Athetoid Cerebral Palsy Symptoms And Treatment
Athetoid cerebral palsy is sometimes referred to as dyskinetic and the symptoms usually show up before the child reaches their first birthday. This type of CP affects about ten to twenty percent of all patients and it occurs when the cerebellum or the basal ganglia suffers some type of damage. These parts of the brain control movement. It’s the part of the brain that processes the signals that control coordination, body posture and smooth movement.
Causes of cerebral palsy can vary, and there are a number of different things that can cause athetoid cerebral palsy such as poor pre-natal care, head trauma, bleeding in the brain, viral infection and alcohol and drug abuse. High bilirubin levels in the blood of newborns can also lead to this type of CP, and if left untreated it can lead to brain damage.
The buildup of bilirubin results in jaundice and this can eventually cause kernicterus, which is a specific type of brain damage and it can cause loss of hearing as well. A lack of oxygen to the brain when the fetus is developing is a common cause of all types of CP.
This kind of cerebral palsy is actually a mixture of muscle tone problems that start with hypotonia, which is a decrease in muscle tone. As the child ages, the muscle tone will increase and it will eventually turn into hypertonia, which is an increase in muscle tone. A child with this type of CP will find it difficult to stay in an upright position or to steady themselves when walking or sitting. They will also show signs of involuntary motions. Most patients that have this type of CP will only be completely relaxed when they are asleep.
Many patients that have athetoid cerebral palsy find it difficult to move their hands from one place to another or it can be very hard to hold onto objects. This makes it difficult for them to do simple things that others take for granted such as brushing their hair or teeth.
Below is a more detailed list of some of the symptoms of athetoid CP:
• Slow, uncontrolled movements of arms, legs, feet and hands
• Jerky or irregular movements
• Slow rhythmic movements combined with muscle tone abnormalities and posture
• Speech impairment
• Hearing impairment
• Loss of facial muscle control
The treatment for athetoid cerebral palsy will vary depending on which symptoms the patient experiences. However, it’s recommended that they start physical therapy as soon as possible because this type of CP can prevent the patient from controlling his or her mobility and physical therapy may be able to help. By doing exercises to increase the range of motion on a daily basis it can help prevent the muscles from becoming weak or rigid as quickly as they can without the exercise. Cerebral palsy wheelchairs are available to help transport affected persons.
When a child has athetoid cerebral palsy it can be difficult for the whole family. Early detection is important so if you suspect your child has this or any type of CP, talk to your health care provider. There are a series of test that can be done to help determine if your child has this condition and if treatment is necessary.
