Cerebral Palsy

A persisting qualitative motor disorder appearing before the age of three years, due to non-progressive damage to the brain occuring before the growth of the central nervous system is complete

Aetiology

  • Insult to the growing brain before, during or after birth
  • Causes include genetic problems, brain malformation, intrauterine infection in early pregnancy, prematurity, intra‐cranial haemorrhage, hypoxia during birth and meningitis
  • Only 1 in 10 cases are due to problems during labour
  • Often no identifiable cause

Clinical presentation

  • The expression of the disease and its severity are variable depending on the area of the brain affected ranging from mild symptoms and signs limited to one limb or total body involvement with profound learning difficulties
  • Developmental milestones may be missed and the ability to ambulate or perform normal tasks may be impaired