What is cerebral palsy? Is early diagnosis important in cerebral palsy?

Making statements on the occasion of October 6, World Cerebral Palsy Awareness Day, Pediatric Neurology Specialist Prof. Dr. Serdal Güngör drew attention to the importance of early diagnosis in cerebral palsy and touched upon the importance of families examining their children's developmental movements.

'THERE ARE MANY CHILDREN WITH CEREBRAL PALSY IN TURKEY'

Providing information about Cerebral Palsy, Prof. Dr. Serdal Güngör said, "October 6 is an important day for us because it is World Cerebral Palsy Day. Children with cerebral palsy are very important to us. There are many children with cerebral palsy in Turkey. Cerebral palsy is a condition that results from damage that may occur in the developing brain during the prenatal or postnatal periods, which is permanent in the child but is not a progressive disease of the brain.

Its manifestation in children is losses in motor functions and disorders in movement. Patients may present with different findings. Findings noticed by families, such as irregularities in the child's walking and delays in developmental milestones, are among the most important factors," he said.

WHAT CAUSES CEREBRAL PALSY?

Touching on the causes of the disease, Prof. Dr. Güngör said, "There are significant risk factors for cerebral palsy. The brain begins to develop in the womb and continues to develop after birth. Problems experienced in any way during these processes can trigger the disease. Many factors such as infections in the mother during pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, trauma, and chronic diseases pose significant risks."

'THE POST-PREGNANCY PROCESS IS IMPORTANT'

Underlining that care conditions need to be improved, Prof. Dr. Güngör said, "In addition to ensuring that birth takes place under good conditions, pregnancy follow-up must also be done well. Not only the pregnancy period, but the post-pregnancy process is also of great importance. At any period after birth, trauma experienced by the baby, intracranial hemorrhages, infections, and recurrent low blood sugar in the baby after birth can cause problems in the brain that lead to cerebral palsy," he stated.

'EARLY DIAGNOSIS IS IMPORTANT'
Touching on the importance of early diagnosis in cerebral palsy, Prof. Dr. Güngör said, "Families who observe their children can notice the problem at an early stage. Detecting it early is important because it allows treatment to begin early. The child's treatment is prepared according to the child's needs. One must pay attention to the clues.

In early infancy, one should be careful if there is excessive crying, sucking and swallowing disorders, pushing food out with the tongue, or changes in movements. For example, babies are very active. If a baby moves one side but not the other, it means there is a problem for us. If there is difficulty while changing the baby's diaper, or if the legs are crossed inward, this points to the problem," he said.

'TREATMENT IS DETERMINED ACCORDING TO THE PATIENT'

Discussing the problems accompanying the disease and treatment methods, Prof. Dr. Serdal Güngör said, "In such babies, imaging methods only show us which areas of the brain are affected. Clinical findings are also very important. Treatment is shaped according to the findings obtained from the patient. In these patients, accompanying problems such as motor function disorders, muscle stiffness, orthopedic problems, epileptic seizures, and nutritional problems may occur."

Following these, problems such as constipation, sleep disorders, and hearing impairments can arise. Our main goal in treatment is to proceed with a multidisciplinary approach; first and foremost, with early diagnosis and correct treatment, we can minimize the problems and ensure the prevention of many issues," he expressed.

News Source: İHA