| Understanding cerebral palsy is the | | | | prepare a woman and alert her when |
| first step towards preventing it. | | | | possible causes arise. |
| Cerebral palsy is a condition when | | | | Pregnant women are tested routinely for |
| muscle movements and posture is affected | | | | the Rh factor and, if Rh negative, they |
| (palsy) due to brain damage (cerebral). | | | | can be immunized within 72 hours after |
| Unlike chicken pox or measles, cerebral | | | | the birth (or after the pregnancy |
| palsy is not a disease but it is a | | | | terminates) and thereby prevent adverse |
| condition. It is not communicable and | | | | consequences of blood incompatibility in |
| although there is no cure it is not | | | | a subsequent pregnancy. If the woman has |
| progressive, as brain damage does not | | | | not been immunized, the consequences of |
| increase over time. | | | | blood incompatibility in the newborn can |
| Around a hundred and fifty years ago an | | | | be prevented by exchange transfusion in |
| English surgeon named William Little | | | | the baby. If a newborn baby has |
| first documented and collected | | | | jaundice, this can be treated with |
| information on a peculiar condition that | | | | phytotherapy (light therapy), which |
| affected children in their early years | | | | breaks down the bilirubin around the |
| leading to stiff, spastic muscles in | | | | brain. Immunization against measles for |
| their legs and to a lesser degree their | | | | all women who have not had measles and |
| arms. Little found that this condition | | | | are susceptible to becoming pregnant is |
| did not worsen over the years nor did it | | | | an essential preventative measure. |
| improve. This condition, known for many | | | | Other preventative programs as well as |
| years as Little's disease, is today | | | | facts about cerebral palsy are directed |
| known as spastic diplegia, one of | | | | towards the prevention of prematurity; |
| several types of cerebral palsy. | | | | reducing the exposure of pregnant women |
| Cerebral palsy is a very diverse and | | | | to virus and other infections; |
| complex condition with different people | | | | recognition and treatment of bacterial |
| being affected differently. Each | | | | infection of the maternal reproductive |
| specific case is, therefore, as | | | | and urinary tracts; avoiding unnecessary |
| individualistic as the individual | | | | exposure to X-rays, drugs and |
| patients themselves. It is characterized | | | | medications; and the control of |
| by an inability to fully control motor | | | | diabetes, anemia and nutritional |
| function, particularly muscle control | | | | deficiencies. Of great importance is |
| and coordination. | | | | optimal well being prior to conception, |
| Depending on which areas of the brain | | | | adequate prenatal care, and protecting |
| have been damaged, one or more of the | | | | infants from accidents or injury. |
| following may occur: muscle tightness or | | | | Although incurable, the disorder can be |
| spasticity; involuntary movement; | | | | treated and managed to provide relief to |
| disturbance in gait (walk) or mobility, | | | | patients. With doctors accumulating new |
| difficulty in swallowing and problems | | | | knowledge and information about the |
| with speech. In addition, the following | | | | disorder every passing day, new |
| symptoms are sometimes associated with | | | | techniques and treatments are coming to |
| cerebral palsy: abnormal sensation and | | | | the fore. Botox, or botulism toxin, is |
| perception; impairment of sight, hearing | | | | the newest treatment to show high |
| or speech; seizures; and/or mental | | | | success rates. The Botulism toxin |
| retardation. Other problems that may | | | | relieves cerebral palsy symptoms by |
| arise are difficulties in feeding, | | | | reducing tightness in muscles, which |
| bladder and bowel control, problems with | | | | allows better control of movement, and |
| breathing because of postural | | | | increasing the stretch of muscles, |
| difficulties, skin disorders because of | | | | reducing the risk of permanent muscle |
| pressure sores, and learning | | | | contractions. In recent tests, some |
| disabilities. | | | | children were even able to write with a |
| Despite the pain and suffering that | | | | pen or use a computer touch screen to |
| cerebral palsy patients and their | | | | communicate for the first time. The |
| caregivers have to bear, the most | | | | continuous finding of new information on |
| heartening thing about this disorder is | | | | cerebral palsy leaves the door wide open |
| that today there are many measures that | | | | for the future of cerebral palsy |
| can be taken to try and prevent its | | | | treatment. |
| onset. Tests and prenatal care can | | | | |