Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Cerebral palsy

Cerebral palsy is a condition that affects posture, movement and coordination. It is caused by damage to the brain before, during or after birth. The part of the brain that is damaged is called the cerebrum. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain and is involved with the senses (such as sight and hearing), voluntary movements of the muscles, and thinking and communication. It affects different people in different ways, and symptoms vary from mild to extreme.

Cerebral palsy is not a particular condition, but a collective name for the problems that can happen as a result of damage to the cerebrum. The brain damage is not progressive – it does not get worse – but some of the secondary effects, such as speech difficulties, can worsen.

Around one child in 500 has some degree of cerebral palsy. It appears early in life and can have widely varying effects. Some children have severe muscular problems while others have slight learning difficulties. Most children are somewhere in the middle. It is important to note that not all children with cerebral palsy have learning difficulties.

There are three main types of cerebral palsy:

• Spastic cerebral palsy, in which the child has muscle stiffness that affects their range of movements and the flexibility of their joints;
• Athetoid or dyskinetic cerebral palsy, in which the muscles stiffen involuntarily (without the child meaning to stiffen them), and which often affects speech and hearing; and
• Ataxic cerebral palsy, in which the child has problems with balance and coordination.

• Symptoms
• Causes
• Diagnosis
• Treatment
• Complications

• Caesarean sectionCancerCancer of the bile ductCancer of the bladderCancer of the boneCancer of the brainCancer of the breastCancer of the breast, maleCancer of the cervixCancer of the colon, rectum or bowelCancer of the kidneyCancer of the larynxCancer of the liverCancer of the lungCancer of the mouthCancer of the oesophagusCancer of the ovaryCancer of the pancreasCancer of the prostateCancer of the skinCancer of the stomachCancer of the testicleCancer of the thyroidCancer of the uterusCancer of the vaginaCancer of the vulvaCarbon monoxide poisoningCarersCarpal tunnel syndromeCartilage damageCataract surgeryCataractsCatarrhCavernous sinus thrombosisCEA testCellulitisCerebral palsyCerebrovascular diseaseCervical screening testCervical spondylosisCharcot-Marie-Tooth diseaseChemotherapyChest infectionChickenpoxChildren in careChiropracticChlamydiaChloride testCholesterolChorionic Villus samplingChronic fatigue syndromeChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCircumcisionCirrhosisCleft lip and palateClinical trialsClub footCoeliac diseaseCognitive behavioural therapyCold soreCold, commonColicColostomyColour vision deficiencyColposcopyCombined contraceptive pillComplaints about NHS servicesComplementary therapiesComplex Regional Pain SyndromeCondoms (male and female)Congenital heart diseaseCongestive heart failureConjunctivitisConsent to treatmentConstipationContraceptionContraceptive implants and injectionsContraceptive patchCoronary angioplastyCoronary artery bypassCoronary heart diseaseCorticosteroid (drugs)Corticosteroid preparations (topical)Cosmetic surgeryCoughCounsellingCradle capCraniosynostosisCreutzfeldt-Jakob diseaseCrohn's diseaseCroupCT scanCushing's syndromeCuts and grazesCystic fibrosisCystitisCystoscopyCytomegalovirus

  ---