Question
Why does my child have pediatric spastic paraplegia?
Answer
The onset of pediatric spastic paraplegia often occurs before birth or in infancy, with causes including birth injuries, neonatal jaundice, brain hypoxia, and preterm birth. The symptoms primarily include increased muscle tone, difficulty with abduction, and in severe cases, muscle rigidity, scar contractures, and joints that remain in a Bend posture. Milder cases may manifest as poor fine motor skills in the hands and difficulty with foot placement when walking. Additionally, most patients also have language development and articulation disorders, strabismus, and approximately one-third of patients have varying degrees of seizures and intellectual disabilities.