Cerebral palsy syndrome in patients can manifest itself in different ways. In some cases, these are only mental disorders, and there are also serious motor disorders. There is still no consensus on whether this disease is considered hereditary. Most experts came to the conclusion that it is still not genetic, but there is a factor of influence of relatives. In this article we will talk about the causes, symptoms, treatment of the disease, as well as about similar diseases.
Features of the disease
Cerebral palsy syndrome stands for cerebral palsy. Today this is a very common disease in many children. According to official statistics alone, in Russia about 120 thousand people suffer from it.
In fact, cerebral palsy syndrome is an ailment directly related to the central nervous system. In this case, one or several parts of the brain are affected. So, non-progressive disorders of muscle and motor activity, hearing, vision, coordination of movements, psyche and speech begin to develop.
This is due to problems that occur directly in the child’s brain. The very concept of "cerebral" has Latin roots. It comes from the word “cerebral,” and paralysis is literally translated from Greek as “relaxation.”
Causes
The main causes of Cerebral Palsy Syndrome are difficult to determine. Moreover, in modern medicine there is no clear idea of this problem. It is precisely known that this disease cannot be infected. Most experts agree that it is developing:
- due to birth injury;
- infections
- injury received in the first year of life;
- acute hypoxia, that is, a lack of oxygen that must enter the baby’s brain at birth, which leads to hemorrhage and death of brain cells.
As a result, we can conclude that it is damage to brain cells that is the main cause of the disease. Moreover, the patient can receive it both in the prenatal and in the postpartum period. That is why children with cerebral palsy are born.
Sometimes the development of the disease provokes endocrine abnormalities that the mother suffers during pregnancy. The untimely detachment of the placenta and the poor surrounding radiation background also have a significant effect. According to statistics, about half of patients with this diagnosis are born prematurely.
Currently, doctors identify key factors that can lead to the onset of the disease:
- untimely detachment of the placenta;
- prematurity, low birth weight;
- the birth of an oversized fetus;
- clinically and anatomically narrow pelvis;
- incorrect presentation of the fetus;
- rapid delivery;
- group incompatibility or negative Rh factor of the mother and fetus;
- birth control and labor stimulation.
The presence of one or more of the factors presented can lead to the development of this disease.
What is the difference between cerebral palsy and cerebral palsy?
This question is asked by many parents who seek to understand the features of the disease, to understand what are the nuances of the diagnosis. It should be noted that between the syndrome of cerebral palsy and cerebral palsy there is essentially no difference. Most specialists use these two medical concepts as equivalent.
However, in some cases, between the syndrome of cerebral palsy and cerebral palsy, the difference can still be traced. As a rule, a diagnosis with a clarification of the syndrome is made up to a year when there is still no complete certainty that the disease will remain with the patient for a long time. When this age passes, and the child has not recovered and problems have not outgrown, doctors already make him an official diagnosis. We can say, specifying the word "syndrome", some doctors are reinsured if they are not sure that the newborn suffers from this ailment. This is the difference between cerebral palsy and cerebral palsy.
Symptoms
Symptoms of the disease appear at different times. As a rule, immediately after the birth of a child. In other situations, they arise gradually. Then it is important to recognize them in time in order to begin timely treatment.
The main symptom of cerebral palsy syndrome is motor impairment. Children with this diagnosis begin to hold their head later, crawl, sit, roll over and walk. Moreover, for a longer period they retain reflexes characteristic of infants. For example, their muscles may be too tense or overly relaxed. Both that and another condition leads to a situation in which the limbs assume an unnatural position. A third of patients with cerebral palsy syndrome have cramps. Often this symptom does not appear in infancy, but much later.
In addition, problems with speech, vision, hearing, impaired perception, epilepsy, inability to navigate in space, and delayed emotional and mental development are considered the classic symptoms of this ailment. In a later period, functional failures in the intestines and stomach, problems with learning, difficulties with the urinary system occur.
