Cerebral Palsy Treatment Cost in India

The term “cerebral” signifies a connection to the brain. The term “palsy” refers to a condition in which the body’s movement is restricted. Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a mobility and posture disorder that manifests in toddler or early childhood and is caused by brain injury.

The signs and symptoms of Cerebral Palsy vary from one individual to the next. A person with severe CP may require special apparatus to walk or may be unable to walk at all, necessitating lifelong care. A person with mild CP, on the other hand, may walk awkwardly but not require any extra assistance. Though the exact symptoms of CP can fluctuate during a person’s lifetime, the condition does not worsen.

Movement and posture are issues for all people with CP. Many people additionally suffer intellectual disabilities, seizures, visual, hearing, or speech issues, abnormalities in the spine such as scoliosis, or joint problems (such as contractures).

What is Cerebral Palsy?

Cerebral palsy is a term used to describe a collection of non-progressive brain malformation conditions that impact a person’s movement and posture. Damage to the developing brain occurs during pregnancy or shortly after the birth of the baby, resulting in a lifelong physical problem. One of the most prevalent physical disorders in children is cerebral palsy (CP).

Limited mobility, stiffness, limb weakness, shakiness, poor coordination, and balance are some of the movement issues that children with the cerebral palsy face. Other issues that it can cause include vision, hearing, speech, learning, epilepsy, and cognitive thinking.

How Many Types of Cerebral Palsy Are there?

Cerebral palsy (CP) is classified according to the following factors:

Affected organs and parts of the body

• Quadriplegia- All four limbs are afflicted, both arms and both legs. Trunk, face, and mouth muscles may also be implicated.
• Hemiplegia- The arm, leg, and trunk are all affected on one side of the body.
• Diplegia- Both arms or both legs are afflicted.
• Monoplegia –It is a condition in which only one arm or leg is afflicted.

There are several types of Cerebral Palsy, each of which affects different regions of the brain. Each type produces different types of mobility problems. The following are the several sorts of CP:

1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy
2. Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy
3. Hypotonic Cerebral Palsy
4. Ataxi Cerebral Palsy
5. Mixed Cerebral Palsy

What Are The Symptoms of Cerebral Palsy?

Early symptoms of cerebral palsy can be seen in children as young as one year old. Sucking/feeding challenges, neck control problems, sitting without support problems, rolling, crawling, grasping problems, and other basic motor functions problems are frequently the first signs of cerebral palsy.

The Following Are Signs That Can Be Seen at a Young Age-

When the Youngster Is Under the Age of Six Months:

1. When taken up, head and neck control is difficult.
2. When taken up, the baby’s stiff legs cross or scissors.
3. Trembling in the arms or legs
4. Having difficulties in sucking or feeding
5. Hypotonia or a ‘floppy body’ is caused by a lack of muscle tone. In children with CP, abnormal muscle tone manifests itself as stiff or inflexible muscles.

When the Youngster Is Older Than Six Months:

1. When lifted up, there is a lack of head control.
2. Use one side of the body more than the other: reach with one hand while holding the other in a fist.
3. Rolling over without assistance is difficult.
4. Upper limb movement and bringing them together are difficult.
5. Crawling asymmetrically and pulling the other side of the body unable to sit or stand without assistance.
6. Absence of a response to one’s own name.
7. Makes no rambling sounds and just says single words like’mama’ or ‘papa.’

the Following Are Some of the Most Common Physical Signs of Cerebral Palsy:

1. Upper and lower limb deformities that result in a bent wrist, closed fist, or inflexible flexed elbow
2. Hypotonia is severe malnutrition characterized by a floppy physique.
3. Walking is difficult.
4. Breathing difficulties as a result of weak neck control and reduced immunity.
5. Poor vision and hearing, as well as cognitive challenges, are examples of sensory issues.
6. Pain, hip displacement, non-ambulation, speech issues, seizures, behavioral abnormalities, poor bladder control, altered sleep cycles, visual and hearing impairments, and difficulty eating are some of the other symptoms that may develop in some children.

What Are the Causes of Cerebral palsy?

Brain damage can result from an aberration that happens during brain development during the fetal stage (pregnancy), during birth, or after birth. Cerebral palsy can come from a variety of different sources of brain injury.

In the vast majority of cases, the actual causes of Cerebral Palsy are unknown. The following are some of the possible causes:

• Prior to Birth

1. Blood or oxygen delivery to the fetus is reduced.
2. Cytomegalovirus, rubella, chickenpox, or toxoplasmosis infection in the mother
3. During pregnancy, there is a trauma or injury to the baby’s head.
4. Down’s Syndrome and Rett Syndrome are examples of congenital disorders.

• During the Birthing process

1. In the case of a difficult birth, asphyxia refers to a lack of oxygen supply to the brain.
2. A type of brain infection occurs known as Meningitis.
3. During vacuum delivery, a significant head injury or trauma occurs.
4. Choking or nearly drowning, resulting in brain oxygen deprivation
5. A significant reduction in blood sugar
6. Sudden obstruction of blood flow in the brain causes a stroke.

• Following the Birth

1. A concussion or hemorrhage is caused by a head injury caused by an external trauma after birth.
2. An infection of the brain, such as encephalitis or meningitis.

• Risk Factors 

1. Because the fetus has not fully grown, kids born at 32 weeks or early have an increased chance of brain injury.
2. A low-weight baby is born.
3. Pregnancies in multiples (or twins)
4. Mothers who are 35 years old or older.
5. The mother’s blood pressure is unusually low or very high.
6. Pregnancy exposure to drugs and alcohol, stress, and heavy metals, particularly mercury poisoning from fish.