AnikaMeyer, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- Understanding cerebral palsy helps parents and caregivers recognize early signs and seek timely medical support for affected children.
- Education about cerebral palsy reduces stigma and promotes inclusion of children living with the condition in schools and communities.
- Being informed empowers families to advocate for better healthcare, rehabilitation services, and support systems in Nigeria.
A healthy child should be able to control their neck at 3 months, sit without support at 6 to 8 months, and walk by one year and above. However, diseases affecting the brain and muscle control can delay or prevent all these from happening. Cerebral is one such disease.
What is cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy is a group of disorders affecting a child’s ability to move, coordinate, or maintain balance and posture. It results from a problem in the brain that occurs during pregnancy, delivery, or soon after birth.
How common is cerebral palsy in Nigeria?
The exact number of children living with cerebral palsy is not known. However, some research estimates that about 3 out of 1,000 children in Nigeria have cerebral palsy. Parents often discover the condition when the child is about 6 to 16 months old, affecting males slightly more often than females.
What are the symptoms of cerebral palsy?
Cerebral palsy symptoms emerge as soon as a child is born, but they are often not noticeable until the child ages. After the child’s first few weeks of life, the parents may notice symptoms such as:
- Delayed motor development, such as sitting, crawling, standing, and walking
- Muscle stiffness and rigidity
- Floppiness
- Weak arms and legs
- Difficulty with speech and swallowing
- Seizures
- Muscle paralysis
- Intellectual disabilities
- Behavioral and emotional problems
- Uncontrolled jerky movements
The symptoms vary according to the severity of the condition. Some children with cerebral palsy may have minor difficulties with movement, while others could be severely impaired.
When to see the doctor
The symptoms above are not exclusive to cerebral palsy. While they are typical of brain diseases, they are not necessarily signs of trouble.
However, you should watch out for the early signs of cerebral palsy and visit a doctor if you have concerns about your child’s health and development.
The doctor will help you understand your child’s condition and, if necessary, refer you to a specialist.
It’s important to take a child to the doctor if you think they may have cerebral palsy. The doctor can help find out what’s wrong early and suggest the right care, like therapy or medicine, to help the child grow and do better.
- Getting help early can make a big difference in how the child moves, talks, and lives each day.
- Going for check-ups also helps deal with any new problems quickly.
