Question
Why do children develop cerebral palsy?
Answer
Cerebral palsy often develops before or during infancy, with possible causes including birth injuries, neonatal jaundice, brain hypoxia, and preterm birth. Symptoms may include increased muscle tone, difficulty extending the arms, and in severe cases, muscle rigidity, spasms, and joints remaining in a flexed position. Milder symptoms might manifest as poor fine motor skills in the hands or difficulty touching the ground with the heels when walking. Many patients also experience speech development delays and articulation disorders, strabismus, and approximately one-third have varying degrees of spasms and intellectual disabilities.