Recognizing at an early age cerebral palsy syndrome in newborns is not easy. It is important to closely monitor the behavior of the child. It is worth worrying and seek advice from a neurologist in the following situations:
- At the age of one month, the child does not start blinking in response to a loud sound.
- At the age of four months, the baby does not reach for the toy or does not respond by turning its head to a loud voice or sound.
- At the age of 7 months, the newborn is not able to sit independently.
- At the age of one year, the baby does not pronounce a single word, performs all actions with only one hand or does not walk.
Also, strabismus, cramps, too slow or sudden movements should cause concern.
Forms of the disease
This ailment has various manifestations. They differ depending on which area of the brain is affected. In some cases, the manifestations of cerebral palsy can be minimal, in others they are extremely serious. The main types of cerebral palsy include spastic diplegia, hemiparetic, hyperkinetic, atonic-astatic forms, double hemiplegia.
The most common is spastic cerebral palsy syndrome. It occurs in about forty percent of cases. In this situation, the part of the brain that controls the movement of the limbs is affected. Because of this, partial or complete paralysis of the legs and arms occurs. Also, this ailment is known under such a name as Little's disease.
The situation is exacerbated by impaired muscle function on both sides. In this case, the muscles of the legs are affected to a greater extent than the muscles of the face or hands. This form of the disease is characterized by deformation of the joints and spine, the early formation of contractures.
In most cases, this diagnosis is made by premature newborns who were born prematurely. For example, due to intraventricular hemorrhage or other reasons. Basically, the middle and posterior parts of the brain are affected. With this form of the disease, muscle spasticity in the legs, tetraplegia are observed.
The most common manifestations are delayed mental and speech development, dysarthria, elements of the pseudobulbar syndrome in cerebral palsy. Often there is a pathology of the cranial nerves, due to which the patient has atrophy of the optic nerves, strabismus, speech problems in the form of a delay in its appearance or hearing impairment, some decrease in intelligence, which can be caused by environmental influences, for example, segregation or insults.
The prognosis of motor capabilities is less favorable than with hemiparesis. With this form of the disease, children with cerebral palsy have a more loyal prognosis regarding social adaptation. The degree of adaptation in this case can reach a normal level with stable hands and appropriate mental development.
Hemiplegia in patients is manifested in unilateral spastic hemiparesis. In this case, the hands suffer significantly more than the legs. The cause of this in preterm infants is near-ventricular infarction, usually unilateral, as well as ischemic infarction, congenital cerebral abnormality, intracerebral hemorrhage, which develops in only one of the hemispheres. In most situations, such manifestations are characteristic of premature babies.
Children diagnosed with hemiplegia later than their peers acquire appropriate age-related skills. Because of this, the level of social adaptation is determined not by motor defects, but by the intellectual abilities of the child. The clinical picture leads to the development of spastic hemiparesis, delayed speech and psyche. With this form, epilepsy attacks are possible.
The most severe variety is considered double hemiplegia. In this situation, the cerebral hemispheres suffer. So, muscle stiffness develops. Children with this diagnosis are not able to stand, keep their heads, sit, move normally. In the hemiparetic form, only one of the cerebral hemispheres with subcortical and cortical structures is affected. This provokes hemiparesis of the limbs on one side of the patient's body.
But the hyperkinetic form is manifested in the defeat of the subcortical structures, which is expressed in involuntary movements of the limbs. They are called hyperkinesis. With this form of ailment, one has to regularly encounter with spastic diplegia.
Finally, the atonic-astatic form, which appears when the cerebellum is damaged, is considered to be very common. In this case, a sense of balance, coordination of movements suffers, muscle atony occurs.
Treatment methods
The treatment of cerebral palsy is associated with rehabilitation. This is a lifelong process, since it is impossible to completely cope with this ailment. Rehabilitation is based on two key principles, which are continuity and an integrated approach. In addition, with cerebral palsy, correction is required not only of motor, but also of communicative, speech and intellectual skills.
