Cerebral palsy Free Essay Example, 2000 words

In severe cases, excessive adduction of the legs makes application of the diaper difficult. The child may adopt scissoring posture when suspended by the axillae. Seizures are rare in these children and most of them have normal intellectual development (Haslam, 2000). The most severe form of CP is spastic quadriplegia. Children who are affected with this type of CP have motor impairment of all the limbs including the trunk. They have recurrent seizures and marked mental retardation. They have supranuclear bulbar palsies because of which they have swallowing difficulties leading to aspiration pneumonia. They eventually develop flexor contractures of the knees and elbow, developmental disabilities and speech and visual abnormalities (Haslam, 2000). Athetotic cerebral palsy: This is also referred to as extrapyramidal CP or dyskinetic CP. It affects the entire body and often causes uncontrolled, slow movements. It is seen in children who have suffered from kernicterus in the new born period (Haslam, 2000). Its incidence has diminished now owing to the aggressive management of neonatal hyperbilirubinemia these days. Children suffering from this type of CP are usually hypotonic with marked head lag and poor head control. We will write a custom essay sample on Cerebral palsy or any topic specifically for you Only $17.96 $11.86/pageorder now These children may have difficulty in feeding. They have drooling of saliva due to tongue thrust. The athetoid movements become evident at the age of one year. Involvement of oropharyngeal muscles leads to speech difficulties. Seizures and mental retardation are rare (Haslam, 2000). Ataxic cerebral palsy: This is the least common of the major types of cerebral palsy. It affects depth perception, balance and coordination. Hypotonic cerebral palsy: In this form of CP, the child is hypotonic. This form of CP eventually turns into either spastic or athetotic form. Mixed forms of CP: Children may have more than one of the 4 forms. Differential diagnosis CP needs to be differentiated from other conditions like spinal cord dysfunction, temporary motor problems resulting from closed head injuries, seizures, drug overdoses, or some brain tumors, muscular dystrophy, peripheral neuropathies such as Charcot-Marie- Tooth disease, osteogenesis imperfecta, progressive neurologic disorders (including Retts syndrome, leukodystrophy, and Tay-Sachs disease), chromosomal anomalies ( trisomy 13 and 18) and congenital disorders (hereditary spastic paraplegia) (Wilmington, "Cerebral palsy program"). Diagnosis The diagnosis of CP is purely clinical. CP may be suspected in a child in whom development of mile stones is delayed and the child has abnormal muscle tone, abnormal movements, abnormal reflexes and persistent infantile reflexes.