Question
A colleague’s baby is already one week old but cannot sit up, cannot turn the body to find sound, and has a dull gaze; they are not very sensitive to colors and light. The hospital diagnosed it as cerebral palsy. How should it be treated?
Answer
Cerebral palsy often occurs before or during infancy, possibly due to birth injuries, neonatal jaundice, brain hypoxia, or preterm birth. The symptoms mainly include increased muscle tension, difficulty in abduction, and in severe cases, muscle stiffness, convulsions, and joints maintaining a flexed posture. Mild cases may show differences in hand fine motor skills and walking where the feet cannot touch the ground. Such patients may also have speech development and articulation difficulties, as well as possible strabismus. About one-third of patients may have varying degrees of seizures and intellectual disabilities. Currently, cerebral palsy cannot be completely cured, but it can approach normal levels. Medical treatment can only provide assistance; rehabilitation training, massage, and other comprehensive treatments are important means and indispensable.