Cerebral palsy: review of epidemiology, etiology, clinical features, classification and prevention

Abstract

Cerebral Palsy (CP) is a neurodevelopment disorder caused by improper brain development or harm to the developing brain and is the underlying cause of the most common motor disability in children. The clinical symptoms vary between subjects because the etiology is complex and can affect a variety of anatomical structures and each of these can lead to a different symptom. The motor dysfunction is often associated with sensory, perceptual, cognitive, communication and behaviour impairments as well as epilepsy and secondary musculoskeletal disorders which have a significant influence on the child’s quality of life, activity, and participation. The risk of developing CP is present in infants born preterm, but these children sum up less than 50% of cases. The factors that cause CP in children born at term are grouped in antenatal, perinatal, neonatal, some of them can be modified like alcohol consumption, maternal smoking, infections, but others like genetic factor cannot be modified. CP can be classified in different ways depending on the clinical manifestation. Throughout time classification was based on the type and distribution of motor anomalies, which often corresponded to the area of injury. Spastic subtypes, dyskinetic subtypes, and ataxic subtypes are the three basic forms of motor dysfunction. The most common conditions associated with CP are pain, intellectual disability, speech disorder, bladder control problems, epilepsy, and behaviour disorders. Early intervention is thought to be the most effective treatment for CP. As soon as the diagnosis is determined, rehabilitation treatment should begin. The earlier a rehabilitation intervention begins, the better the prospects of improving the child’s functional abilities and independence.