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Preventing Cerebral Palsy

The term cerebral palsy refers to any one of a number of neurological disorders that appear in infancy or early childhood and permanently affect body movement and muscle coordination. Cerebral palsy does not worsen over time. The majority of children with cerebral palsy are born with it, but it may not be detected until months or even years later. Signs of CP usually appear before a child's third birthday. Studies have shown that approximately 5,000 infants and toddlers and between 1,200 and 1,500 preschoolers are diagnosed with cerebral palsy each year.

Symptoms The following symptoms of CP are the most common:

Lack of muscle coordination in voluntary movements
Stiff or tight muscles
Exaggerated reflexes Walking with one leg or foot dragging
Walking on toes
Crouched gait
Scissored gait
Stiff muscle tone
Loose muscle tone

Causes and Prevention :
The causes of cerebral palsy are sometimes not known, but CP has been linked to injuries during birth, certain conditions during pregnancy, and early childhood.

There are complications during delivery that cause result in cerebral palsy, and sometimes doctor error during delivery can result in cerebral palsy. Some of the causes of CP can be prevented and some cannot.

You can help prevent CP during pregnancy by eating nutritious foods, not smoking, avoiding exposure to harmful substances, and seeing your doctor regularly.

To help prevent CP in your young child, minimize the risk of brain injury by taking measures to prevent accidents, look for signs of jaundice in newborns, know how to prevent lead poisoning, keep your child away from others who have serious contagious illnesses, and make sure your child's immunizations are up to date.

Treatment:
There is no cure for CP but treatment can improve a child's capabilities. The earlier treatment begins, the better the chance the child has of overcoming developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish challenging tasks.

Treatment options may include:
Physical therapy
Occupational therapy
Speech therapy
Seizure medications
Medications to relax muscle spasms and alleviate pain
Surgery to release tight muscles or correct anatomical abnormalities
Use of orthotics such as braces
Use of wheelchairs or walker
Communication aids

Cerebral palsy does not always cause profound disabilities.
Treatments, medications and surgery can help many individuals with CP improve their motor skills and ability to communicate with those around them.

Find a Cerebral Palsy Birth Injury Attorney near you.

It is estimated that lifetime care costs for a child with Cerebral Palsy may be in excess of $3,000,000! Click here to see the treatment options for Cerebral Palsy. Learn more about the research being done on Erb's Palsy.

If your child has Cerebral Palsy, please contact The Cerebral Palsy Lawyers Network for a free initial consultation and evaluation of your case.