Cerebral palsy

A group of disorders that are related with the injuries of brain that occur during fetal development or birth time. The incidence is about 2-4/1000 births. Major causes are hypoxia of brain (recent research has demonstrated that this is not the most important cause as it was once considered to be), central nervous system infections, birth trauma and consecutive hematoma. The classical findings are spasticity, paralysis, seizures, unsteady gait, dysarthria and mental retardation. The treatment is usually symptomatic and the development of extensive care units for newborns has not resulted in a dramatic decrease in the incidence. This is suggestive of the fact that the people suffering from this disease are genetically susceptible and can only have some benefit from a life-long care. The expected length of life does not seem to be affected.