The fact that it is impossible to completely cure cerebral palsy does not mean that this disease is a sentence. Most patients are able to lead a normal life in adulthood, do without outside help. In this case, everything depends on what measures to minimize damage to their health were taken in infancy.
The brain in a person in childhood develops as actively as possible. Moreover, it has more compensatory capabilities than the brain of an adult. In this regard, treatment initiated as early as possible will be most effective.
In most cases, it is aimed at eliminating specific symptoms. Therefore, many call it not treatment, but rehabilitation, which is focused on the restoration of functions affected by the development of the disease. One of the most effective methods to reduce the effects of cerebral palsy is massage. With its help, muscle tone can be normalized. Also in the process of rehabilitation is actively used therapeutic exercises. Such physical education helps to improve coordination of movements. However, it can give a tangible effect only if the classes will be held on a regular basis throughout life. Also, classes on special simulators can provide a good result.
If the patient does not have cramps, physiotherapy may be recommended. This is electrophoresis or myostimulation. Many experts also recommend electroreflexotherapy, which helps in restoring the activity of neurons in the cerebral cortex. This reduces muscle tone, improves speech, coordination and diction. Also, after consulting with your doctor, you can take specific medications that improve brain activity.
Laboratory research
According to the latest laboratory studies of Russian scientists, in children with spastic forms of cerebral palsy, all kinds of metabolic disorders were revealed, which are manifested in tissue hypoxia, that is, in oxygen starvation of cells, in increased intensity of free radical oxidation of fat molecules, i.e. lipids, as well as in compensatory voltage antioxidant system.
These studies allow us to conclude that the development of background diseases in patients with cerebral palsy can significantly worsen their general condition. It can be rickets due to insufficient bone mineralization; anemia due to low levels of red blood cells and hemoglobin; hypotrophy, characterized by protein-energy deficiency. In some cases, chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, ENT organs, and kidneys occur.
Also, experts were able to establish a direct relationship between biochemical disorders and the severity of manifestations of cerebral palsy. All this indicates the importance of individual diagnosis, control of biochemical imbalance in the body, which allows you to compensate for deviations from the biological norm due to the correction of lifestyle, specialized diets.
The result can be a significantly increased efficiency of rehabilitation of patients with a significant developmental delay.
Prevention
For the prevention of cerebral palsy, ongoing assistance and cooperation with speech therapists and psychologists are required. The effect is provided by massage, consultations with orthopedists, regular physical therapy exercises. All this can greatly alleviate the effects of the disease.
According to many experts, dolphin therapy gives a positive result, as well as the imposition of removable or permanent plaster casts, special boots and mittens. It is important that the child does not tolerate stress, regularly communicates with the widest possible range of people.
Accompanying illnesses
A serious danger is the fact that cerebral palsy is often accompanied by other diseases, often very serious and dangerous. For example, with cerebral palsy, a pronounced astheno-neurotic syndrome is observed in young patients with insufficient oxygen supply to the brain tissue. As a rule, this condition is provoked by a severe course of childbirth.
This syndrome, also called cerebral asthenia, is considered a mental functional disorder, which belongs to the group of neuroses. This condition of the patient is borderline and does not apply to severe mental illness. With effective and timely treatment, there is hope for a favorable prognosis.
Lack of oxygen in combination with cerebral palsy is only one of the causes of asthenoneurotic syndrome. A hereditary predisposition, metabolic disorders in the brain tissue, inflammatory diseases of the brain, traumatic brain injuries, chronic diseases of the kidneys and liver, and many other factors also lead to it. In this case, complex treatment is required. It includes taking certain medications, communicating with a therapist, and routine activities.
May accompany cerebral palsy West syndrome. This is a serious illness that threatens the patient’s life. It manifests itself in the first year of a baby’s life, as a rule, in boys. 20% of patients die before the age of one year due to a congenital malformation of the brain. Of those who survive, 75% suffer from impaired psychomotor development. The most common reason for the development of this disease is hypoxic damage during complicated births, which are accompanied by asphyxia of the newborn.
