Question
A child once experienced a mild hypoxemia and ischemia event and received a course of treatment. Currently, the child is experiencing difficulty in lifting their head, and the muscles in their waist appear particularly soft. Is this situation likely to lead to cerebral palsy?
Answer
Generally speaking, by the time children are three to four months old, as their development progresses, any signs of cerebral palsy or intellectual development abnormalities should be observable. It is recommended that parents take their child to the Pediatrics Department for a neuromotor development assessment. If the assessment shows that the child only has muscle weakness or excessive muscle tone in a particular muscle group, there is usually no major issue, and appropriate physical therapy can be sufficient. However, if there are also delays in intellectual and motor development, further examination may be needed to determine the cause and targeted treatment can be administered. Therefore, it is advisable to visit the Pediatrics Department for an assessment.