If your baby has cerebral palsy, it may be the result of medical malpractice. According to Mayo Clinic, cerebral palsy is a group of disorders that affect muscle tone, posture, and movement.
Cerebral palsy occurs because of damage to a developing brain, often during childbirth or shortly after childbirth.
Signs and symptoms of cerebral palsy
You may discover the signs of cerebral palsy in infancy or you may not know until his or toddler years. Often, children with cerebral palsy may seem floppy, have rigidness in the limbs and trunk and may have abnormal posture and reflexes.
Sometimes, the symptoms include one symptom or a combination of symptoms. Children may exhibit eye muscle imbalance and may have difficulty swallowing. If your child has a variation in muscle tone where he or she seems either too floppy or too stiff, this is a common sign of cerebral palsy.
Other signs include:
- Tremors
- Difficulty walking
- Learning difficulties
- Involuntary movements
- Favoring one side of the body
Some children also have delayed speech and learning disabilities.
Complications of cerebral palsy
Children who have cerebral palsy may experience muscle weakness, spasticity and poor coordination. Their symptoms begin in childhood and may progress into adulthood. Complications of cerebral palsy may include:
- Muscle tissue shortening
- Heart and lung disease
- Fractures caused by low bone density
- Depression and other mental health conditions
Many of the complications occur throughout the years and often due to the stress of cerebral palsy on the body.
Babies who have untreated jaundice, brain bleeding or viral infections have a higher risk of cerebral palsy.
