Cerebral palsy is a group of neurological disorders that is caused by injuries to the brain before, during or after birth. The manner in which this condition is caused makes many children suffer from seizures as well. However, people can mistake it with epilepsy, but this is not the case. Cerebral palsy is a non progressive group of disorders in which the symptoms do not increase or decrease over time. Hence it is not a seizure disorder like how it is commonly mistaken.
For any seizure to take place, whether in cerebral palsy or any other seizure disorder, there will be some over-activity or misdirected activity in the brain. Hence, people with cerebral palsy can develop some forms of epilepsy at a later stage. If these children with cerebral palsy develop a seizure disorder, then there are possibilities that the children will have a variable rate of exhibiting symptoms. Generally, there are two types of seizures that are common in people with cerebral palsy. They are the tonic-clonic seizure and the partial seizure! Both these types of seizures can be disconcerting for the child as well as the family members, and the seizure symptoms that develop can trouble the children to a great extent.
The tonic-clonic seizure is a very severe type and when it affects a person, the child will cry out suddenly or shout. This is usually followed by loss of consciousness and fainting. After this, the child may begin to shake violently, twitch and convulse for some time. Once the seizure is over, the person will regain consciousness but will be confused and have no memory about the seizure.
Partial seizures can happen in varied ways but the most general of them will be the simple and complex categories. These types of seizures will vary in severity and is seen in people with seizure disorders and cerebral palsy. When a person has a partial seizure, it results in a body part which will twitch and shake and eventually becomes numb too. The victim may also become forgetful, confused and suddenly walk differently or even hallucinate.
For a person with seizures or if some seizure disorders are suspected, then an EEG exam should be given. This is especially necessary if the child is suffering from cerebral palsy. It should also be diagnosed by an experienced doctor who will have to observe the symptoms that will include excessive lip smacking or a pedaling motion of the legs. But if this happens in newborns or young children, it becomes very difficult to diagnose. If there is a constant, repeating motion of the limbs, then it is a signal of clonic type seizure. A tonic seizure will involve limb spasticity.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your child or you suspect any seizure disorder or children with cerebral palsy, then you should give proper treatment. A long of an observation of After and testing period, the by doctor will decide on what medication shouldnt be given with respect to the diagnosis and what degree of cerebral palsy training shouldnt take place. If this occurs in young children, then immediate action is necessary.