which allows adequate stimulation of the child. The use of physiotherapy and logotherapy is also required, so that movement and communication skills are reinforced as much as possible.
Another aspect to take into account, and one of those that require more attention is education, since the symptomatology greatly hinders normative learning. It is necessary to establish individualized plans for these children and provide them with the necessary supports. It is necessary to stimulate these subjects and reinforce the basic functions and tasks of daily life, or educate the environment or caregivers in case they do not use themselves.
Psychoeducation is fundamental not only for the child, but also for their relatives. It is also advisable to attend support groups in which minor and family can meet and share experiences, thoughts, doubts and feelings.
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Bibliographic references:
- Colver, A .; Fairhurst, C. and Pharoah, P.O.D. (2014). Cerebral palsy. Lancet, 583 (9924): 1240-1249.
- Rosenbaum, P .; Paneth, N .; Leviton, A .; Goldstein, M. & Bax, M. (April, 2006). A report: The definition and classification of Cerebral Palsy. Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology, 49: 1-44.
