No one is immune from the occurrence of any disease. But in some cases, the ailment begins to develop in the womb and in the child from birth different pathologies of development are revealed. One of these diseases is cerebellar hypoplasia, a disease that affects the brain of a child.
Description
The cerebellum is a part of the brain that is located in the posterior region and is an important component of the central nervous system. This body is responsible for the coordination of human movements, muscle tone and the ability to balance. Hypoplasia of the cerebellar worm is accompanied by a decrease in one or two of its lobes.
Causes
Cerebellar hypoplasia in an adult is a consequence of improper intrauterine development, and the causes of this disease lie in the lifestyle of a pregnant woman. There are several main factors that can provoke a disease.
The most dangerous substance that is part of alcoholic beverages is ethanol. With prolonged exposure, it penetrates the central nervous system of the fetus and provokes the formation of various kinds of tumors. Ethyl alcohol is also able to destroy the natural barrier, which protects the central nervous system from infections that enter the body through the blood. In general, alcohol abuse during pregnancy puts the fetus at great risk of health.
Contrary to popular belief, it is not nicotine that has a negative effect on the fetus, but other toxic substances that make up cigarettes. They can cause abnormal formation of the neural tube, and therefore the fetal spinal cord and brain. When smoking during pregnancy, cerebellar hypoplasia is recorded quite often.
Drugs are capable of affecting the nervous system of both a pregnant woman and a child, therefore their use is strictly prohibited in any cases. Such substances cause irreversible harm to the body, which ultimately leads to death.
Many medicines are forbidden to use during pregnancy. Their reception is appointed only in case of serious need. Against the background of aggressive drug therapy, cerebellar hypoplasia in the fetus may develop.
Radioactive isotopes tend to accumulate in the amniotic fluid and placenta, which can lead to mutations in the baby’s DNA. Irradiation or a long stay in places with high levels of radiation is fraught with dangerous complications for the expectant mother and child.
Cerebellar hypoplasia can develop if a pregnant woman suffers a seemingly simple disease like rubella. In fact, this viral disease is extremely dangerous. When infected in the first trimester, many doctors recommend aborting, since the risk of abnormalities in the fetus is very high. At a later date, women are prescribed medication, but it is successful only in 50% of cases.
Also a huge danger is toxoplasmosis, which can be caught by contact with sick cats, rodents and birds. Such a disease not only negatively affects the development of the fetus, but can even cause a miscarriage.
In addition to all the reasons described above, separately it is necessary to mention harmful food, which together with other factors can adversely affect the course of pregnancy.
Symptoms
Hypoplasia of the cerebellar worm in a child is accompanied by a violation of many body functions. Specialists distinguish the following symptoms of the disease:
- tremor (trembling) of the head, upper and lower extremities;
- harsh speech, that is, the child’s conversations are more like crying out;
- baby's movements lose their smoothness and become erratic;
- children with cerebellar hypoplasia develop much slower, that is, they begin to sit, walk and talk later than their peers;
- the muscles of the trunk and limbs contract inconsistently - because of this, getting up or sitting down the child becomes much more difficult;
- it is very difficult for such children to maintain balance, both in a standing position and sitting;
- movement without any auxiliary means is almost impossible, but if a person can still learn to walk independently, then his gait will be greatly distorted;
- violation of the smooth muscles of the internal organs also occurs;
- people with cerebellar hypoplasia very often suffer from respiratory dysfunction;
- in newborns, against the background of this ailment, deafness or blindness is often observed.
The most obvious sign of cerebellar hypoplasia in a child is a shaky, swaying gait and a violation of spatial orientation. Also, in children, the size of the skull is much smaller than normal, because their brain is smaller than in healthy children. As they grow older, the size, of course, increases, but deformations of the head can still remain.
Cerebellar hypoplasia progresses during the first 10 years of a child’s life, then his condition stabilizes and doctors prescribe maintenance therapy.
Diagnostics
Usually, the disease is detected even during pregnancy by ultrasound. Subsequent monitoring of the child is carried out by a neurologist. He may prescribe treatment or rehabilitation procedures.
Treatment
Unfortunately, cerebellar hypoplasia is considered an incurable disease, and children who are born with it rarely live up to a year. All procedures that are carried out with such a child are aimed at restoring lost functions and containing the development of the disease. The treatment methods include:
- exercises aimed at developing coordination;
- massage;
- To maintain speech, classes are conducted with a speech therapist;
- It is also recommended to communicate with such children as often as possible and instill in them various hobbies, such as drawing or origami, which develop fine motor skills of the fingers.
Prevention
Prevention of the disease lies in the healthy lifestyle of the expectant mother. During pregnancy, it is necessary to consult a doctor before using any drugs and completely exclude alcohol, cigarettes, drugs, etc. from your life.
Any disease is much easier to prevent than to cure. Therefore, if a woman takes proper care of herself while carrying a child, the risk of developing pathologies is significantly reduced.