Clinical Study of Cerebral Palsy at THQ Hospital, Liaqatpur.

Abstract

Eighty Children diagnosed as cerebral palsy were included in this study. Male to female ratio was 3.2: 1. 10% belonged to 3-12 months, 48.8% to 1-6 years, 35% to +6-12 years and 6.2% to age group +12-16 years. The chief complaint was motor problems in 38.75%, epilepsy in 33.75%, fever in 13.75%, aggressive behaviour in 5%, poor school performance in 1.25%, convulsions (first episode) in 5% and irritability in 2.5% cases. 77.5% children were quadriplegic, 18.75% hemiplegic and 335% diplegic. 68.75% children were spastic, 3.75% ataxic, 6.25% dyskinetic, 16.25% dystonic and 5% choreoathetotic. The complications noted were epilepsy in 51.25%, mental retardation in 56.25%, speech problems in 25%, behaviour problems in 35%, under nutrition in 3 8.75%, poor school performance in 35%, feeding problems in 27.5%, decreased vision and squint in 12.5%, decreased hearing in 6.25%, caries teeth in 8.75%, orthopedic and positional disorders in 6.25%, constipation in 8.75% and growth retardation of one limb in 3.75% cases. The most probable age of origin was prenatal and natal in 80% and postnatal in 20% cases. The risk factors involved in cerebral palsy originating in prenatal or natal period were one in 20.31% cases, two in 31.25%, more than two in 32.81% and no in 15.63% cases. The three most important prenatal and natal factors were maternal age (12.93%), birth asphyxia (15.5%) and low birth weight (12.07%).The postnatal causes were neonatal jaundice in 25%, CNS insults in 62.5% and trauma in 12.5% cases. Conclusion: Cerebral palsy has diversity of presentations with associated multiple problems and its etiology is difficult to diagnose.