24 August 2006
Cerebral Palsy Awareness Week begins on 24 â 30 August and this year the
focus in on children. Children with Cerebral Palsy (CP) have different
strengths and weaknesses and differ in their abilities and development.
Children with cerebral palsy have the same rights as other children and must be
not subjected to any kind or form of discrimination. Access to healthcare and
other services can enable the child with cerebral palsy to achieve their
potential and demonstrate their abilities. During the week starting on 24
August, therapists and other rehabilitation workers will run cerebral palsy
clinics and cerebral palsy management workshops at public hospitals throughout
the province to inform and educate other workers and community members at large
on management and prevention of cerebral palsy.
Stimulation workshops/clinics to be conducted will include activities such
as:
⢠assessments and /examinations of CP children /children with delayed
developmental milestones
⢠stimulation activities, toy making
⢠measurement for CP chair inserts or buggies
⢠demonstration on CP handling skills, including feeding, positioning etc
⢠education and counselling of mothers of CP children and caregivers
⢠distribution of CP pamphlets and educational material.
Other activities will include education and antenatal classes to pregnant
mothers as well as those whom would be mothers on preventative measures of
cerebral palsy.
What is cerebral palsy?
It is a group of disorders associated with developmental brain injuries that
occur during foetal development, birth, or with the first two to three years of
life. It is characterised by a disruption of motor skills with symptoms such as
spastic movements, paralysis, mental retardation, seizures, and vision or
hearing problems.
It is no longer considered as a disease but rather as a chronic
non-progressive neurological disorder. The incidence is estimated to be 1,5 to
4 per 1 000 births.
Causes
The exact cause of the brain injury is not known; can be due to complications
related to prematurity as a result of motherâs general health and behavioural
factors during pregnancy such as smoking, alcohol intake, exposure to chemical
toxins or harmful substances, or a baby can be deprived of blood, oxygen or
other nutrients before or during birth. After birth cerebral palsy can result
from head injury (trauma) or infectious diseases such meningitis or cerebral
malaria. A small percentage could be hereditary or familial. A child who is at
highest risk of developing CP is the premature baby.
Children with CP have many problems, not all of them related to the brain
injury. Most of these complications are nevertheless neurological and include
epilepsy, mental retardation, learning disabilities and attention
deficit-hyperactivity disorders.
Signs and symptoms
⢠delayed or abnormal movements of body part/s or whole body
⢠stiffness or floppiness
⢠un-coordinated movements or slight limp
⢠birth defects e.g. irregular shaped spine, small head, stiff jaw, drooling,
crying, poor sucking or swallowing reflexes etc.
The above signs and symptoms depend on the severity of the brain insult or
injury and may be progressive in appearance or may become more pronounced as
the child grows older.
Treatment
There is no cure for CP, hence treatment is often needed throughout life to
help manage symptoms, prevent complications and maximise abilities. Medication,
sometimes surgery, specialised equipment and devices and therapy for
stimulation to prevent complications is highly recommended. The mother or
caregiver of a CP child must be an integral part of the therapy team which may
include a physiotherapist, occupational therapist, speech therapist,
audiologist, social worker/psychologist, and medical doctor. Children with CP
often need different kinds of therapy to help them improve their skills in
walking, talking and using their hands. Therapy may be provided at a hospital,
Community Health Centres (CHC), clinic or through a support group.
Prevention
It is of paramount importance that a pregnant woman attend prenatal and
antenatal clinics regularly. Pregnant women must also avoid predisposing
factors such as drinking alcohol, smoking, exposure to toxic chemicals
(pollution), and must eat healthy food to prevent premature or under-weight
babies.
Pregnant mothers must ensure that they give birth under supervision of a
doctor or mid-wife nurse. The babyâs immunisation schedule must be up-to
date.
Despite the disability associated with CP, the assistance of the relevant
health professionals and a caring and supportive family can create
opportunities for happiness and success for the child with CP.
For more information please contact:
Mr Leon Mbangwa
Cell: 083 459 8695
Issued by: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government
24 August 2006
Source: KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Government (http://www.kwazulunatal.gov.za)
