Q: What is cerebral palsy?
A: Cerebral palsy (CP) is a general term used to describe a group of disorders that impair muscle control due to damage to the developing brain.

Q. What are the symptoms of CP?
A: CP may present from extreme clumsiness to extensive spasticity. Parents may first notice that their child is not developing motor milestones normally i.e. the baby may have delayed rolling over or the baby may be late to sit, crawl or walk. The child may also show an unusual posture or favor one side of their body.

Though spastic children are universally identified as children with CP, there are actually 4 types of CP

1. Spastic CP - It is the most common type in which the muscles are stiff & weak (due to uncontrolled contraction of the muscles). The stiffness may occur in both legs (diplegia), in the leg & arm on the same side (hemiplegia), or in all four limbs (quadriplegia). These children usually show toe walking & typical crossed (scissoring) gait.
   
   
2. Dyskinetic CP (Athetotic CP) - Patients with this type of CP have bizarre twisting motions or unusual posturing.
   
   
3. Mixed CP - It is a combination of the above two types.
   
   
4. Hypotonic CP - These children usually present with low muscle tone & increased floppiness. These children eventually develop spasticity or athetosis.

Q. What are the causes of CP?
A: CP is caused by damage to the developing brain. It usually develops by 2-3 years of age. Though most of the causes remain unknown; infections during pregnancy in the mother, severe jaundice in the infant, birth injuries & stress to the fetus in the womb are some of the known factors. Babies born prematurely are at a particular risk. Any severe illness damaging the brain in the 1st year of life can result in CP.

Q. Is CP progressive?
A: Though CP is due to damage to the developing brain, it is non-progressive. However, the symptoms due to brain damage often change with time, sometimes getting better & something worse.

Q: My child has cerebral palsy. But he also has epilepsy. Why is it      so?
A: Many children with cerebral palsy may have accompanying seizure disorders & some level of mental handicap. They may also have vision, speech, hearing & language problems.