Leave a mark – World Cerebral Palsy Day

Cerebral palsy (Paralisis cerebralis) is caused by improper development of part of the brain or damage to the parts of the brain that control movement and is a unique brain disorder that differs in each affected person. Signs of cerebral palsy usually appear in the first months of life, although a specific diagnosis may be delayed until age two or later. Babies with CP often have developmental delays, where they are slow to achieve developmental milestones such as learning to roll over, sit up, crawl or walk. Some babies with CP have problems with muscle tone. Reduced muscle tone (hypotonia) makes the muscles relaxed, even limp. Increased muscle tone (hypertonia) makes muscles tight or stiff. In some cases, the early period of hypotonia will progress to hypertonia after the first 2 to 3 months of life. Children with CP may also have an unusual posture or favor one side of the body when they crawl, crawl or walk. It is important to note that some children without CP may also have some of these symptoms.

Children with cerebral palsy show a wide range of symptoms, including:

– lack of muscle coordination when performing voluntary movements (ataxia)
– stiff or tight muscles and/or exaggerated reflexes (spasticity)
– weakness in the limbs – one or both arms and/or one or both legs
– walking on the toes, hunched gait, or “shortened” gait
– variations in muscle tone, either too stiff or too relaxed
– excessive drooling or difficulty swallowing or speaking
– shaking or random involuntary movements
– delays in reaching motor skills
– difficulty with precise movements such as writing or buttoning a shirt

Most children have congenital cerebral palsy (ie, they are born with it), although it is often not discovered until months or years later. A small number of children have acquired cerebral palsy, which means the disorder begins after birth. Some causes of acquired cerebral palsy include brain damage in the first few months or years of life, brain infections such as bacterial meningitis or viral encephalitis, problems with blood flow to the brain, or head injury from a motor vehicle accident, fall, or child abuse. In many cases, the cause of cerebral palsy is unknown, while possible causes include genetic abnormalities, congenital brain deformities, maternal infections or fever, or injuries to the fetus.

The Regional Alliance for Cerebral Palsy is a partner organization of Australia’s World CP Day, which organizes this event worldwide.