Cerebral Palsy

Why in news?

Recently, the World Cerebral Palsy Day were organized to raise awareness about Cerebral Palsy (CP) among the people with great enthusiasm and inclusivity.

• Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a group of disorders that affect a person's ability to move and maintain balance and posture.
• "Cerebral" means having to do with the brain; "Palsy" means weakness in or problems with using the muscles
• Causes – It is caused by abnormal brain development or damage to the developing brain that affects muscle control.
• It can happen before birth, during birth, within a month after birth, or during the first years of a child's life, while the brain is still developing.
• Types of CP – Depending on which areas of the brain are affected –
  • Spasticity (Stiff muscles);
  • Dyskinesia (Uncontrollable movements);
  • Ataxia (Poor balance and coordination) and
  • Mixed cerebral palsy.
• Symptoms – Its symptoms vary from person to person includes poor coordination, balance, and muscle tone, uncontrolled movements or tremors, etc.
• The associated symptoms includes seizures, learning disabilities, and intellectual disabilities.
• Treatment – There is no cure for CP, but early identification and treatment can improve the lives of those who have the condition.

Quick Fact

References

1. PIB | World Cerebral Palsy Day
2. Center for Disease Control and Prevention | Cerebral Palsy