Question
A one-year-old child has not yet learned to walk, has poor finger extension ability, and shows signs of delayed language development. The gait is unstable when walking. Are these symptoms indicative of pediatric cerebral palsy?
Answer
The symptoms of cerebral palsy are diverse and can be categorized into several types: 1. Spastic type children exhibit stiff limbs. 2. Athetoid type involves involuntary movements of the limbs and head, especially during intentional movements when the body’s involuntary movements intensify, such as the appearance of a ‘frowning’ phenomenon, difficulty in speaking and swallowing, and often accompanied by drooling. 3. Ataxic type is characterized by muscle weakness in the limbs, inability to maintain body balance, unstable gait, and inaccuracies in fine movements such as touching the fingertips and nose. Simple ataxia is relatively rare, and ataxia may also be accompanied by involuntary movements of the hands and feet.