West syndrome in newborns is manifested in disorders of psychomotor development and epileptic seizures, which end in loss of consciousness. Children with this disease slowly respond to events surrounding them. They have difficulty orienting, making contact with other people. Often, epilepsy in West syndrome is a companion to cerebral palsy. Therefore, it is extremely important, before starting treatment, to determine what caused this ailment. After all, it can be allergic reactions to vaccination, the consequences of infections, abnormalities in the development of the fetal brain in the first half of pregnancy as a result of exposure to various toxins, alcohol, and sedatives.
In the treatment using antiepileptic drugs, which in half the cases can completely get rid of seizures. Also, pediatric neurosurgeons perform operations to dissect adhesions of the meninges and congenital vascular aneurysms. Good results can be achieved in the treatment of stem cell epilepsy. In this case, the damaged part of the brain is restored with the help of basic stem cells. This is a relatively new, expensive, but effective method.
Another dangerous companion of cerebral palsy is convulsive syndrome. If it occurs, you should immediately consult a doctor. Under this term, doctors understand the complex of various symptoms that manifest themselves in the form of clonic and tonic muscle contractions, which are of an involuntary nature. Often this disease leads to a temporary loss of consciousness. In addition, with convulsive syndrome, partial and generalized convulsions appear. To determine the causes of the disease, you should seek help from a specialist. In its treatment, various types of therapy are used, including the administration of anticonvulsants.
Convulsive syndrome provokes cerebral palsy, as well as a number of other diseases. This is epilepsy, spasmophilia, toxoplasmosis, transferred meningitis. The cause of this dangerous disease also becomes systematic overheating, metabolic disorders, the ingestion of viruses, intoxication. If treatment is not started on time, this will negatively affect the entire nervous system of the patient. The most common causes of convulsive syndrome are traumatic brain injuries. It also becomes a consequence of tetanus and rabies.
In an advanced state, the disease provokes cerebral edema, can damage the vascular system and heart muscle, and cause respiratory arrest. If there are signs of convulsive syndrome, you can not self-medicate, but the child should be given first aid. It must be laid on a flat surface, then gently turn your head so that during an attack he does not bite his tongue and is not injured. Do not forcibly try to stop the convulsive movements of the body and muscles. As a rule, an attack lasts no more than one and a half minutes. The main thing is to immediately call an ambulance.
Down Syndrome
Another common and dangerous disease with which some may confuse cerebral palsy is Down syndrome. In fact, these are two fundamentally different diseases. Down Syndrome is a genetic pathology that turns a child into a disabled person. In fact, this is a chromosomal pathology, which is accompanied by characteristic changes in appearance and impaired mental development. That's the difference between cerebral palsy and Down syndrome.
The essence of this violation is the number of chromosomes in humans. Normally, there should be 46: 23 from the mother and father. However, with Down syndrome, one additional chromosome is transmitted from one of the parents. It becomes a cause of disruption in the development and growth of the child.
The differences between cerebral palsy and Down syndrome are that in the first case, the violation occurs due to oxygen starvation or birth injuries. In the second situation, this is a genetic predisposition, which is not possible to influence. That's the difference between cerebral palsy and Down syndrome.
This disease occurs with equal frequency in boys and girls. At the same time, there is a clearer connection with the age of the mother. The older the woman, the higher the likelihood of a genetic disorder. This is due to the fact that over time, the egg accumulates a greater number of genetic errors. Up to 35 years of age, the risk of having a baby with Down syndrome is relatively low. The difference with cerebral palsy in the likelihood of an ailment is that cerebral palsy appears regardless of the age of the parents. The age of the father plays a lesser role.
Autism is often put on a par with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. In fact, autism is a disorder that occurs due to impaired brain development. It is characterized by difficulties in communication and social interaction, repetitive actions and limited interests. The appearance of such problems is associated with genetic disorders of connections in the brain.