Risk Factors of Cerebral Palsy
Infants and newborn babies have the most risk of getting attacked by Cerebral palsy. Some of the risk factors which may cause Cerebral palsy in a child are- premature birth, low birth weight, brain hemorrhage, sustained on a ventilator for more than one month, and infants who do not cry within five minutes of the delivery.
A risk factor is not a cause, it is a variable which, when present, increases the chance of something occurring. In other words, a risk factor for cerebral palsy is not a cause of cerebral palsy, it is a variable that could increase your child's chances of developing cerebral palsy. The presence of a risk factor does not mean cerebral palsy will occur, nor does the absence of a risk factor mean that cerebral palsy will not occur. If a risk factor is present, it should alert parents and health care professionals to be even more observant of the infant's development. Risk factors can be associated with the parents, as well as the child. The following are risk factors related to parents that can increase the risk of cerebral palsy:
- Mother 40 years or older
- Mother 20 years or younger
- Father 20 years or younger
- African-American ethnicity.
The following are risk factors related to the child that can increase the risk of cerebral palsy:
- A first child or child born fifth or later in the family
- One of a pair of twins, especially if one twin dies
- Low birth weight, less than 3.5 pounds
- Premature infant, less than 37 weeks.
The following are other known risk factors that can increase the risk of cerebral palsy:
- Rh or ABO blood type incompatibility between mother and infant
- Infection of the mother with German measles or other virus in early pregnancy
- Attack by micro-organisms on the central nervous system of the infant.
More than one risk factor can be present at the same time, such as low birth weight and being a twin. Such combinations can further increase the risk of cerebral palsy occurring.
Conventional Treatments for Cerebral Palsy
The conventional treatments of Cerebral palsy include different therapies. The basic therapies which are prescribed for every Cerebral palsy are physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy and behavioral therapy. There are other specific therapies which are prescribed for specific patients. These include drub therapy, stem cell therapy, Amino acid therapy, surgery, magnetic therapy, and brain gym exercise.
Some approaches that can be included in a treatment plan are drugs to control seizures and muscle spasms, special braces to compensate for muscle imbalance, surgery, mechanical aids to help overcome impairments, counseling for emotional and psychological needs, and physical, occupational, speech, and behavioral therapy. In general, the earlier treatment begins, the better chance a child has of overcoming developmental disabilities or learning new ways to accomplish difficult tasks.
Physicians usually prescribe drugs for those who have seizures associated with cerebral palsy, and these medications are very effective in preventing seizures in many patients. In general, the drugs given to individual patients are chosen based on the type of seizures, since no one drug controls all types. However, different people with the same type of seizure may do better on different drugs, and some individuals may need a combination of two or more drugs to achieve good seizure control.
Drugs are also sometimes used to control spasticity, particularly following surgery. The three medications that are used most often are diazepam, which acts as a general relaxant of the brain and body; baclofen, which blocks signals sent from the spinal cord to contract the muscles; and dantrolene, which interferes with the process of muscle contraction. Given by mouth, these drugs can reduce spasticity for short periods, but their value for long-term control of spasticity has not been clearly demonstrated. They may also trigger significant side effects, such as drowsiness, and their long-term effects on the developing nervous system are largely unknown. One possible solution to avoid such side effects may lie in current research to explore new routes for delivering these drugs.
Patients with athetoid cerebral palsy may sometimes be given drugs that help reduce abnormal movements. Most often, the prescribed drug belongs to a group of chemicals called anticholinerics that work by reducing the activity of acetylcholine. Acetylcholine is a chemical messenger that helps some brain cells communicate and that triggers muscle contraction. Anticholinergic drugs include trihexyphenidyl, benztropine, and procyclidine hydrochloride.
Patients Medical’s Cerebral Palsy Treatment
Cerebral palsy cannot be cured, but treatment can often improve a child's capabilities. In fact, progress due to medical research now means that many patients can enjoy near-normal lives if their neurological problems are properly managed. There is no standard therapy that works for all patients. Instead, our physicians must work with a team of health care professionals first to identify a child's unique needs and impairments and then to create an individual treatment plan that addresses them.
At patients medical we offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is approved by the FDA as well as recommended by the AMA. It enhances the tissue levels of life supporting oxygen. An increase in the oxygen level encourages growth of blood vessels and thus increases the metabolic action of formerly slight functioning cells including the brain neurons.
Why does HBO therapy show promise in helping cerebral palsy patients? First, let's confirm some previously mentioned facts. Cerebral palsy is the result of damage to motor areas in the brain. This in turn disrupts the brain's ability to properly control the movement of the body's muscles. The problem of Cerebral palsy lies in the brain, not the muscles. What causes this damage? A National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) study found that in most cases of Cerebral palsy, no direct cause for the damage could be found. In other words, cerebral palsy is a result of the brain not properly communicating with the muscles because the brain has been damaged for one reason or another.
Some brain cells become dormant due to a lack of oxygen, which can be caused by reduced blood flow. Swelling can cause reduced blood flow. HBO therapy has been shown to reduce the swelling of brain tissue by constricting blood vessels. Also, HBO therapy dramatically increases the amount of oxygen at the cellular level, which, it is believed, may revive dormant, oxygen-starved areas of the brain. The ability to perform a SPECT scan before and after a course of HBO therapy can help identify those parts of the brain affected by the therapy. The SPECT scan will identify those areas of the brain that have reacted in a positive manner to an increase in oxygen, indicating the potential for recovery. Improvements have also been seen with vision, hearing, and speech. However, one should understand that improvement, if any, will vary from patient to patient.
Individuals who have cerebral palsy and their family or caregivers are also key members of the treatment team, and they should be intimately involved in all steps of planning, making decisions, and applying treatments. At Patients Medical we believe that family support and personal determination are two of the most important predictors of which patients with cerebral palsy will achieve long-term goals.
Next Steps:
While you may find this medical information useful, as the next step we strongly recommend that you make an appointment to see one of our physicians to ensure that your health issues are properly addressed.
To schedule an appointment with our physicians, please call our patient coordinator at 1-347-269-4748, send the form below or an email to: info@patientsmedical.com. We are currently accepting new patients and look forward to being of assistance.
We are located at: Patients Medical PC, 800 Second Avenue, Suite 900 (Between 42nd & 43rd Street), Manhattan, New York, NY 10017.
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Date of Publication: 07/21/2009
Article Last Updated: 06/26/2009