Cerebral palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture. CP is the most common motor disability in childhood. Cerebral means having to do with the brain. Palsy means weakness or problems with using the muscles.

It is found that 10% of the global population has some form of disability from different causes; in India, it is 3.8% of the population. Nearly 15-20% of physically disabled children are affected by Cerebral Palsy. The prevalence of C.P. is in the range of 1.5 to 2.5 per 1000 live births. While exact figures are unavailable in India, it can be safely estimated that the cumulative figures for the living population at any given point may be staggering. 8 -10% of the cases are due to perinatal damage, while genetic factors contribute to 2% of the cases. Birth asphyxia, especially a prolonged one, increases the risk for C.P., accounting for about 10% of the cases. In a majority of the cases, C.P. is due to unknown aetiologies. CNS infections, meningoencephalitis, hyperbilirubinemia, CVS accidents, and head trauma are among the recognized causes of C.P.

Medicircle is celebrating World Cerebral Palsy Day Awareness Series so as to spread awareness about the challenges and difficulties these people faced. Society should not stigmatize the condition and accept who they are.

Dr.Surendra Khosya is a Neurologist with 8 years of clinical experience. He is Consultant Neurologist in Eternal Hospital. He completed his MD in Medicine at the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences and DM Neurology at the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences. He deals with diagnosing and treating all categories of conditions and diseases involving the central and peripheral nervous systems, including their coverings, blood vessels, and all effector tissue, such as muscle. 

Causes of cerebral palsy 

Dr.Surendra Khosya informs,” Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders of neurological system in patients causing - 

Difficulty in balance  Posture  Difficulty in carrying out daily activities Difficulty in using muscles  Weakness of muscles. Disability 

“Cerebral“ means brain and “palsy” means weakness. Cerebral palsy has no cause in 90 % cases. But, there are some risk factors like- 

Prenatal brain development  Brain injury  Infection during pregnancy  Lack of cry at birth  Lack and delayed oxygen in the brain  Damage to the cerebral cortex  Prenatal injuries Hypoglycemia  Trauma  Neurometabolic disorder Infection to brain  Mitochondrial infection  Jaundice and fever Environmental toxins like pollution  Hereditary with family history 

Symptoms of Cerebral palsy 

Dr.Surendra Khosya informs,” The symptoms of cerebral palsy are as follows- 

Paralysis of one side  Voice affection  Delayed milestones  Delayed development of brain  Language developmental delay  Global developmental delay  Motor developmental delay  Sensory developmental delay  Behaviour developmental delay  Cognition developmental delay  Social developmental delay Appearance of baby  Lack of circulation in the body  Lack of movements of different parts of the body 

Using one hand only and avoiding the use of the other hand in the baby is an early sign of cerebral palsy.”

Cerebral palsy is not a life-threatening disease

Dr.Surendra Khosya informs,” Cerebral palsy is not a life-threatening disease. The patient is deficient in functioning and may improve with motor, sensory and language power over time. It will also improve cognition, social and behavioral problems. The problem is - Static Encephalopathy which is a nonprogressive illness. Cerebral palsy is life long condition and has some limitations - 

Cannot use limbs  Cannot speak well - dysarthria  Cannot think  Hearing disability  Vision problem  Other illness  Drooling of saliva  Dysphagia.”

Cerebral palsy can be hereditary 

Dr.Surendra Khosya informs,” There are some positive changes of neurometabolic disorders which can make cerebral palsy hereditary which can make you more prone. Cerebral palsy is a multifactorial illness with multiple risk factors.”

Treatment of cerebral palsy

Dr.Surendra Khosya informs,” Cerebral palsy can be prevented by eliminating risk factors like- 

Low birth weight  Multiple pregnancies in case of triplets  Avoid infection in children  Immunization of mother Adequate antenatal care  Avoid infection in pregnancy  Proper nutrition in pregnancy  Delayed pregnancy should be avoided Avoid difficult labor  Professional delivery  Avoid infection in newborns  Hypothyroidism screening  Avoid preventable disease  Blood sugar screening  Awareness of signs of cerebral symptoms  Detection by parents Early intervention  Take care of schooling and social development of the child  Reduce spasticity with physiotherapy  Occupational therapy can help to be independent  Speech therapy  Cognitive Behaviour therapy  Support from family  Awareness in society 

Cerebral palsy can be made better with treatment and therapy which can help patients to be independent. 

(Edited by Dr. Rati Parwani)