What Is Cerebral Palsy, Its Types and Risk Factors

"Cerebral" means having to do with the brain. "Palsy" means weakness or problems with using the muscles.

Cerebral palsy is a by birth, non-progressive, lifelong disorder that causes permanent damage that affects movement of the body. Cerebral palsy is the insult of the developing brain before, during or after It involves abnormalities of sensation, mental and physical interaction, and behavior.
Depending on the cause, there are differences in the kind and degree of impairment of movement as well as functional capacities. Many multiple medical conditions, including epilepsy, musculoskeletal issues, intellectual incapacity, eating challenges, vision abnormalities, hearing abnormalities, and communication difficulties, might be linked to cerebral palsy.

How Common is Cerebral Palsy

The most common cause of developmental impairment, cerebral palsy affects 1.5 to 2.5 out of every 1000 live births. When compared with babies born at time, the frequency is much greater in premature babies. Infants born before 28 weeks gestation are most at risk for cerebral palsy, and the risk rises with decreasing gestational age. Infants weighing less than 1500 g are at the highest risk and have a greater prevalence; between 5% and 15% of newborns with this weight develop cerebral palsy. About 80% of instances of cerebral palsy are caused by events before birth, while 10% are caused by events after birth.

Types of Cerebral Palsy

1. Spastic Cerebral Palsy: This is the most common type of cerebral palsy occurs in children. Around 80 percent of children are affected by this type of cerebral palsy. Muscle tone is elevated in children with spastic cerebral palsy. This indicates that they have tight muscles, which might make them move awkwardly.

Symptoms: cramping, walking in a figure-eight pattern, contracting muscles or joints, and tightness in one part of the body.

2. Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy: Individuals with dyskinetic cerebral palsy often struggle to sit and walk due to difficulties regulating the movement of their hands, arms, feet, and legs. The uncontrolled movements might be quick and fast or slow and twisting. Muscle tone in a person with dyskinetic cerebral palsy can fluctuate not just from day to day but also within a single day.

Symptoms: Rigidity, flaccidity of the limbs, bad posture, and a struggle with eating.

3. Ataxic cerebral palsy: Balance and coordination issues are common in people with ataxic cerebral palsy. They may walk with instability. They may struggle with fast motions or motions that need a lot of control, such as writing. When they reach for anything, they may struggle to control their arms or hands.

Symptoms: Difficulty walking with no balance and coordination

4. Mixed Cerebral Palsy: Some individuals exhibit signs of multiple forms of cerebral palsy. Spastic-dyskinetic CP is the most severe type of mixed CP. Subjects with this form typically show a wide range of symptoms, often those of both spastic and non-spastic cerebral palsy.

Causes of Cerebral Palsy

Before Birth Causes

Premature birth (Gestational age less than 36 weeks).
Less weight of fetus
Mother with hyperthyroidism and high blood pressure.
Smoker mother
Drug abuse
Lack of blood flow or oxygen to the fetal brain.
Viral infection like (herpes virus, rubella etc)

During Birth Causes

Vaginal bleeding
Long labour
Lack of oxygen of the fetus during childbirth
Wrong position of the child during delivery
Low blood pressure during delivery time.

After Birth Causes

The child did not breathe immediately after delivery.
Head trauma.
Viral Infection
Blood related issues( eg: Coagulopathies).

Risk Factor For Cerebral Palsy

Low Weight Birth or Premature Birth: New born weight less than 2500 g become very prone to cerebral palsy.
Multiple Gestations: If mother carries twins, triplet or multiple fetuses the chances of cerebral palsy become very high.
Consumption of Cigarette, Alcohol During Pregnancy: My mother is a smoker or alcoholic. Not only do the chances of cerebral palsy become higher but also the risk of other diseases also become higher.
Infections During Pregnancy: Viruses like chickenpox, rubella , and cytomegalovirus as well as bacterial infections such placental or fetal membrane infections or pelvic infections in mothers are among the infection types that have been connected to cerebral palsy.

Other risk factors for cerebral palsy are: