Children's cerebral paralysis is a group of non-progressive chronic diseases that are manifested by various impairments of motor functions as a result of brain damage. But this is not hereditary pathology, but acquired.
However, the effect of etiological factors may be manifested during intrauterine development( due to intrauterine infection, maternal obstetrics, fetal hypoxia and other teratogenic factors).
Damage to the brain can occur during childbirth or in the first weeks after childbirth( as a result of CNS infections or Rh-conflict).
cerebral palsy does not progress, that is, over time, brain damage is not exacerbated, motor defects can be partially corrected. However, in the absence of appropriate methodical exercises and care in children, severe complications may appear.
The first signs that should alert the
Symptoms of cerebral palsy are not always detected immediately after the birth of the child, since the signs can become apparent in infancy. It is important to notice them at an early stage and consult a specialist for setting or refuting the diagnosis.
In general, the signs of cerebral palsy in newborns at an early age are almost invisible, but with a gradual development of the nervous system, symptoms begin to increase.
Parents should be alerted when the following primary symptoms appear:
- if the child does not fix the head well;
- manifestation of weakness in individual muscle groups;
- child does not crawl, does not fix objects in his hands, does not move;
- no overturns from the abdomen on the back;
- there are unconditioned reflexes, which in normal state disappear after 3-6 months of life;
- manifestation of pathological spasticity or increased tone;
- presence of seizures;
- presence of pathological movements( clunky, uncontrolled or abrupt), impaired pelvic region function;
- possible mental retardation;
- difficulties with sight, hearing and speech.
In the infants, the symptomatology can manifest as a solidification in one position, involuntary movements( head nodding or lack of contact).
In most cases, specialists are not able to establish an accurate diagnosis of a child for up to a year, even in the presence of pronounced symptoms of pathology( oppressed reflexes, increased excitability, etc.).
The child's brain has a high compensatory ability, which can eliminate the bulk of the consequences of brain damage.
The specialist can confirm the diagnosis if the child does not sit at the age of more than 1 year, will not walk, speak or have mental disorders on his own.
Increasing symptoms in newborn babies
When the brain is affected, the following types of motor disorders can develop:
- primary brain disorders;
- changes in brain cells, the initial state of which was normal.
When exposed to damaging factors, various defects of nerve cells can be observed. The cause of the process may be the vulnerability of brain structures, the development of which at this time is intense. Therefore, some children with cerebral palsy may have impaired movements of the hands, in others - coordination or legs.
The majority of cases of cerebral palsy in children who were born before 33 weeks are associated with imperfection of the arteries and immature brain cells. At full-term healthy babies with minor oxygen starvation blood distribution occurs, so that the brain is not affected.
In children with low weight, such a mechanism is absent and hypoxia can lead to the death of certain parts of the brain with the formation of cavities.
In medical practice, there are several stages of development of infantile paralysis:
- early;
- residual initial;
- residual later.
Each stage has its age indicators and a set of specific symptoms. For example, at an early stage, children's illnesses up to 5 months are considered. In this case, the detection of pathology is very difficult, because of which parents should treat the child with special care.
To the characteristic symptoms of cerebral palsy early in the development of the baby include a strong delay in development and violation of muscle tone. At this age the child must turn his head, grab a toy.
But if he does not do this, the lack of such skills may indicate a developmental breach that could be the first sign of a violation.
It is necessary to pay attention to the motor activity of the child. Sometimes parents think that their child is hyperactive, but 
may have seizures, which are another sign of pathology.
Typical details of the residual initial stage are the developmental lag when the child is 0.5-3 years old. At 7 months the child can not sit, showing a grasping reflex, which should no longer be.
Residual late stage of cerebral palsy is determined by deformation of the skeleton, seizures, impaired visual function, limited mobility, decreased hearing, speech, severe muscle tone, difficulty swallowing, or tooth pathologies.
Symptoms based on the form of disorder
There are several types of cerebral palsy characterized by symptoms, the level of damage to the nervous system and the brain:
- The diplegic form of .The central nervous system is damaged in the intrauterine period. The first manifestations include a sharp increase in muscle tone, if the baby's legs are always crossed or stretched. There is little activity of the child, his reluctance to sit down or turn over. The lag occurs in the intellectual and physical development. If a sick child is trying to deliver, then there is an instant reaction of the muscles with a sharp increase in tone. Also the kid can walk on tiptoe, put one foot in front of the other, keep the knees close to each other.
- The hemiplegic form of .Occurs when intrauterine infection or hemorrhage during labor is involved, when one hemisphere in the brain is affected. Muscles of sick children are constantly strained, because of what their movements are limited and become the result of involuntary movements of this or that part of the body.
- Hyperkinetic form of .Pathology develops with the immune incompatibility of the child and the mother, when the baby is injured in the womb or at birth subcortical nerve nodes. This form of cerebral palsy is characterized by awkward movements, when the patient takes difficult and uncomfortable positions. The cause of the pathology is an unstable muscle tone, which can decrease, rise or normalize.
Parents should be attentive to the state of the child so as not to miss the first symptoms of infantile cerebral palsy in the early stages of development. Signs of the disease should be monitored if there was a problem pregnancy, childbirth or mother suffered a disease.
If you start treatment of a child under 3 years of age, then in 75% of cases, cerebral palsy is reversible. And in the treatment of older children, recovery is associated with their mental development. Cerebral palsy does not tend to progress, so when only the motor system is affected, and in the absence of organic brain lesions, you can achieve excellent results in its treatment.
