Emphasizing that Cerebral Palsy, also known as cerebral palsy among the people, is one of the most common conditions that cause disability in children, Child Neurology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cem Paketçi said, “It occurs when some parts of the brain are damaged before birth, during birth, and rarely after birth. The damage here is due to the brain's inability to properly transmit the message to the muscles on how to make the movement.”
Cerebral Palsy, also known as cerebral palsy, is one of the most common causes of disability in children. Child Neurology Specialist Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cem Paketçi from Medipol Bahçelievler Hospital discussed the causes and symptoms of the disease in all aspects. Stating that Cerebral Palsy is seen in 5 out of a thousand births in our country, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Paketçi said, “Cerebral Palsy can affect the muscles that allow us to move, respiratory system, bladder bowel control, eating and speaking. In some children, this condition may not show symptoms until walking age or older. Symptoms in children may include a delay in sitting, crawling and walking.”
It is seen before and after birth
Stating that some risk factors can be mentioned in the emergence of Cerebral Palsy, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Paketçi said, “Although the cause cannot always be found, problems during pregnancy or birth, premature births constitute important risk factors. Low births, twin or triplet pregnancies can also cause Cerebral Palsy. It occurs when some parts of the brain are damaged either before birth, during birth or rarely after birth.”
Developmental delay is the most determining factor
Giving information about how the disease is diagnosed, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Paketçi said, “There may be some retardation in the development of the patient. This may be suspected especially in babies who cannot hold their head, sit, crawl, walk, move their arms and legs as they should. The patient may have impaired coordination of movement, stiffness or laxity in the muscles. However, these findings may not always be detected at the first examination. Especially in the first two years of life, when children develop rapidly, these findings may emerge over time. Today, there is no proven treatment method that can repair or eliminate brain damage. However, problems that may accompany this disease can be treated. One of these, epilepsy, can be treated with medication. On the other hand, nutrition and weight gain are also extremely important in patients. Behavioral problems should also be treated with necessary therapies.”
