Cerebral+Palsy

=Term: Cerebral Palsy =

Cerebral Palsy is a term used to describe different types of chronic palsies. Palsies are disorder that may limit a person’s control over their own movement due to a certain type of brain damage. The three different types of CP include >
 * Definition: **
 * 1) 1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy
 * 2) 2. Athetoid Cerebral Palsy
 * 3) 3. Ataxic Cerebral Palsy

Causes:
Cerebral Palsy is caused by injuries or abnormalities of the brain. Many of the brain problems may start to form while the child is still growing in the womb. This is not always the case though, problems may occur within the first two years of brain development. Prematurely born infants are at a higher risk of developing these issues. In some cases, the cause of cerebral palsy cannot be determined, but cerebral palsy can occur as a result of:


 * Bleeding in the brain
 * Brain infections (encephalitis, meningitis, herpes simplex infections)
 * Head injury
 * Infections in the mother during pregnancy (rubella)
 * Severe jaundice

Symptoms:
Signs and symptoms appear during infancy or preschool years. People with cerebral palsy may have difficulty with swallowing and commonly have muscle imbalance. People cerebral palsy may have reduced range of motion at various joints of their bodies due to stiffness.

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Symptoms of spastic cerebral palsy (the most common type) include:


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Muscles that are very tight and do not stretch. They may tighten up even more over time.
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Abnormal walk (gait): arms tucked in toward the sides, knees crossed or touching, legs make "scissors" movements, walk on the toes
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Joints are tight and do not open up all the way (called joint contracture)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Muscle weakness or loss of movement in a group of muscles (paralysis)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The symptoms may affect one arm or leg, one side of the body, both legs, or both arms and legs

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Symptoms of athetoid cerebral palsy


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Involuntary Movements
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Inability to maintain posture
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Trouble eating
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hearing loss
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Squinting or other involuntary eye movements

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Symptoms of Ataxic cerebral palsy (least common)


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Walking with feet spread apart abnormally
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Low muscle tone
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Difficulty with maintaining balance
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Learning disability
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Speech impediment
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Experience intention tremors

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The following symptoms may occur in other types of cerebral palsy:


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Abnormal movements (twisting, jerking, or writhing) of the hands, feet, arms, or legs while awake, which gets worse during periods of stress
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Tremors
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Unsteady gait
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Loss of coordination
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Floppy muscles, especially at rest, and joints that move around too much

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Other brain and nervous system symptoms:

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Eating and digestive symptoms
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Decreased intelligence or learning disabilities are common, but intelligence can be normal
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Speech problems (dysarthria)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Hearing or vision problems
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Seizures
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Pain, especially in adults (can be difficult to manage)

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Other symptoms:
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Difficulty sucking or feeding in infants, or chewing and swallowing in older children and adults
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Problems swallowing (at all ages)
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Vomiting or constipation


 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Increased drooling
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Slower than normal growth
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">Irregular Breathing

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Sources:
<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[|Web MD]

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[|Cerebral Palsy]

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[|Medicine E Net]

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">[|PubMed Health]

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"> [] <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/cerebral_palsy/cerebral_palsy.htm

<span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">
 * <span style="font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 13pt;">Graphics: **