Signs of cerebral palsy in children

According to statistics, the rate of cerebral palsy is about 2/1000 newborns. The disease has a higher rate in boys than in girls.

When suffering from cerebral palsy, in addition to affecting the ability to move, many children also have other disabilities that require treatment. These include: mental retardation, epilepsy, behavioral changes, hearing, vision, and language problems.

Signs of cerebral palsy

Symptoms of cerebral palsy can vary from person to person. Symptoms can get worse or worse over time depending on the part of the brain affected. Below is a summary of symptoms of cerebral palsy that experts warn about:

Too stiff muscle tone: The child's body is stiff, the limbs have difficulty moving, making it difficult to hold, bathe and clean the child.
Too soft muscle tone: The baby's body is too soft, the head is drooping and cannot be lifted up.
Children lose balance and cannot coordinate movements.
Limb loss of control, limbs shaking.
Children move slowly, have difficulty walking, have a stooped gait, are asymmetrical, and walk on their toes.
Motor skills such as crawling, sitting, straightening neck, running and jumping... are slow and inflexible.
Children have difficulty swallowing, eating, and breastfeeding.
Baby drools too much.
Communication skills are slow to develop, with many limitations and difficulties.
Hearing loss. Poor vision.
Difficulty learning (occurs in 45% of affected children), inability to perform activities requiring flexibility.
Convulsions occur.

Các dấu hiệu nhận biết trẻ bị bại não- Ảnh 1. — Rehabilitation is currently considered the most effective measure for patients with cerebral palsy.

However, to determine the exact cause, doctors will rely on diagnostic methods such as:

Neurological exam: Tests reflexes, brain function, and motor skills.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Through images obtained from the test, the doctor will assess the condition of organs and tissues in the body, thereby assessing the level of cerebral palsy.

Swallowing study: The doctor will use X-rays or make a video to check for abnormalities as food enters the mouth and as the child swallows.

Electroencephalogram (EEG): Tests electrical activity in the brain.

Electromyography (EMG): Tests the activity of muscles and nerves.

Gait analysis: Based on gait, the doctor will evaluate the child's ability to maintain balance, neurological functions, and motor coordination.

CT scan: To evaluate in detail the body parts, including bones, muscles, fat and other organs.

Genetic studies: To look for health problems that may run in families.

Blood tests: Check for possible causes of cerebral palsy.

Metabolic testing: Checks for missing enzymes that affect body functions.

Complications of cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy can lead to many dangerous complications that affect the quality of life of children with the disease. Muscle weakness, spasticity, or problems with coordination can cause complications throughout childhood or adulthood. Some common complications include:

Contracture: A condition in which a muscle is shortened, contracted, or strained. This can affect bone growth and lead to deformities, dislocations, or subluxations.
Premature aging: Some cases can cause premature aging when the patient with cerebral palsy turns 40.
Malnutrition: Problems with swallowing and movement make it difficult for children to eat. As a result, children are susceptible to malnutrition, which affects bone development.
Mental health: People with cerebral palsy often experience a number of mental health problems, especially depression.
Heart and lung disease: Children with cerebral palsy are prone to heart, lung, and respiratory problems.
Osteoarthritis: Pressure on the joints along with muscle deformity and contraction can lead to osteoarthritis.

Doctor's advice

Cerebral palsy is a serious neurological disorder that causes many serious complications, affecting the quality and duration of a child's life. When cerebral palsy is suspected, the doctor may refer the child to a neurologist. Here, the specialist will prescribe a number of other more in-depth examinations.

It is also important to note that most children born with cerebral palsy may not show signs of the condition until months or years later. Symptoms usually appear before the child reaches 3 or 4 years of age.

Treatment of cerebral palsy requires the coordination and support of specialists, pediatricians, neurologists, ophthalmologists, etc., along with language specialists.

Currently, there are many methods of treating cerebral palsy that are of interest and choice. These include measures such as stem cell transplantation, rehabilitation, acupuncture, acupressure, etc. Among the above methods, rehabilitation is currently considered the most effective measure for patients with cerebral palsy.

In addition, during the treatment process, families need to coordinate with experts and doctors to carry out the process of motor rehabilitation, sensory regulation, language therapy and personal skills training for young children.